Customer Reviews

Meet the Temptations

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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

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.

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.

Ok, let's face it, there isn't much more that can be said about these men. It really doesn't matter if your speaking of the Original group or the Classic Tempts. No five man group equals, yet. I brought this cd because of the music played in the T.V. movie. I fell in love with 'Paradise' and 'I Want A Love I Can See'. And the bonus tracks are great to have, this one is a treasue. You can hear the work put into their sound. I'm 41, and my 3 children range in ages of 14 to 20. They can't get enough of this. My 18 year old son is walking around singing and listening to the cd, daily. This is music. This is how you sing a love song. This is how you reward your senses after listing to most of what passes for music today. There is truely much to be said for class and style. I also want to commend the actors who brought this story to life. They too, are amazing singers. I now have a new favorite movie (yes, I'm late, I just purchased the movie last month) I had never seen it before.

While it may seem like most of Motown Records' groups came about thanks to the label forming them themselves, in fact, most of the groups had been around in music for a while before Motown agreed to give the group a chance. That was how it worked with the Temptations. When they recorded most of the songs on their debut MEET THE TEMPTATIONS, Elbridge "Al" Bryant was a member of the group pre-stardom, while Paul Williams provided most of the lead vocals. David Ruffin's tenor hadn't been added to the line-up yet, but that didn't mean the Tempts weren't capable of anything without him. MEET THE TEMPTATIONS may have been just the beginning of the Tempts' recorded legacy, but there are more than a few glimmers of promise on here.

When Bryant was replaced by David Ruffin, the Temptations recorded their breakthrough single "The Way You Do The Things You Do", written by Motown's own renaissance man Smokey Robinson. The trademark wordplay & Eddie Kendricks' lilting falsetto lead was irresistable & the song indeed became their first major hit. Before that, they had released a few singles that failed to take off & that's what MEET THE TEMPTATIONS is all about.

The album actually has Motown head Berry Gordy, Jr. doing some writing & producing, things which he would do less of as time went on. Songs like "Dream Come True", "Paradise", "Just Let Me Know", "Your Wonderful Love", & "Farewell My Love" (love the doo-wop era finale) are more than just a record company mogul trying his hand at songwriting for the first time. After all, Gordy had been a songwriter before founding Motown, penning classics like "Lonely Teardrops" for Jackie Wilson.

Smokey also has a hand on "I Want A Love I Can See", "Slow Down Heart" & "The Further You Look, The Less You See", which are some great underrated songs even in Smokey's large, very prolific career (he's said to have written over 4,000 songs, with 2,500 still unpublished).

Even the Tempts themselves contribute to the songwriting here & there on the bouncy "Isn't She Pretty" (co-written by leader Otis Williams & Eddie Kendricks with Gordy) & the truly overlooked "Check Yourself" (by Williams, Kendricks, early member Al Bryant & Gordy). The bonus tracks, which were also unsuccessful singles, had some direct involvement from the Tempts. The soulful "Oh Mother Of Mine" came courtesy of Otis Williams, who's done an excellent job keeping the Tempts alive 35 years later. The clever "Romance Without Finance" was co-written by Eddie Kendricks. Both songs indicate that maybe Berry Gordy wasn't the Svengali he's legendary for being with his roster of artists. When he thought it was right, he could give someone artistic freedom if they asked for it.

MEET THE TEMPTATIONS was the Temptations first album after 3 years under contract with Motown. When their previous singles failed to chart, it's a wonder that the label kept them on despite their lack of success. But it just showed how much faith Berry Gordy had in a soon-to-be-legendary group like the Temptations & that adding David Ruffin to the group so that they would have a better chance of finding an audience was a shrewd move in the end. While most of the music on MEET THE TEMPTATIONS is from a time when the group hadn't discovered their identity yet, don't let the poor chart performances of the songs fool you. Even this early on, the Temptations had that something special about them that would only become more clear with time.

This Cd is truly a treasure of rare Soul. It says something that (at least according to the Temptations Movie) that these great tunes were not considered strong enough to be hits in 1961-63 (comppared to much of what actually makes it these days). "Slow Down Heart" sounds like a forerunner to Smokey's "Baby Baby Don't Cry." "Paradise"& "Farewell My Love" capture the beauty of R&B as it moved from doo-wop into Soul. "Check Yourself," "Isn't She Pretty" (which resembles the Isley Bros. "Shout")and the regional hit "I Want A Love I can See" are fine uptempo numbers that capture the spirit of the era. An R&B Collector's delight!

I have had the pleasure of listening to this album since it was first released. Let me say this is truly am album worth having. Let no one fool you, Motown albums are highly prized and sought after. Out of all the Tempts albums this is perhaps the most special. First, this album predates David Ruffin. That makes it special. Secondly, Paul Williams is carrying the lead on several of the songs. This makes it very special. Because of the uniqueness of this album, all fans should own it. You just got to hear Paul sing "Your Wonderful Love" This song alone is worth buying the album. Then there is "I Want A Love I Can See" Everyone talks albut the great David Ruffin, but Paul Williams was something else! Do your self a favor. Buy the album, you'll be glad you did.

Back in prehistoric time, when Motwn really meant Detroit and not Hollywood, when Berry Gordy was a song writer/producer and not a mogul, when groups like the Supremems and Vandellas would sing uncredited backup, way back then, 5 talented young men came together. Making history was not theri intention (although that is what they did). Rather, they produced a record which was at times raw and gritty while also being light and fluffy (thanks Smokey). Paul and Eddie led on vocals(David had not yet embarked on his ego trip). I say, "check it out--you don't know where you are going unless you know where you have been".

Motown was not truthful about this album in 1964; it represented a culling of three years or so of unsuccessful singles by the Temptations, with their new hit "The Way You Do The Things You Do" added on. Apparently word got around, so the label was forced to include "The Way" on the group's second album, "The Temptations Sing Smokey". Elbridge Bryant, who preceded David Ruffin in the group, did not sing lead; most of these songs feature the great Eddie Kendricks.

The "Meet the Temptations" CD is fantastic. All but one of the songs are by the five original temps, (including Eldridge Bryant) before David Ruffin. The songs are timeless and I will never understand why the group didn't receive national fame with these recordings.This is a must have item if you are truly a Temptation fan. Sit back, listen and enjoy!