I Want a Love I Can See

[eyehearttempts]

At iTunes I came across an album with live perfomances from different Motortown Revues, and on the album it had the full version of "I Want a Love I Can See" that had some ad-libing, "Dream Come True" with a solo from Paul, and "Cloud Nine". I bought all three of these songs (no surprise, huh? ;D), and on "I Want a Love I Can See", someone had a solo. At first, it sounded like Eddie in his natural tenor; then, I thought it could have been Al!

Does anyone know about this album? If so, can you tell me who's voice it was on that solo?! My guess would be Ed, but I'm not entirely sure.

[Cadeho]

We've been debating the voices of Al and Eddie for some time... and you know... I've still been listening and have a few more whippings for that dead horse! For that performance, it still has me doubtful if it's Eddie... On the "Live!" album during the medley where they sing this song, Paul and Eddie can be heard singing the same way at the end of the Revue recording behind David. But just before the "I'm alrights" in the Revue recording, there is a falsetto "woo" that lasts into the first "I'm alright" that sounds like it could be Eddie. In the "Live!" version, that same "woo" exists, definitely by Eddie.

People seem to forget that Motown was all smoke and mirrors in the early days. They passed people off as other people all the time. It had been said that Eddie and Al sounded alike and that in live shows Al took an ocaisional lead. Since Al was described as a "floating tenor," he probably had a range that took him up there with Eddie. So people believe that all falsettos in the group in the old days were all Eddie. It's possible Al may have had a brief moment to be heard.

Try "Isn't She Pretty," I swear that is Al, not Eddie, because I can hear Eddie in the background; the voice trading off with Paul at about the 1 minute 9 second mark until the 12 second mark, he gives a low note at the end of "she's pretty now" while Eddie can be clearly heard in the background. Also listen to the "so fine so fine so fines" at the end of the song. "Isn't She Pretty" is the third song recorded by the group and it seems like while they were trying to establish what their sound should be. They had Paul and Eddie sing the first two, the fourth song "Your Wonderful Love," (where Eddie seems to make a mistake in the background) is Paul's alone, then the fifth song, "Check Yourself" starts out with Otis and Melvin. If the other four were given a chance at the mic, why wouldn't Al have had a chance? Almost every description of "Isn't She Pretty" lists it as an "ensemble" song with no definite lead. Is it hard to believe that maybe Al can be heard up front once? Then on top of that, Motown virtually erased Al from the Temptations history that people still think David was a founding member!

The only people to really answer the questions are the producers like Smokey, Gordy, and Otis. It'd would be nice to find some record in the vaults that have written on it "[Lead: Al]." So, I'll say it's possible it could be Al on the live version of "I Want a Love I Can See."

[eyehearttempts]

Thanks for your opinion, Cadeho! When I first heard, "Isn't She Pretty", I thought Al was singing lead too. Then, I listened and listened and listened, and came to the conclusion that Eddie is singing lead. Maybe Al was singing in a higher key that maybe made him sound like Ed in the background...or maybe Ed's background vocals were just overdubbed. Who knows...who knows!

[Cadeho]

Welcome. That's the other thing... "Isn't She pretty" was recorded in 1961 and during those days they rarely did prerecorded stuff. If that is Eddie... he was having a very very bad voice day, falsetto and natural. I've never been able to convince myself it was Eddie on that song... but I do lean towards him in the live "I Want a Love I Can See," but I can't say for sure.

[Beej]

I don't think there's any question that it's Elbridge Bryant up front on "Isn't She Pretty." Eddie's voice is clear as day in the background. Whereas Eddie's falsetto was smooth and mellow in the early days, Al's was less refined...had a bit of a "screech" to it.

The song I've seen people go back and forth over is an early Norman Whitfield production, "May I Have This Dance." Most say it's Eddie...but others insist it's Al.

[smooth]

May I Have This Dance to me, sounds like Eddie Kendricks singing in his natural voice, similar to him on My Pillow. But especially at the end with him singing in his falsetto on the end of the song ,sounds alot like Eddie. Eddie is singing with Paul on Farewell My Love and that voice from Farewell My Love sounds like the same voice on the above songs mentioned. I might be wrong about May I Have This Dance, but I doubt it. But on Isn't She Pretty,honestly, I can't say who is who up front. I'm going to listen some more to see if I can tell the difference.