SOUL SESSIONS/RARE ARTICLES

[Aba21]

tmoney said:

I like the article to but I think that we all live in a dream world concerning the Tempts sometimes. If the O'jays come out with some back to back hits and go up against the Tempts with only those dusties or just a few hits. Whether the Tempts are the best or not, the O'jays are going to win some battles. Hit records keep you popular. Dennis seems to be talking about the time when O'jays and the other groups were very hot. The Temps had cooled down. They have been up and down many more time than Ojays or the spinners. No one will ever be on top for ever. If you come back that't great but you will never stay on top. Loosing put a bitter pill in anybody's mouth. When we loose we have to find out why. Sometimes we blame others who are in charge. Sometime those who are incharge are doing the best they can do. Some time those who are in charge do not have the where with all to let go and try things another way. They feel that if that got things up and running before, they can do it again. I heard that Michael Jordon had that problem for a time.

excellent point!!!!!!

[ritar]

I just thought of something on the beginning of the Harrahs video they are doing an interview and Dennis and ron never say a word Richard says a fwe lines but that was it .Also on the iinterview Ivory put on the board with them all talking only Otis ,Melvin and Richard said anything Woodson and Ron only said a couple of lines each and the only thing I remeber Ron saying was how everyone came to his house to see Dennis with the Tempts on tv or something now I am starting to see what Dennis and Kalisa are saying.

[Aba21]

ritar said:

Thats interesting Kalisa I have seen and heard a few interviews and I had never caught on to that.I never for one minute thought Dennis was lieing I just can't believe that grown men could not speak when they wanted to.If they were out some place alone and were approached by a reporter who wanted to set up an interview if the Tempt was not Otis or Melvin they had to say you must see Otis or Melvin for that interview. Now that is pitiful,it was a long time ago but it is still pitiful.Surely Otis dosen't still pull that same crap these days.

Well you know that is from the old school mentality that was Motown in those times. Each group had a spokesperson and for the Tempts back in that time it was Paul....then it became Melvin.....Richard..Otis for a minute and then Ron...........Dennis never wanted to be out front like that.

[kalisa2]

Aba21 said:

Dennis never wanted to be out front like that.

I disagree a bit here...I think Dennis would have gladly taken any microphone handy and talked everyone's ear off, if that were "permitted". Just from seeing how he took over the Regis and Kathie Lee interview, and his own joking comment on Street Gold that Eddie would be saying "Quit hogging the camera, Dennis". Dennis makes a clear point in this article that replacements were ALWAYS aware that that is what they were, and to mind their places accordingly.

[kalisa2]

ritar said:

I just thought of something on the beginning of the Harrahs video they are doing an interview and Dennis and ron never say a word Richard says a fwe lines but that was it .Also on the iinterview Ivory put on the board with them all talking only Otis ,Melvin and Richard said anything Woodson and Ron only said a couple of lines each and the only thing I remeber Ron saying was how everyone came to his house to see Dennis with the Tempts on tv or something now I am starting to see what Dennis and Kalisa are saying.

Yes, and while Dennis didn't say it in the article, if you read Mary Wilson's account of her life with the Supremes, Motown pretty much dictated who would speak and what they would/could say...While Otis doesn't touch on that in his book (that I can recall), I would guess that all groups were tutored in the same manner.

[Aba21]

kalisa2 said:

I disagree a bit here...I think Dennis would have gladly taken any microphone handy and talked everyone's ear off, if that were "permitted". Just from seeing how he took over the Regis and Kathie Lee interview, and his own joking comment on Street Gold that Eddie would be saying "Quit hogging the camera, Dennis". Dennis makes a clear point in this article that replacements were ALWAYS aware that that is what they were, and to mind their places accordingly.

Not when he was in the group at first. He was very shy and deferred to Melvin and Paul. Or he could have been told to keep his mouth shut too ;D ;D Whatever the reason, he didn't talk at first. That is the point of all this when you try to make the history of the Temptations all inclusive. This a tale of different days and times and what happened back then is different than what happend later in the story of the group.

[MikeNYC]

Aba21 said:

Not when he was in the group at first. He was very shy and deferred to Melvin and Paul. Or he could have been told to keep his mouth shut too ;D ;D Whatever the reason, he didn't talk at first. That is the point of all this when you try to make the history of the Temptations all inclusive. This a tale of different days and times and what happened back then is different than what happend later in the story of the group.

Maybe he felt that he had to earn the right to speak?You know,pay his "dues"!