''The Temptin' Temptations'' is the third studio album by

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 ...

for the Gordy ( Motown) 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''. Among these are the 1964 singles "

Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" is a 1964 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. It was the group's first A-side release to be produced by Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote the song with Edward Holland, Jr. of the Holland-Do ...

" and "

I'll Be in Trouble "I'll Be in Trouble" is a 1964 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label and written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. Background This single was the follow-up to "The Way You Do the Things You Do", with falsetto Eddie Ke ...

"; 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 singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temptation ...

on lead vocals. "I'll Be in Trouble" was written and produced by Smokey Robinson, 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 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 of the Mo ...

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 Way You Do the Things You Do" is a 1964 hit single by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the single was the Temptations' first charting single on the ''Billboard'' Ho ...

". "The Girl's All Right With Me", "I'll Be in Trouble's" b-side, charted on its own at number 102, and was written by Kendricks, Whitfield, and

Eddie Holland Edward Holland Jr. (born October 30, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Holland was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Although he was an early Motown artist who recorded minor hit singles such as "Jamie", he ...

, 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 and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations (1964–68) during the group's "Clas ...

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

nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...

. 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 would later

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

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 member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Miracles to t ...

. "My Baby"'s B-side, the Paul Williams-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 entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night M ...

''. 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,

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

The Persuasions The Persuasions are an American a cappella group that began singing together in Brooklyn, New York in the mid-1960s. The Persuasions were formed in Brooklyn in 1962, singing a cappella under corner streetlights and in subway corridors. Their ...

, and

Teena Marie Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the sta ...

, as well as a collaboration between Peter Tosh,

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

, and

Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943), often referred to during the 1960s and 1970s as "Keith Richard", is an English musician and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-princi ...

for Tosh's 1978 album ''

Bush Doctor ''Bush Doctor'' is the third studio album by Jamaican reggae singer Peter Tosh. It was released in 1978 on Rolling Stones Records. The album features Mick Jagger as guest vocalist on one song, while Keith Richards plays guitar on two tracks. The ...

''.

Track listing

Side one #" Since I Lost My Baby" ( Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore) (lead singer:

) 2:55 #"

The Girl's Alright with Me "The Girl's Alright with Me" is a 1964 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy ( Motown) label. The B-side to their Top 40 hit "I'll Be in Trouble", the song was also able to chart on its own, peaking at number 102 on Billboard Pop Charts. ...

" (

Edward Holland, Jr. Edward Holland Jr. (born October 30, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Holland was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Although he was an early Motown artist who recorded minor hit singles such as "Jamie", ...

) (lead singer:

) 2:55 #" Just Another Lonely Night" ( Ivy Jo Hunter,

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

) (lead singer: David Ruffin) 3:06 #"

You've Got to Earn It "You've Got to Earn It" is a 1964 song recorded by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. It was released as the B-side to their 1965 Top 40 hit "Since I Lost My Baby", and was also able to chart on its own, peaking at number 23 on the ''Bi ...

" (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 was ...

) (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 ...

) 2:59 Side two #"

" (Whitfield, Holland) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) 2:23 #" Don't Look Back" (Robinson,

Ronnie White Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1939 – August 26, 1995), usually referred to as Ronnie White, was an American singer, best known as the co-founder of The Miracles and its only consistent original member. White was also known for bringing Stevi ...

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

) (lead singers: Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin) 2:41 #"

" (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), known professionally as Berry Gordy Jr., is a retired American record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown record l ...

, 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, record producer and singer who was best known for his career with Detroit's Motown Records. Early life and career Bo ...

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

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

, 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/

tenor A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is wide ...

/ falsetto) *

– vocals (tenor/falsetto) * Paul Williams – vocals (tenor/baritone) *

– vocals ( bass) *

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 ...

– vocals (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 Ma ...

– 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 * Smokey Robinson – "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 Ivy Jo Hunter – "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