|
|
Post by mcribs on Aug 25, 2004 13:36:31 GMT -5
So,what you are saying is that they didn't get signed to Motown until the superior talent joined forces with Otis,Mel & Al?   Actually, I don't think they had a very stable unit until they hooked up with Eddie and Paul. But you can surmise from that what you will. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Aba21 on Aug 25, 2004 14:05:00 GMT -5
So,what you are saying is that they didn't get signed to Motown until the superior talent joined forces with Otis,Mel & Al? I guess some would view it in that context. |
|
|
|
Post by JoAnne on Aug 26, 2004 8:04:49 GMT -5
The James that Otis is referring to was James Crawford. The lineup that auditioned at Motown was Elbridge, Otis, Melvin, Eddie and Paul. James, Richard, Elbridge, Otis and Melvin were the group called "Otis Williams and the Distants". They were the group that originally recorded "Come On." James left first, then later Richard. Yea, Otis Williams and the Distants had broke up when they merged with Eddie and Paul. There was no group for either of them. I can't understand why he would say Paul came after Richard Street in 1971. When they went to Motown to audition they were the Elgins. One of the songs they sang for the audition was "A Hunded Pounds of Clay" and Paul sang lead on that song. So how could he replace Richard in the group??  They couldn't keep the name "The Elgins" because there was another group at Motown at that time with that name. They were a co-ed group. I also don't understand why Otis didn't give Eddie and Paul credit for being one of the founding members of the group. |
|
|
|
Post by kalisa2 on Aug 26, 2004 10:09:32 GMT -5
Can anybody answer this question? In this interview, Otis stated that when they went to Motown and became the Temptations, the line up was, Otis, Elbridge, James, Melvin, Richard. They called themselves Otis Williams and the Distants. I always thought the line up was Otis, Melvin, Elbridge, Eddie and Paul. They call themselves the Elgins. What was the line up and name when they went to Motown to audition and became the Temptations in 1961?? Honey...I'm not seeing where he says that at all. He was talking about their time at Northern Records when he names James in the group. “We went over to Motown in 1961 and history was made. Prior to that, I was at a small record company called Northern Records. At that time the group was known as Otis Williams and The Distants. “We had a popular recording out called “Come On.” Before that, we were the Siberians. That group consisted of Elbridge Bryant, whom we called Al, James Crawford, or Pee Wee, Arthur Walton, and Vernard Plain our lead singer and of course myself. Arthur was replaced with Melvin Franklin and then Vernard quit and he was replaced with Richard Street," so it looks like he is giving a backwards history... He still didn't name Eddie in there, though . In the part where they have Paul replacing Richard Street in 1971, that's the reporter giving a history, from the way I read it...not Otis. |
|
|
|
Post by JoAnne on Aug 26, 2004 12:27:00 GMT -5
Honey...I'm not seeing where he says that at all. He was talking about their time at Northern Records when he names James in the group. “We went over to Motown in 1961 and history was made. Prior to that, I was at a small record company called Northern Records. At that time the group was known as Otis Williams and The Distants. “We had a popular recording out called “Come On.” Before that, we were the Siberians. That group consisted of Elbridge Bryant, whom we called Al, James Crawford, or Pee Wee, Arthur Walton, and Vernard Plain our lead singer and of course myself. Arthur was replaced with Melvin Franklin and then Vernard quit and he was replaced with Richard Street," so it looks like he is giving a backwards history... He still didn't name Eddie in there, though . In the part where they have Paul replacing Richard Street in 1971, that's the reporter giving a history, from the way I read it...not Otis. Yea he was giving the background. But after he said; "Vernard quit and he was replaced with Richard Street" He said "When we came over to Motown we became the Temptations. We were Motown's first all male group" When he said "we went to Motown and became the Temptations" he had the line up as The Distants. Not The Elgins!  He never said anything about the Elgins. Which leads people to beleive that the The Distants became the Temptations. Not the Elgins! That's the point I'm trying to make. He never said Paul and Eddie was in the group when he went to Motown and became the Temptations! My bad, I thought Otis was still being quoted. The part about Paul came after Richard is a error the reporter made. that's sad |
|
|
|
Post by JoAnne on Aug 28, 2004 7:50:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by kalisa2 on Aug 28, 2004 8:56:21 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gua on Aug 28, 2004 10:26:07 GMT -5
I am one of the new members that had not seen that article nor had I read the thread that you posted....Thanks!! As you guys have already talked about this I must go on record to say I thought the miniseries was good. Being a child of the 60's the miniseries brought a lot of memories (I had a singing group patterned like the Tempts, my group won amatuer nite at the Apollo) I heard all of the rumors about the Tempts. My biggest problem with it was that unfortunenatly it was told by the sole survving member Otis. I thought it extremely ironic that the least talented member was the one who was telling the history(his-story). I don't begrudge Otis, I just keep it in perspective. I know that the Tempts were the premier group of all time and, in my mind, are struggling to maintain their roots under Otis. The fact that he gets good singers does not translate into success....there is much more to it besides the ability to sing....Otis needs help!!! But I think at this juncture his ego wont recognize that fact  |
|
|
|
Post by mcribs on Aug 28, 2004 13:12:23 GMT -5
Was that article written by Mike, by any chance?  ;D |
|
|
|
Post by JoAnne on Aug 28, 2004 13:59:20 GMT -5
I am one of the new members that had not seen that article nor had I read the thread that you posted....Thanks!! As you guys have already talked about this I must go on record to say I thought the miniseries was good. Being a child of the 60's the miniseries brought a lot of memories (I had a singing group patterned like the Tempts, my group won amatuer nite at the Apollo) I heard all of the rumors about the Tempts. My biggest problem with it was that unfortunenatly it was told by the sole survving member Otis. I thought it extremely ironic that the least talented member was the one who was telling the history(his-story). I don't begrudge Otis, I just keep it in perspective. I know that the Tempts were the premier group of all time and, in my mind, are struggling to maintain their roots under Otis. The fact that he gets good singers does not translate into success....there is much more to it besides the ability to sing....Otis needs help!!! But I think at this juncture his ego wont recognize that fact This is my first time seeing that article also. I might add Gua, you and I seem to agree on this subject.  |
|
|
|
Post by Gua on Aug 28, 2004 14:03:40 GMT -5
Honey, Here, Here ;D |
|
|
|
Post by slowburn on Sept 15, 2004 10:52:54 GMT -5
So,what you are saying is that they didn't get signed to Motown until the superior talent joined forces with Otis,Mel & Al? :laughing :laughing :laughing |
|
|
|
Post by MikeNYC on Sept 15, 2004 13:38:58 GMT -5
Was that article written by Mike, by any chance? ;D No,I know Melvin's name. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by MissTara on Sept 15, 2004 15:11:22 GMT -5
Was that article written by Mike, by any chance? ;D No baby, Mike and I wrote it together. Except a third party didn't remember Melvin's name ;D  |
|
|
|
Post by MikeNYC on Sept 15, 2004 17:31:47 GMT -5
No baby, Mike and I wrote it together. Except a third party didn't remember Melvin's name ;D We are working on the miniseries. We got a deal with HBO..six part series. |
|
He never said anything about the Elgins. Which leads people to beleive that the The Distants became the Temptations. Not the Elgins!
