''The Temptin' Temptations'' is the third

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

the Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...

for the Gordy (

Motown Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

) label released in 1965. The album includes several of the group's hits from 1965, and also includes a handful of singles that were not included on the Temptations' first 1965 album, ''

The Temptations Sing Smokey ''The Temptations Sing Smokey'' is the second studio album by the Temptations for the Motown label, released on the Gordy Records subsidiary (G 912) in 1965. As its name implies, it is composed entirely of songs written and produced by Smokey R ...

''. Among these are the 1964 singles " Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" and " I'll Be in Trouble"; and the 1965 singles " Since I Lost My Baby", and " My Baby". Seven of the album's 12 tracks had previously been released as singles and their B-sides, though " My Baby" preceded the album only by a month.

Overview

The three pre-" My Girl" singles all feature

Eddie Kendricks Edward James Kendrick (December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992), better known as Eddie Kendricks, was an American tenor singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temp ...

on lead vocals. "I'll Be in Trouble" was written and produced by

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...

, while "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" was a

Norman Whitfield Norman Jesse Whitfield (May 12, 1940 – September 16, 2008) was an American songwriter, composer, and producer, who worked with Berry Gordy's Motown labels during the 1960s. allmusic Biography/ref> He has been credited as one of the creators ...

production. Both songs were Top 40 hits for the group immediately following the success of their first hit, " The Way You Do the Things You Do". "The Girl's All Right With Me", "I'll Be in Trouble's"

b-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

, charted on its own at number 102, and was written by Kendricks, Whitfield, and

Eddie Holland Edward James Holland Jr. (born October 30, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is brother to Brian Holland. Holland was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Although he was an early Motown artist who recorde ...

, but produced by Smokey Robinson and Whitfield. "Since I Lost My Baby", a heartbroken ballad exemplary of Smokey Robinson's work, features

David Ruffin David Eli Ruffin (born Davis Eli Ruffin;Ribowsky, p. 88 January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American soul singer most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations (1964–1968) during the group's "Classic Five" p ...

on lead vocals, pining away for a lost lover even though the world around him is a relative

nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...

. Longing and melancholy, "Since I Lost My Baby" (written by Robinson & fellow Miracle Pete Moore) tells a story about the pain of losing a lover. Temptations lead singer

paints a picture as the song's narrator of an idyllic world where he has everything anyone could ask for, except for love. Contemporary R&B singer

Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American Soul music, soul and Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA certification, RIAA-certified ...

would later cover the song on his 1982 album '' Forever, For Always, For Love''. "My Baby", an extension of the theme from "My Girl", features Ruffin and the Temptations bragging about the qualities of a special lady. It was written by Miracles members Robinson, Pete Moore, and

Bobby Rogers Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a founding member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Mira ...

. "My Baby"'s

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

, the

Paul Williams Paul Williams may refer to: Authors * Paul Williams (Crawdaddy) (1948–2013), American music and science fiction journalist; founder of ''Crawdaddy'' and the Philip K. Dick Society * Paul Williams (Irish journalist) (born 1964), Irish journalis ...

-led " Don't Look Back", was a hit in its own right, becoming a top 20 R&B hit and serving for several years as the Temptations' live-show closing number. It was also the original A-side of this recording, and as such, was performed by the group on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the ''CB ...

''. It was later relegated to B-side status in the wake of "My Baby"'s bigger pop success at the time. However, today, "Don't Look Back" is the far more popular and better-remembered tune. Although the Temptations retired "Don't Look Back" from their repertoire following Williams' 1971 departure from the group, several cover versions have been recorded. These include versions by

Al Green Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer. He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Tired of ...

Bobby Womack Robert Dwayne Womack ( ; March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Starting in the early 1950s as the lead singer of his family musical group the Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's ...

The Persuasions The Persuasions were an American a cappella group that formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1962, singing under corner streetlights and in subway corridors. Their style combined gospel, soul, early rock, and jazz into melodic five-part harmonies. ...

, and

Teena Marie Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American Soul music, soul and Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before ...

, as well as a collaboration between

Peter Tosh Winston Hubert McIntosh (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band Bob Marley and the Wa ...

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English musician. He is known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones. Jagger has co-written most of the band's songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards; Jagge ...

, and

Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who is an original member, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-principal songwriter of the Rolling Stones. His songwriting partnership wi ...

for Tosh's 1978 album '' Bush Doctor''.

Track listing

Side one #" Since I Lost My Baby" (

, Pete Moore) (lead singer:

) 2:55 #" The Girl's Alright with Me" (

, Edward Holland, Jr.,

) (lead singer:

) 2:55 #" Just Another Lonely Night" (

Ivy Jo Hunter George Ivy Hunter (August 28, 1940 – October 6, 2022), known as Ivy Jo Hunter, was an American R&B songwriter, record producer and singer, most associated with his work for Motown in the 1960s. Life and career Raised in Detroit, Michigan ...

William "Mickey" Stevenson William "Mickey" Stevenson (born January 4, 1937) is an American former songwriter and record producer for the Motown group of labels from the early days of Berry Gordy's company until 1967. Life and career He was born William Stevenson and, a ...

) (lead singer:

) 3:03 #" My Baby" (Robinson, Moore,

) (lead singer: David Ruffin) 3:06 #" You've Got to Earn It" (Robinson,

Cornelius Grant Cornelius Grant (born April 27, 1943) is an American guitarist, composer, and band leader. He served as the musical director, guitar player, and live show arranger for Motown vocal group The Temptations from 1964 until 1982. Early life Grant wa ...

) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) 2:41 #" Everybody Needs Love" (Whitfield, Holland) (lead singers: Eddie Kendricks,

Melvin Franklin David Melvin English (October 12, 1942 – February 23, 1995) better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin or his nickname "Blue", was an American bass singer. Franklin was best known for his role as a founding member of Motown singing g ...

) 2:59 Side two #" Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (Whitfield, Holland) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) 2:23 #" Don't Look Back" (Robinson,

Ronnie White Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1938 – August 26, 1995) was an American baritone singer, best known as the co-founder of the Miracles and its only consistent original member. White was also known for bringing Stevie Wonder to the attention of ...

) (lead singer: Paul Williams) 2:56 #"I Gotta Know Now" (Whitfield, Holland) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) 2:40 #"Born to Love You" (

) (lead singers: Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin) 2:41 #" I'll Be in Trouble" (Robinson) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks; Melvin Franklin on last line of bridge) 3:00 #"You're the One I Need" (Robinson) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks; bridge vocals: David Ruffin and Paul Williams) 2:24 Unreleased recordings from ''The Temptin' Temptations'' sessions: *"Come Back My Love" (

Berry Gordy Berry Gordy III (born November 28, 1929), also known as Berry Gordy Jr., is an American retired record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown record label and i ...

, Robert Gordy) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) - produced by Berry Gordy, Jr. *"Nobody But You" (

Clarence Paul Clarence Otto Pauling (March 19, 1928 – May 6, 1995) better known and published as Clarence Paul, was an American songwriter and record producer who was best known for his career with Detroit's Motown Records. Early life and career Born i ...

, Sylvia Moy) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) - produced by Clarence Paul *"That'll Be The Day" (

Henry Cosby Henry R. Cosby (May 12, 1928 – January 22, 2002) was an American songwriter, arranger, record producer and musician who worked for Motown Records from its formative years. Along with Sylvia Moy, Cosby was a key collaborator with Stevie Wonde ...

, Moy, Stevenson) (lead singer: David Ruffin) - produced by Henry Cosby & William "Mickey" Stevenson These three songs have subsequently been released.

Personnel

The Temptations *

– vocals (

baritone A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

falsetto Falsetto ( , ; Italian language, Italian diminutive of , "false") 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 ...

) *

– vocals (tenor/falsetto) *

– vocals (second tenor/baritone) *

– vocals (

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

) *

Otis Williams Otis Williams (born Otis Miles Jr.; October 30, 1941) is an American second tenor/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. ...

– vocals (second tenor/baritone) with: *

The Andantes The Andantes were an American female session group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by M ...

– additional backing vocals on "Just Another Lonely Night" and "That'll Be the Day" *

Jimmy Ruffin Jimmy Lee RuffinRibowsky, Mark (2010), ''Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations'', Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, p. 89. . (May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014) was an American soul singer, and ...

– additional backing vocals on "Born To Love You" Producers *

– "Since I Lost My Baby", "The Girl's Alright with Me", "My Baby", "You've Got to Earn It", "Don't Look Back", "I'll Be in Trouble" and "You're the One I Need", Executive Producer *

– "The Girl's Alright with Me", "Everybody Needs Love", "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" and "I Gotta Know Now" *

and

– "Just Another Lonely Night" and "Born to Love You"

Chart and singles history

* 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 with the 1964 releases.

References

* Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. . * Williams, Otis and Weigner, Harry (2002). My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations (Compact disc liner notes). New York: Motown/Universal Records. {{DEFAULTSORT:Temptin Temptations The Temptations albums 1965 albums Gordy Records albums Albums produced by Norman Whitfield Albums produced by Smokey Robinson Albums produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson Albums produced by Ivy Jo Hunter Albums recorded at Hitsville U.S.A.

Overview

Track listing

Personnel

Chart and singles history

See also

References