Emperors of Soul [BOX SET]

The Temptations (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 1994)
• Original Release Date: September 20, 1994
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000001ALS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,547 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Come On - The Distants, Otis Williams

2. Oh, Mother of Mine

3. Romance Without Finance

4. Check Yourself

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Get Ready

2. Fading Away

3. Ain't Too Proud to Beg

4. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Cloud Nine

2. Why Did She Have to Leave Me(Why Did She Have to Go?)

3. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

4. I'll Try Something New

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Masterpiece

2. Plastic Man

3. Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)

4. Law of the Land [Alternate Mix][#]

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 5

1. Standing On the Top, Pt. 1

2. Sail Away

3. Treat Her Like a Lady

4. My Love Is True (Truly for You)

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

The Temptations prospered by their gifts and their very name, which stood for the best of so much of what the soul-group tradition had to offer--standout lead vocalists, killer harmonies, and steps and suits that mortal men could only envy. By the '90s, though, the words "The Temptations" were as much a branding device as a guarantee of excellence. Fortunately, the five-CD Emperors of Soul spends most of its time winding through the act's various changes of style and personnel; this is the group, after all, that confidently leapt from romance classics such as "My Girl" to the ultrafunky "I Can't Get Next to You" and the downright scary "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Like all royalty, they're a fallible institution, but if it's a big, big box of Tempts you want, Emperors is the one. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Temptations are truly the Emperors of Soul, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

It's been over two years since I've purchased this box set, and I must say that I'll never grow tired of it. Although I'm most familiar with the obvious radio hits like "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," etc., the other lesser-known songs are given their chance alongside fan favorites. One of my favorite Temps songs to date is "You're My Everything," a song I hadn't heard until I bought the set. David Ruffin's vocals alongside Eddie Kendrick's are like feathers and sandpaper brushing against your skin, while enjoying the whole sensation. The booklet included gives a wonderful insight to the genesis of the group, their music and their lives. When the official book of the history of music is written, without a doubt the Names of Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Otis Williams, Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin should be among the first on the opening page. A truly rewarding listening experience- definitely worth more than the money you pay.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the real deal....don't settle for less!, October 17, 2002

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

Forget about all those repackaged compilation CDs of the Tempts' work...and believe me, Motown constantly does this. EMPERORS OF SOUL is the ONE and ONLY Temptations collection you should have, outside of the original, individual albums (and the Temptations' LOST AND FOUND CD). You get five CDs of hit after slammin' hit, plus those rare b-sides that you never hear anymore and never-before-released songs...from the very beginning in the lean years, when the Tempts were Otis Williams and the Distants, right up until late 1994. It's also very fitting that the collection ends in 1994, since original Tempt and bass Melvin Franklin passed away in 1995, soon after this was released. This is a great tribute to his career, and to a group who has shown the world just WHY they so richly deserve the title "Emperors of Soul"! No other group can boast about having so many hits AND talented lead singers involved with them during their lifetime...David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, Ali Woodson, Ron Tyson...and that's just scratching the surface! For the Tempt fan past and present, this is a MUST HAVE. A bit pricey, but if you spring for this, you will NOT be disappointed in the least.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 CD'S OF GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, April 1, 1999

By	JUSTIN OSTOFOROFF (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

The Temptations are truly one of the greatest groups of all time and with 5 discs in this collection it's not hard to see why. It starts with "Come On" which for is not as well preserved as the earlier Motown masters but hey that wasn't Motown. Other notable tracks on the album are: the acapella of "My Girl" from the original session, Paul's incredible live version of "For Once In My Life" from the 1968 TCB special, the incredibly catchy "No More Water In The Well", the gritty self describing song "Power", the down to earth "Lady Soul", and David's centerpiece "I Wish It Would Rain". Only half of this set is stereo which makes a couple of songs lose their power like "Get Ready" and "Ball Of Confusion". I don't understand why they can't use the stereo mixes on the whole set because I know they are available and would make some of the songs sound a lot better. It still deserves 5 stars though.