''Phoenix Rising'' is a 1998 studio album by American vocal group

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

. It was released on the

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

label on August 18, 1998. Featuring the debut of new Temptations members

Barrington "Bo" Henderson Barrington Scott "Bo" Henderson (born June 10, 1956, in Washington, Pennsylvania) is an American R&B singer. Biography Barrington's mother, Joyce St. Amie, was an electric jazz singer. Barrington grew up in the music industry, travelling wit ...

Terry Weeks Terry Wayne Weeks (born December 23, 1963) is an American R&B and soul singer who is currently one of the lead singers of the legendary Motown quintet The Temptations.http://www.thetemptations.com/ Temptations Official Website Early life Weeks ...

, and

Harry McGilberry Harry McGilberry (January 19, 1950 – April 3, 2006) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul music, soul singer and latter-day Bass guitar, bass singer for The Temptations between 1995 and 2003. Born Harry McGilberry Jr. in Philadelph ...

, following the departure of

Ali-Ollie Woodson Ali-Ollie Woodson (born Ollie Creggett; September 12, 1951 – May 30, 2010) was an American R&B singer, musician, songwriter, keyboardist, drummer, and occasional actor best known for his twelve years with the Temptations alongside Otis William ...

, who ended his tenure with the group (following the release of the 1995 album '' For Lovers Only''); as well as the final Temptations album for

Theo Peoples Theo Peoples (born Theoplis Peoples, III on January 24, 1961 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American R&B and soul singer. Biography His first recordings with the Temptations were released in the box set ''Emperors of Soul'' (1994) where he sang ...

, who Henderson replaced. The album, the Temptations' first million-selling album in over twenty years, features the hit single "Stay." Although not commercially released as a single, "Stay" became a top 30 hit on the US

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

chart, peaking at number 28. It also peaked at number one on the Urban Adult Contemporary charts. Later singles "This Is My Promise" and "How Could He Hurt You" became top five hits respectively on the later chart as well. ''Phoenix Rising'' was certified Platinum by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

(RIAA) on November 15, 1999.

Critical reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

editor Andrew Hamilton wrote that "Temptations' albums used to feature a baritone voice distinct from the tenor not only in register, but in style and phrasing; here the voices are too similar. Still, not a bad silver platter when you take the personnel changes into consideration."

Commercial performance

''Phoenix Rising'' became the band's first studio album to receive a platinum certification from the

(RIAA).

Track listing

Notes * denotes additional producer(s)

Personnel

;The Temptations *

- tenor vocals *

- tenor vocals on "How Could He Hurt You" *

- tenor vocals *

Otis Williams Otis Williams (born Otis Miles Jr.; October 30, 1941) is an American baritone singer.Ribowsky, Mark (2010). ''Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Endearing Soul of the Temptations''. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 7–9 He is o ...

- baritone vocals *

Ron Tyson The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 1 ...

- tenor/falsetto vocals *

- bass vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

1998 albums The Temptations albums Albums produced by Narada Michael Walden Motown albums {{1990s-R&B-album-stub