Temptations, Updated [Paperback]

Otis Williams (Author), Patricia Romanowski (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2002

The Temptations were the most commercially successful and critically lauded male vocal group of the Sixties and early Seventies. Through the years, the group's trademark razor-sharp choreography, finely tuned harmonies, and compelling vocals made them the exemplars of the Motown style. This is the frank, revealing story of the legendary supergroup, told by its founder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With Romanowski, coauthor of Vanna Speaks , Williams, founder of the Temptations, a blues group that sang its way to the top of the charts in the 1960s, tells a vivid story of good times and bad: Motown's super group has been plagued by violent quarrels, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide. The Temptations have often been on the verge of falling apart, but Williams, according to the authors, has always been able to pull them together again, even to pick up the pieces of their troubled relationship with Motown founder Berry Gordy. Among other tidbits, the book provides illuminating insights into the famous "Motown U," where singers were instructed in charm and deportment as well as musical skills. The group is still going strong, though membership has changed over the years, and Williams writes as a man who is proud of having kept it alive for so long. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A smoothly written book saturated with love for the group. (New York Daily News )

A vivid story of good times and bad…illuminating insights into… Motown U. (Publishers Weekly )

up-and-down story of The Temptations, the most commercially successful male vocal group ever.... it's a personal and interesting insight from the sole surviving member of one of Motown's greats. (Hear/Say- America's College Music Magazine )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Press; Updated edition (June 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815412185
• ISBN-13: 978-0815412182
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Otis's Version of the Tempts, November 24, 2003

By 

K. J. Bryant "peachycream" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Temptations, Updated (Paperback)

I love this book and I am grateful that Otis Williams wrote it. But I strongly suggest to all Motown fans to do your own research and read other books because things don't add up with Otis's version of the Temptations. I am not calling the man a liar because I admire him and I think he believes his own story, but I feel that he's trying to add importance to himself by taking away from David, Paul (my favorite), Eddie, Dennis and even Melvin. I didn't like the way he protrayed any of them. Yes, its true that David, Paul, Dennis and Eddie had both ego and personal problems, but I am sure that Otis had his demons too. In fact, from what I hear he wasn't the best person either. But he doesn't show that side to you in his book. The only bad thing he admits to is cheating on his wife and at times, I felt like he was bragging about his relationships with certain women. Although he was kinder to his friend Melvin, he protrayed Melvin as a follower and not a leader. I wonder why? One of the most disturbing tales in his book is about Paul's drinking problem. Its true that he had a problem, but Otis doesn't really talk about Paul's bout with Sickle Cell which made his problem even worst. Also Paul's "suicide" his rather strange and things don't add up (but do the research). I also found it odd that he didn't talk alot about how Berry G. ran Motown and why alot of the artists lived terrible lives after their Motown's glory years and why most died broke. By now, everyone knows that Berry was a cheat, but Otis seems to forgive him more than he forgives his brothers. Part of the reason why they died so young has something to do with Berry. Now, I am not blaming Berry for everything. I have read books that put all the blame on Berry (which I don't agree with), but its doesn't take an expert to realize that the Motown story is mostly sad. We will never hear David, Paul, Eddie, and Melvin's side of the story...and that is why you shouldn't take this book as 100% fact. Maybe the still living Dennis will write his own version. Excellent book, but not perfect.

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There are more stories that need to be told, August 7, 2002

By 

The Fancy One "blackprincess" (Westchester County, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Temptations, Updated (Paperback)

I have been a fan of the Temptations for years, but I have to admit that my loyalty is really to the classic lineup that made the Tempts a household name: Eddie Kendrick, David Ruffin, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams. Not to slight the other singers who have been a part of the group, but these guys always have been my favorites.

Otis Williams' book, TEMPTATIONS, is an interesting read, but really left me wanting to know what the other side of the coin was like. Even though Otis had his own view of what happened with the group (and I'm not implying that he wasn't entitled to that), the trouble is, with the exception of Melvin, the other members were depicted as talented men but troubled individuals with bad attitudes. According to Otis, he and Melvin were the sensible ones in the group while Eddie, Paul, David and later on, Dennis Edwards, were always the ones that were causing confusion. For every complimentary thing Otis would say about them, he'd follow it with something negative. I noticed that he did the same thing with certain members of the group that followed after the originals left as well. That mini-series that aired about four years ago that was based on this book only backed up his so-called belief that "No man is bigger than the group" (which was supposedly also Berry Gordy's belief - laughable, to say the least) and made him to look like the sane hero in a world filled with people running amok. No man is bigger than the group? Well, isn't this just what Otis has done by writing this book? Hasn't he made himself the be-all and end -all when it comes to finding out the history of the Tempts? No man is bigger than the group? Yeah, okay, whatever.

In the updated version of this book, Otis also implies that he can now say things that he couldn't write in the first edition, which was when Eddie and David were still alive. Why is that? That statement in itself makes Otis' version of events sound extremely suspect. There is only one way for me to interpret this, and that is that someone was not telling the complete truth - not then, and not now. This is why it is difficult for me to believe what Otis added in his book: that he visited Eddie in the hospital right before he died and that the two of them made their peace with each other. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't - but we'll never know.

This is the Temptations' story through the eyes of Otis Williams, the remaining surviving original group member who seems to revel in that distinction. It's obvious that he now uses this to his advantage as his claim to fame, since he didn't possess anywhere near the talent of his so-called "brothers". Yes, it's his story, and yes, he was there but it's not THE story. I'm tired of hearing about how the Tempts was "Otis' group". It does well to remember that the formation and achievements of this legendary group was the dream and brainchild of FIVE men, not just ONE, so it's only logical that they ALL had a stake in their success. Otis seemingly has trouble recalling exactly how things transpired, and not only with the Temptations, either - after reading this, check out Patti Labelle's book "Don't Block the Blessings" where she talks about Otis, and you'll get the idea.

Unfortunately Ruffin, Kendrick, Franklin and Paul Williams are no longer here to tell their side, but I feel someone will be able to write a truly unbiased story about this legendary group one day. (Dennis, are you listening??) But I still do recommend this, but don't accept it as the gospel truth. Remember, there is more than one side to a story. At the time it was written, Ruffin and Kendrick were still with us, and I wish we could've known what their opinions were of this book, and how they felt about it.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Temptations, October 12, 2006

By 

Kelley Robinson (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Temptations, Updated (Paperback)

I thought the book was exceptionally short for a body of work lasting 45 years. Great pictures though.

I had some major problems with the writing itself. It's like 45 years went by in a blur and he was an observer and not a participant.

He didn't seem to take much interest in his bandmates, there's very little known about Eddie, Paul, David and Melvin. For a man with the inside track, very little is revealed. The book seems to be more about him and not the Temptations.

He seemed also to forget certain facts, like, David was indeed married when he started seeing Tammi Terrell. When she announced that she and David were engaged back in the early sixties, is when she found out David was already married and couldn't marry her. (This also around the time her headaches started.) I don't what the relationship between Geena and Otis is/was, but for him to leave her and Davids' son out of the book was wrong, totally wrong. He acknowledged the others' wives, why not Geena?

Another thing that disturbed me was Otis' "my way or the highway" attitude toward his group members. Truly adolescent behavior. When he wasn't scouting out women, he was scouting out new talent. (But I guess in his mind it's the same thing). ,"just in case so and so doesn't work out", seems to me, he was waiting on the inevitable. He comes off as arrogant and overbearing. "No one man's bigger than the group." Like Eddie said in the movie, "Who is the group for, who did "it" make sacrifies for?"

OTIS, knows good and well, that he and Melvin could not have carried the group on their own. Eddie, Paul, and David didn't need "the group", as much as "the group" needed them. David and Eddie saw the writing on the wall between Barry and Otis, well before hand and did the smart thing and got out. I wish Paul had as well, alive. Otis should have thought more of his "brothers" and fought for them. He waited too long. Too bad he used the book to trash them when they're not here to defend themselves.

With three ex-wives and 15 ex-Temps on the roster, maybe it would do Otis good to look inside himself and not place blame everywhere or to everyone.

Paul and Eddie brought style and sophistication and experience. As well as their voices. David, brought the fire and raw sex appeal they needed. (They were their most productive after David's arrival. And last, but not least, Melvin, with that bottom drawer, under the floor bass. There's no one else like him. Have to give Dennis his "props" too. He may not be an original Temp, but because of him, they got their first of many Grammys to come.

Otis should be more greatful, he and Eddie forged a supergroup we'll never see again. He's not one-fifth as talented as his current or original band-mates. If he could sing, we'd know about it. His inflated ego wouldn't let us forget. He's a man that needed a group and he got one. Each man brought with him his own set of baggage, but they were the best.

They will be missed through out time.

Thanks for the music, guys, Where ever you are, (we know you're together) take a bow. We love you.

Update:Everybody, check out YouTube. There is long lost interview with Eddie Kendricks, a few months before his death. He looks great. He talks about his experiences with the group, Motown, his final decision to leave the Tempts. I hadn't realized he desired to leave the group in 1965, when they were still the "hitless Tempts", because of things he found improper(probably Berrys' accounting practices). Eddie Kendricks fans will find the interview interesting because you can hear it in his own voice. What a voice.