Latest Release
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- DEC 16, 2023
- 5 Songs
- The Temptations Sing Smokey · 1964
- Sky's the Limit · 1971
- Gettin' Ready · 1966
- Wish It Would Rain · 1967
- Gold · 1972
- Puzzle People · 1969
- All Directions · 1972
- Gettin' Ready · 1966
- Truly for You · 1984
- Meet the Temptations · 1964
Essential Albums
- Released in 1969, Cloud Nine signaled The Temptations' power move into a psychedelic soul zone. With Norman Whitfield calling the shots from behind the boards, the title track sets the template of deep and funky grooves. Its centerpiece is the cautionary tale "Runaway Child, Running Wild," which finds the group embarking on an audacious, nine-minute musical journey that veers off into a freaky, hard-rocking jam session fueled by vicious organ riffs.
- Smokey Robinson had been writing hits for the Temptations for a while, most of which were sung by the brilliant high-tenor Eddie Kendricks. Then Smokey decided he'd write a song for the unique and extraordinary voice of David Ruffin and delivered "My Girl" which completely changed the balance of vocal power in the group. No disrespect to Eddie, Paul, Otis or Melvin, but David's songs, especially "It's Growing," announce a talent that no group could contain. But keeping it all together are Smokey Robinson's songs, each one better than the last. The album remains a triumph for everyone involved, highlighting Robinson's incredible talent as a writer and producer, and giving the Temptations their due as a powerful group that could make anyone's songs their own.
- 2018
- 2014
- 2010
- 2006
Artist Playlists
- This Motown hit-making machine had real emotional heft.
- These R&B princes evolved into psychedelic soul renegades.
- Countless artists have emulated their smooth R&B style.
Live Albums
Compilations
More To Hear
- Their “My Girl” duet at the 1998 Halftime Show was a big moment.
- The story behind The Temptations’ last No. 1 record.
- Temptations founder Otis Williams celebrates his 80th birthday.
- A birthday tribute to Q-Tip's mom featuring her favorite music.
- The ’60s soul classics that inspired Elton John.
About The Temptations
Just about every R&B vocal group formed since the mid-’60s owes a debt to The Temptations, who came together in Detroit in 1960 and quickly forged a ubiquitous template marked by sartorial splendor, elaborate choreography, and sublime harmony singing, matching artistry with commercial savvy. Signed by Motown Records in 1961, they helped establish the label’s polished strain of driving, meticulously arranged soul with a string of indelible singles, continuing well into the 1970s, that remain inescapable signifiers of the naïveté, hope, and tumult of America during the period. The group updated its sound often, moving from early hits written by Smokey Robinson, including the irresistibly sunny “My Girl,” to a tougher attack, with singers David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks tapping into raw gospel roots on “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Upon Ruffin’s departure, the Temptations under producer Norman Whitfield adroitly adapted to changing tastes, embracing a mixture of funk and psychedelia on songs like the No. 1 smash “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” They have weathered many personnel changes since, with only founding member Otis Williams a constant. In 1982 Kendricks and Ruffin returned for the one-off Reunion album and tour, and the group continued to chart R&B hits through the late ’90s.
- ORIGIN
- Detroit, MI, United States
- FORMED
- 1960
- GENRE
- R&B/Soul