Meet the Temptations [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Temptations | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B00000J2RL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,861 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #94 in Music > R&B > Classic R&B

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fabulous Five Gentlemen of Song, April 19, 2006

By 

G. E. Williams (White Plains, Westchester County, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meet the Temptations (Audio CD)

I first heard of the Temptations when I was a twelve-year boy in 1961 growing up in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, where I was born. I heard their song, "Check Yourself" on WCHB radio, 1440, Inkster, also the home of the Marvelettes, another Motown act. I saw them in person at Cobo Hall, at that time the home of the Detroit Pistons NBA team, singing among various songs, "A Tossin' And Turnin' " in December, 1961 at the WCHB Christmas Party with my younger sister. My favorite Temptations-lineup is not the classic lineup. My favorite is the original lineup consisting of Paul Williams, baritone and lead singer, Eddie Kendricks, falsetto tenor, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, tenor, Otis Williams, tenor and Melvin Franklin, bass. To our lost, with the exception of Otis Williams, they have all died.

This is an outstanding album. Listen to them do "Your Wonderful Love," a Berry Gordy, Jr., cop of the Impressions' "Your Precious Love." It reminds one of depths of gospel music that you will find in the church. With Paul on the lead and the other four providing the background vocals, it is art of the highest form. Then there is of course "Wonderful Love's" A-side, "Check Yourself," written by Gordy and three members of the Tempts, Al Bryant, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin. It speaks to the heart of broken love of a man who only discovers what he has lost after it is too late to get it back. Bill "Smokey" Robinson's first release on the group, entitled "Slow Down Heart," the B-side to Gordy's "Paradise," a cop of the Four Seasons' "Cherry Baby," is on the level of two other of his 1962 compositions, his Miracle's "I'll Try Something New" and his "Your Heart Belongs To Me" that was recorded by the Supremes. "Isn't She Pretty," the B-Side to "Dream Come True" (written by Gordy) and written by Gordy, Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams reminds me somewhat of what the Temptations lineup number three would do with "Cloud Nine" and "Run Away Child Running Wild" of having several lead voices popping in and out of the piece. "The Further You Look The Less You See", the B-side to "I Want A Love I Can See" and written by Robinson and Norman Whitfield was recognized to be such a great song that a Caribbean group recorded it in the 70's. "Paradise," "Dream Come True," "Farewell My Love" and "May I Have This Dance" (the B-side of "Farewell"), which were all written by Gordy with the exception of "Dance," which were written by Whitfield and Janie Bradford, all feature the five distinct voices, who each could have been the sole lead singer of some other group. "O Mother Of Mine" (co-written by Otis Williams) and "Romance Without Finance"(co-written by Eddie Kendricks), both produced by William "Mickey Stevenson, one of Gordy's lieutenants in the early years of Motown and the Hitsville, U.S.A. studio on West Grand Boulevard, constituted their first single released in the summer of 1961. Their treatment on these two songs is special and it tells the listener that this group was special and greatness was only a matter of time. One must remember that Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks were in their early 20's and the other three were in their late teens. Gordy's "Just Let Me Know" features the classic Tempts way of doing a song with the lead singer, in this case Paul, with the other four members being voices to sing with or sing against in a type of group harmony never achieved. What the original Temptations could do with their voices is equivalent to what the King Cole Trio could do with their instruments and Band Leader Cole's voice. Their voices were incomparable.

This album showcases what a great lead singer the late Paul Williams was, a fact of which many Temptations' fans are unaware. As someone once wrote that he had a voice for the ages. His greatest lead of the early days of the Temptations was unquestionably Robinson's "I Want A Love I Can See." When I first heard the song in the spring of 1963, I knew I had to buy it, which I did. It should have been a top ten hit on both the Pop and R&B charts. Their other selections should have been Top 40 hits, especially in light of what masquerades as hits today.

The Temptations did not begin with "My Girl," "It's Growing," "Since I Lost My Baby" and "My Baby." Cornelius Grant, the Tempts' guitarist and band leader, once said that when people heard the original line-up, they got religion. When you listen to "Meet The Temptations," you will get religion.

G. E. Williams, White Plains, Westchester County, New York

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This only shows what we in Detroit knew all along, May 18, 2002

By 

Charles M. Lee (harrisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meet the Temptations (Audio CD)

I remember buying this album as a teen when I lived in Detroit. Most of us in Detroit had heard and popped our fingers to all of the songs on this album. What we couldn't understand was what was wrong with the rest of the nation. We knew the Temptations were a treasure waiting for the rest of the world to discover what we already knew. They actually got my attention when I heard "Dream Come True" with it's gospel like rudimentary call and response that would become the Temps trademark during the mid sixties. "I Want a Love I Can See" caught my attention next and I was really hooked as a Temps fan. A love affair that would last for over fourty years and has yet to end. This is a historic CD in that it chronicles the beginning of a supergroup. If you are a Temptations purist, then this is a must have. If you loved the Temptations well known hits like "My Girl", and "Just My Imagination" you will love this foundation setting work. Those of you who remember Eldrige Bryant - the tenor who was replaced by David Ruffin - this is the only chance you will have to hear his voice. David was not present until the track "The Way You Do The Things You Do". This CD captures a struggling group up to their first chart buster. It is American musical History.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great reissue of a terrific debut album., June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Meet the Temptations (Audio CD)

The new reissue of the classic album "Meet The Temptations" is a model of repackaging form. The album features the original cover and liner notes as well as new notes by Motown historian Harry Weinger to put things in perspective. A rare photograph of the pre-David Ruffin Temptations is included and the disc itself is a beautifully designed picture disc. Two bonus songs have been added and the rematered sound is so good you can actually pick out David Ruffin's voice in the background of "The Way You Do The Things You Do."

The music itself is brilliant but sometimes spotty. Still it's far better than one might expect given that this is a debut and that Motown albums are not held in high esteem by most critics. Though, the only hit here is the brilliant "The Way You Do The Things You Do"(The only song from here featured on Anthology) there are many other tracks that approach it in quality. The album may be worth owning just for the gorgeous open throated harmonies at the end of "Dream Come True." If that's not enough, "I Want A Love I Can See", with baritone Paul Williams on lead, has long been considered a classic by knowledgeable soul fans. A strong doo wop influence pervades the album and provides many highlights including "Dream Come True", "Paradise" and "Slow Down Heart". In fact if "Slow Down Heart", with it's dreamy melody and lyrics and an inspired arrangement featuring a highly mixed Eddie Kendricks' background contrasted by a gruff Paul Williams' lead, were the only thing the group ever recorded they would still be legends in doo wop circles. (Except for "The Way You Do The Things You Do" David Ruffin is not featured on the album.)

While those tracks feature the group mastering slow doo wop, "Isn't She Pretty" shows them hnadling uptempo doo wop awkwardly. Additionally, the two bonus tracks, featuring both sides of the Temps'first single, are more interesting than listenable. Still, even the weakest tracks on the album feature some brilliant element, be it the leads or the harmonies or the great Motown band. So if you're a true Temptations fan you should own this album.