Meet the Temptations
Encyclopedia
Meet the Temptations is the 1964 debut album by The Temptations
for the Gordy (Motown) label. It includes most of the group's early singles except for the first, "Oh Mother of Mine", and its b-side, "Romance Without Finance" (later included on a CD reissue of the LP); as well as the single "Mind Over Matter" (and its b-side "I'll Love You Till I Die"), in which the group is credited as The Pirates. Also included is the first Temptations hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do
".
The lineup on the cover features Eddie Kendricks
, Melvin Franklin
, Paul Williams
, Otis Williams
, and newest Temptation Davis (later David) Ruffin
. Ruffin had just joined the act three months before this album was released, and actually only appears on "The Way You Do The Things You Do". The other tracks all feature original Temptation Elbridge "Al" Bryant, who was fired from the group in December 1963.
Again, excepting the hit single, these tracks all date from the Temptations' slow-selling starting period (during which some Motown staffers referred to them as the "hitless Temptations"). Despite local success in Detroit and the midwest, the Temptations released six singles that missed the Top 100 Pop
& R&B charts, and one, "Dream Come True", which made it to #22 on the R&B singles chart. Most of these songs feature Paul Williams as (main) lead, while Kendricks, Bryant, Franklin, and Otis Williams were given plenty of lead lines, ad-libs
and harmony vocals heard throughout the album. Kendricks was also given a small handful of songs to lead as well, including the two charting singles.
The album was originally issued only in monaural
sound. A stereo
remix of the album was issued along with the original mono version in 1966. The bonus tracks were added to the album in 1999.
up to that point. Other tracks that were recorded along the same timeline that could have been included on the album were:
There have also been some reports (including Otis Williams’ Temptations autobiography) that some of the then-current group members were not available at the time of recording some songs. However, this cannot be substantiated by official Motown studio records. The tracks with supposedly missing group members (and the missing member/s) are:
"A Tear From A Woman's Eyes", an H-D-H production, competed with "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (and "Just Let Me Know", "Not Now (I'll Tell You Later)", and "Give It Up") for the a-side of the group’s seventh single. It was recorded just three days before the hit song.
(*) released on Lost and Found: You've Got To Earn It (1962-1968)
(**) released on the Emperors of Soul
box set
, (b) Eddie Kendricks
, (c) Al Bryant
, (d) Otis Williams
, (e) Melvin Franklin
.
(*) Elbridge "Al" Bryant was originally credited as the lead on "May I Have This Dance", and one of the leads (with Paul Williams, Kendricks, and Franklin) on "Farewell My Love". In fact the first tenor leads on both songs were actually performed by Eddie Kendricks
singing in his natural tenor, as well as his falsetto
on the latter. Other songs with Kendricks’ natural signing voice are "My Pillow", "Camouflage [Version 1]", and "Way Over There" (from The Temptations Sing Smokey
).
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
for the Gordy (Motown) label. It includes most of the group's early singles except for the first, "Oh Mother of Mine", and its b-side, "Romance Without Finance" (later included on a CD reissue of the LP); as well as the single "Mind Over Matter" (and its b-side "I'll Love You Till I Die"), in which the group is credited as The Pirates. Also included is the first Temptations hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do
The Way You Do the Things You Do
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single...
".
The lineup on the cover features Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
, Melvin Franklin
Melvin Franklin
David Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
, Paul Williams
Paul Williams (The Temptations)
Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
, Otis Williams
Otis Williams
Otis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
, and newest Temptation Davis (later David) Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
. Ruffin had just joined the act three months before this album was released, and actually only appears on "The Way You Do The Things You Do". The other tracks all feature original Temptation Elbridge "Al" Bryant, who was fired from the group in December 1963.
Again, excepting the hit single, these tracks all date from the Temptations' slow-selling starting period (during which some Motown staffers referred to them as the "hitless Temptations"). Despite local success in Detroit and the midwest, the Temptations released six singles that missed the Top 100 Pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
& R&B charts, and one, "Dream Come True", which made it to #22 on the R&B singles chart. Most of these songs feature Paul Williams as (main) lead, while Kendricks, Bryant, Franklin, and Otis Williams were given plenty of lead lines, ad-libs
Ad-Libs
Ad-Libs is an improvisational comedy troupe based in Dallas, Texas. Combining improvisation along with video segments, Ad-Libs was conceived by Phil Larsson in 1986...
and harmony vocals heard throughout the album. Kendricks was also given a small handful of songs to lead as well, including the two charting singles.
The album was originally issued only in monaural
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
sound. A stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
remix of the album was issued along with the original mono version in 1966. The bonus tracks were added to the album in 1999.
Side one
- "The Way You Do the Things You DoThe Way You Do the Things You Do"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single...
" (Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, Bobby RogersBobby RogersBobby Rogers is an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 to present. He is also the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque-Life:Rogers is the son of the late...
) - "I Want a Love I Can SeeI Want a Love I Can See"I Want a Love I Can See" is a 1963 single by The Temptations for the Gordy label. The single was the group's first A-side to be written and produced by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. Robinson had previously written the B-side "Slow Down Heart", but for over the past year Berry Gordy, Jr...
" (Robinson) - "(You're My) Dream Come True" (Berry Gordy, Jr.)
- "ParadiseParadise (Temptations song)"Paradise" is a 1962 single by The Temptations for the Gordy label. The single is notable for being The Temptations' first charting single on the Billboard Pop charts...
" (Gordy) - "May I Have This Dance" (Janie BradfordJanie BradfordJanie Bradford is an American songwriter, most known for her tenure with Motown. With Berry Gordy, she co-wrote "Money ", originally recorded by Barrett Strong and used by The Beatles on their second album With The Beatles...
, Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
) - "Isn't She PrettyIsn't She Pretty"Isn't She Pretty" is a 1961 song recorded by The Temptations, and written by group members Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams, as well as Motown’s founder Berry Gordy...
" (Gordy, Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
, Otis WilliamsOtis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
)
Side two
- "Just Let Me KnowJust Let Me Know"Just Let Me Know" is a song recorded in late 1963 by The Temptations for the Gordy label and is the B-side to the 1964 hit single "The Way You Do the Things You Do". Ironically, both songs competed with each other and with the H-D-H production, "A Tear From A Woman's Eyes", for the A-side; the...
" (Gordy) - "Your Wonderful Love" (Gordy)
- "The Further You Look, the Less You See" (Robinson, Whitfield)
- "Check YourselfCheck Yourself"Check Yourself" is a 1961 song that was released as a Miracle label single by Motown singing group The Temptations; and written by Motown president Berry Gordy, and group members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and Elbridge Bryant, and produced by Gordy...
" (Elbridge BryantElbridge BryantElbridge "Al" Bryant was an American tenor singer, and one of the founding members of Motown singing group The Temptations.-Early life and career:...
, David EnglishMelvin FranklinDavid Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
, Gordy, Williams) - "Slow Down Heart" (Robinson)
- "Farewell My LoveFarewell My Love"Farewell My Love" is a 1963 single by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It was the last single that A-side was written and produced by Motown president Berry Gordy for well over a decade, and the last released during the period of the "Original 5" lineup...
" (Gordy)
1999 CD reissue bonus tracks
- "Oh, Mother of MineOh Mother of Mine"Oh Mother of Mine" is a 1961 song that was released as a Miracle label single by Motown singing group The Temptations. It was the group's debut single for Motown, after signing with them in January of that year.-Credits:...
" (William "Mickey" Stevenson, Williams) - "Romance Without Finance" (Stevenson, Kendricks)
Outtakes and other early tracks
Technically there wasn't a recording session for this album as it was basically a collection of the group's singles and B-sidesB-Sides
B-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
up to that point. Other tracks that were recorded along the same timeline that could have been included on the album were:
- "My Pillow" (Robert Plaisted)*
- Produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson, led by Eddie Kendricks & Melvin Franklin
- (Features Franklin, Otis Williams, Al Bryant, and Paul Williams singing the chorus out front in a four part vocal harmony)
- Produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson, led by Eddie Kendricks & Melvin Franklin
- "Camouflage [Version 1]" (Gordy)*
- Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., led by Eddie Kendricks & Melvin Franklin
- "So Much Joy" (Bradford, Rebecca Nichols, Earl Brooks)
- Produced by Earl Brooks, led by Paul Williams
- "I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted ToI Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To"I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To" is a 1962 Motown song written by Edward Holland, Jr. and Norman Whitfield. It would later be released as B-sides for singles by The Temptations and Holland himself , both of which were produced by Whitfield....
" (Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
)**- Produced by Norman Whitfield, led by Paul Williams
- "Tear Stained Letter" (Whitfield, Bradford)*
- Produced by Norman Whitfield, led by Paul Williams
- "It Don't Have To Be This Way" (Clarence PaulClarence PaulClarence Otto Pauling , better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records....
)- Produced by Clarence Paul, led by Paul Williams
- "Witchcraft (For Your Love)" (Stevenson, Robert Hamilton)**
- Produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson & Robert Hamilton, led by Paul Williams
- "(Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My Baby" (Whitfield, Holland)**
- Produced by Norman Whitfield, led by Eddie Kendricks
- "Positively Absolutely Right" (Andre WilliamsAndre WilliamsAndre Williams is an American R&B and punk blues musician who started his career in the 1950s at Fortune Records in Detroit.-Biography:...
)- Produced by Andre Williams, led by Melvin Franklin, Al Bryant and Eddie Kendricks
- "A Tear From A Woman's EyesA Tear from a Woman's Eyes"A Tear from a Woman’s Eye" is a 1964 song written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, and recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It competed with several songs, including "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "Just Let Me Know" in an effort to become...
" (Holland–Dozier–Holland)**- Produced by Brian HollandBrian HollandBrian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
& Lamont DozierLamont DozierLamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
, led by Eddie Kendricks
- Produced by Brian Holland
- All of the above tracks have subsequently been released
- Four other tracks were released as tracks/bonus tracks on other albums
There have also been some reports (including Otis Williams’ Temptations autobiography) that some of the then-current group members were not available at the time of recording some songs. However, this cannot be substantiated by official Motown studio records. The tracks with supposedly missing group members (and the missing member/s) are:
- "Check Yourself" (Eddie Kendricks and/or Al Bryant)
- "May I Have This Dance" (Al Bryant)
- "I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To" (Al Bryant)
- "I Want A Love I Can See" (Melvin Franklin)
- "The Further You Look, the Less You See" (Melvin Franklin)
- "Farewell My Love" (Al Bryant)
"A Tear From A Woman's Eyes", an H-D-H production, competed with "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (and "Just Let Me Know", "Not Now (I'll Tell You Later)", and "Give It Up") for the a-side of the group’s seventh single. It was recorded just three days before the hit song.
(*) released on Lost and Found: You've Got To Earn It (1962-1968)
Lost and Found: You've Got To Earn It (1962-1968)
Lost and Found: You've Got To Earn It is a compilation album by The Temptations. Released by Motown Records in 1999, it includes twenty unreleased Temptations records alongside unreleased mixes of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "You've Got to Earn It"...
(**) released on the Emperors of Soul
Emperors of Soul
Emperors of Soul is a 1994 box set compilation for The Temptations, released by Motown Records. The five-disc collection covers the Temptations' entire four-decade history, from the first recording of The Distants in 1959 to four new recordings by the then-current Temptations lineup of Ali-Ollie...
box set
Personnel
- Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
: vocals (tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
/falsettoFalsettoFalsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
) - Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (The Temptations)Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
: vocals (tenor/baritone) - Melvin FranklinMelvin FranklinDavid Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
: vocals (bassBass (voice type)A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
) - Otis WilliamsOtis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
: vocals (tenor/baritone) - Elbridge "Al" Bryant: vocals (tenor/falsetto) (all tracks except "The Way You Do the Things You Do")
- Davis "David" RuffinDavid RuffinDavis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
: vocals (tenor/falsetto) ("The Way You Do the Things You Do") - Eddie Holland: background vocals ("Check Yourself")
- Brian HollandBrian HollandBrian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
: background vocals ("Check Yourself")
Producers
- Berry GordyBerry GordyBerry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
: "Dream Come True", "Paradise", "May I Have This Dance", "Isn't She Pretty", "Just Let Me Know", "Your Wonderful Love", "Check Yourself", "Farewell My Love", Executive Producer (Album) - Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
: "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "I Want a Love I Can See", "May I Have This Dance", "Just Let Me Know", "The Further You Look, the Less You See", "Slow Down Heart", "Farewell My Love", Executive Producer (Album) - Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
: "May I Have This Dance", "The Further You Look, the Less You See" - Andre WilliamsAndre WilliamsAndre Williams is an American R&B and punk blues musician who started his career in the 1950s at Fortune Records in Detroit.-Biography:...
& William "Mickey" Stevenson (as "Dre-Mic"): "Oh, Mother of Mine", "Romance Without Finance"
Singles history
The main lead vocalists on each track are identified by superscripts: (a) Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (The Temptations)
Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
, (b) Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
, (c) Al Bryant
Elbridge Bryant
Elbridge "Al" Bryant was an American tenor singer, and one of the founding members of Motown singing group The Temptations.-Early life and career:...
, (d) Otis Williams
Otis Williams
Otis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
, (e) Melvin Franklin
Melvin Franklin
David Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
.
- "Oh Mother of Mine" a, b
- Miracle single 5 (originally a non-album single; CD bonus track), July 24, 1961; b-side: "Romance Without Finance" a, b
- "Check Yourself" a, (intro: d, e)
- Miracle single 12, November 7, 1961; b-side: "Your Wonderful Love" a
- "(You're My) Dream Come True" b
- Gordy single 7001, March 16, 1962; b-side: "Isn't She Pretty" (recorded 1961) c, a, b, e, d
- "Paradise" b, e
- Gordy single 7010, September 26, 1962; b-side: "Slow Down Heart" a, e
- "Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)" b (credited as The Pirates)
- Mel-O-Dy single 105 (non-album single), September 29, 1962; b-side: "I'll Love You Till I Die" a (The Pirates)
- "I Want A Love I Can See" a
- Gordy single 7015, March 18, 1963; b-side: "The Further You Look, the Less You See" a
- "Farewell My Love"* a, b, e
- Gordy single 7020, June 25, 1963; b-side: "May I Have This Dance" (recorded 1962)* b, e
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" b
- Gordy single 7028, January 23, 1964; b-side: "Just Let Me Know" (recorded 1963) a, c
(*) Elbridge "Al" Bryant was originally credited as the lead on "May I Have This Dance", and one of the leads (with Paul Williams, Kendricks, and Franklin) on "Farewell My Love". In fact the first tenor leads on both songs were actually performed by Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
singing in his natural tenor, as well as his falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
on the latter. Other songs with Kendricks’ natural signing voice are "My Pillow", "Camouflage [Version 1]", and "Way Over There" (from The Temptations Sing Smokey
The Temptations Sing Smokey
The Temptations Sing Smokey is a 1965 album by The Temptations for the label. As its name implies, it is composed entirely of songs written and produced by Smokey Robinson, and several other members of the Miracles as well....
).
Chart history
| Name | Chart (1962–1964) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Meet The Temptations | U.S. Billboard Pop Albums | 95 |
| Meet The Temptations | U.S. R&B Albums | - |
| "(You're My) Dream Come True" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | - |
| "(You're My) Dream Come True" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 22 |
| "Paradise" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 122 |
| "The Way You Do the Things You Do" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 11 |
| "The Way You Do the Things You Do" | U.S. Cashbox R&B Singles | 1 |
| "Just Let Me Know" | U.S. Cashbox R&B Singles | ? |
- Note: There was no Billboard R&B singles chart from November 1963 until January 1965. Most discographies include R&B information from Cash Box magazine to fill in the gap in the R&B chart, as is done here for the post-1963 releases.