Post by Jonel on Feb 9, 2003 22:29:10 GMT -5
Newest Temptations Reincarnation Seduces Listeners With Harmony
John J Blair Sun-Gazette Correspondent
February 6, 2003
Elegant harmonies and fine choreography define The Temp-tations, one of America’s most durable vocal groups. As one of Motown’s most vibrant acts, the band has waxed socially driven soul and pop-rock, influencing countless artists in British rock, gospel, Philly-soul and reggae.
Williamsport will get a chance to relive this sound live at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday with a concert by The Temptations and opening act Sons of Pitches.
With dignity and grace, The Temptations has endured through many changes. Most people recall an image of the 1964 to 1968 group, fronted by the falsetto prowess of Eddie Kendricks and the smoky tenor of David Ruffin.
The current line-up, as assembled by original member Otis Williams, confidently conveys the genuine article. Now in his 20th year as a Tempt, Ron Tyson is the heir apparent to Kendricks’ vocalese. Tenor Barrington Scott Henderson pays tribute to Ruffin’s rasp. Rounded out by Harry McGilberry (bass) and Terry Weeks (second tenor), the current configuration, Williams said, “is more of what the first group of men were like, more than any other line-up. They give our fans what they come to hear and keep us on our toes, doing that Temptations Walk into the new millennium.”
In 2001, The Temptations released its 59th album of new songs, “Awesome,” a superb follow-up to the acclaimed “Ear-Resistible” (2000) and “Phoenix Rising” (1998). This trio of creative and commercial triumphs proves “the veterans” can compete in today’s arena without raw expletives and rap cameos.
“As a country, as a people, as a musical community, we face challenges every time we go to work. Vulgarity and disrespect have never been more prevalent. But real values — musical and spiritual — are as powerful as ever,” Williams noted.
“Harmony goes deep,” McGilberry said. “It’s more than vocal. We’re talking about spiritual harmony as well.” Aided by Nat Adderly Jr., Gerald Levert and Narada Michael Walden, the group’s recent material draws from classic Tempts’ signatures (“Stay” echoes “My Girl”) as well as gospel and jazz.
Last summer, Motown released “My Girl: The Very Best of The Temptations,” a compilation of rarities, remixes and a number of the band’s 43 Top 10 hits.
The Temptations formed in 1961. Baritone Otis Williams was excited by the singing and stagecraft of Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams (no relation to Otis), members of The Primes, who Williams had seen in concert. Williams beckoned them to join his colleagues, tenor Al Bryant and bass Mervyn Franklin (formerly of The Distants). The groups merged and signed to a Motown subsidiary in 1962.
Except for a minor hit, “Dream Come True,” early Temptations records sputtered. Fortunes changed in 1964 as David Ruffin replaced Bryant. Next, Smokey Robinson, celebrated singer-songwriter and producer, escorted The Tempts into the studio. The group broke out with “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” followed by the signature song, “My Girl,” a No. 1 on pop and rhythm and blues charts in 1965.
Robinson’s smooth popcraft begat one more hit, “Get Ready” (1966), before the group switched to the muscular edge of producers Brian Holland and Norman Whitfield. Kendricks led the smash “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” while Ruffin commanded “Beauty’s Only Skin Deep.” After 1967, the guys became more evocative (“I Wish It Would Rain”) and harder (“I Know I’m Losing You”).
Ruffin, about to wander into a solo career, was fired in 1968 after failing to appear at a concert. He was replaced by ex-Contour (“Do You Love Me?”) Dennis Edwards, whose raucous voice suited the Tempts’ turn to a rougher, kaleidoscopic sound.
The Grammy-winning “Cloud Nine” was trailed by “Psych-edelic Shack,” “Can’t Get Next to You” and “Ball of Confusion” (since subjected to gospel, punk and techno interpretations).
By 1970, the band’s music became openly political. In 1971, Kendricks began an admirable solo run after crooning the delicate ballad “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me).” Paul Williams left
and tenors Damon Harris and Richard Street entered as the riveting narrative “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972) went to No. 1 and notched another Grammy.
The Tempts charted in 1973 with “Masterpiece.” That same year, Paul Williams was found dead from a self-inflected gunshot. As the ’70s wore on, the chart hits faded. The group’s final albums for Motown were released in 1976 — including the underrated sci-fi funk, Beatles-flavored “Wings of Love.” The guys signed to Atlantic and faltered at disco attempts.
Returning to Motown in 1980, the Tempts scored a hit with “Power” with Dennis Edwards back on the mike. Two years later, Ruffin and Kendricks joined in for “Reunion.” A highly anticipated tour followed, but it was curtailed by label hassles and personal differences. Edwards quit and was replaced by Ron Tyson.
Through the ’80s and early ’90s, The Tempts gigged regularly and issued competent recordings, though chart showings were meager. Tragedy also marked those years. Franklin, Kendricks and Ruffin all died between 1991 and 1995.
Before they could be banished to “the oldies circuit,” The Temptations’ legacy was upgraded again. The 1995 collection of love songs, “For Lovers Only,” did well. In 1997, a well-received NBC television miniseries preceded the appropriately titled “Phoenix Rising” — which went platinum and put the group back in centerfield.
“We just never stop, because we’ve become like a piece of Americana,” Williams said. “We live in a different world than ... when the Tempts began. But one thing hasn’t changed — fans respond to the Temptations because we’re bringing music that matters.”
www.sungazette.com/articles.asp?articleID=5611
John J Blair Sun-Gazette Correspondent
February 6, 2003
Elegant harmonies and fine choreography define The Temp-tations, one of America’s most durable vocal groups. As one of Motown’s most vibrant acts, the band has waxed socially driven soul and pop-rock, influencing countless artists in British rock, gospel, Philly-soul and reggae.
Williamsport will get a chance to relive this sound live at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday with a concert by The Temptations and opening act Sons of Pitches.
With dignity and grace, The Temptations has endured through many changes. Most people recall an image of the 1964 to 1968 group, fronted by the falsetto prowess of Eddie Kendricks and the smoky tenor of David Ruffin.
The current line-up, as assembled by original member Otis Williams, confidently conveys the genuine article. Now in his 20th year as a Tempt, Ron Tyson is the heir apparent to Kendricks’ vocalese. Tenor Barrington Scott Henderson pays tribute to Ruffin’s rasp. Rounded out by Harry McGilberry (bass) and Terry Weeks (second tenor), the current configuration, Williams said, “is more of what the first group of men were like, more than any other line-up. They give our fans what they come to hear and keep us on our toes, doing that Temptations Walk into the new millennium.”
In 2001, The Temptations released its 59th album of new songs, “Awesome,” a superb follow-up to the acclaimed “Ear-Resistible” (2000) and “Phoenix Rising” (1998). This trio of creative and commercial triumphs proves “the veterans” can compete in today’s arena without raw expletives and rap cameos.
“As a country, as a people, as a musical community, we face challenges every time we go to work. Vulgarity and disrespect have never been more prevalent. But real values — musical and spiritual — are as powerful as ever,” Williams noted.
“Harmony goes deep,” McGilberry said. “It’s more than vocal. We’re talking about spiritual harmony as well.” Aided by Nat Adderly Jr., Gerald Levert and Narada Michael Walden, the group’s recent material draws from classic Tempts’ signatures (“Stay” echoes “My Girl”) as well as gospel and jazz.
Last summer, Motown released “My Girl: The Very Best of The Temptations,” a compilation of rarities, remixes and a number of the band’s 43 Top 10 hits.
The Temptations formed in 1961. Baritone Otis Williams was excited by the singing and stagecraft of Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams (no relation to Otis), members of The Primes, who Williams had seen in concert. Williams beckoned them to join his colleagues, tenor Al Bryant and bass Mervyn Franklin (formerly of The Distants). The groups merged and signed to a Motown subsidiary in 1962.
Except for a minor hit, “Dream Come True,” early Temptations records sputtered. Fortunes changed in 1964 as David Ruffin replaced Bryant. Next, Smokey Robinson, celebrated singer-songwriter and producer, escorted The Tempts into the studio. The group broke out with “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” followed by the signature song, “My Girl,” a No. 1 on pop and rhythm and blues charts in 1965.
Robinson’s smooth popcraft begat one more hit, “Get Ready” (1966), before the group switched to the muscular edge of producers Brian Holland and Norman Whitfield. Kendricks led the smash “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” while Ruffin commanded “Beauty’s Only Skin Deep.” After 1967, the guys became more evocative (“I Wish It Would Rain”) and harder (“I Know I’m Losing You”).
Ruffin, about to wander into a solo career, was fired in 1968 after failing to appear at a concert. He was replaced by ex-Contour (“Do You Love Me?”) Dennis Edwards, whose raucous voice suited the Tempts’ turn to a rougher, kaleidoscopic sound.
The Grammy-winning “Cloud Nine” was trailed by “Psych-edelic Shack,” “Can’t Get Next to You” and “Ball of Confusion” (since subjected to gospel, punk and techno interpretations).
By 1970, the band’s music became openly political. In 1971, Kendricks began an admirable solo run after crooning the delicate ballad “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me).” Paul Williams left
and tenors Damon Harris and Richard Street entered as the riveting narrative “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972) went to No. 1 and notched another Grammy.
The Tempts charted in 1973 with “Masterpiece.” That same year, Paul Williams was found dead from a self-inflected gunshot. As the ’70s wore on, the chart hits faded. The group’s final albums for Motown were released in 1976 — including the underrated sci-fi funk, Beatles-flavored “Wings of Love.” The guys signed to Atlantic and faltered at disco attempts.
Returning to Motown in 1980, the Tempts scored a hit with “Power” with Dennis Edwards back on the mike. Two years later, Ruffin and Kendricks joined in for “Reunion.” A highly anticipated tour followed, but it was curtailed by label hassles and personal differences. Edwards quit and was replaced by Ron Tyson.
Through the ’80s and early ’90s, The Tempts gigged regularly and issued competent recordings, though chart showings were meager. Tragedy also marked those years. Franklin, Kendricks and Ruffin all died between 1991 and 1995.
Before they could be banished to “the oldies circuit,” The Temptations’ legacy was upgraded again. The 1995 collection of love songs, “For Lovers Only,” did well. In 1997, a well-received NBC television miniseries preceded the appropriately titled “Phoenix Rising” — which went platinum and put the group back in centerfield.
“We just never stop, because we’ve become like a piece of Americana,” Williams said. “We live in a different world than ... when the Tempts began. But one thing hasn’t changed — fans respond to the Temptations because we’re bringing music that matters.”
www.sungazette.com/articles.asp?articleID=5611
His "Just My Imagination" was superb! They also didn't mention David Sea was a founding member and Dennis Edmunds replaced him! 