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The Temptations - Meet the Temptations Audio CD

A fair review of the The Temptations "Meet the Temptations" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Temptations reviews here, or go back to the The Temptations tabs.

The Temptations Band: The Temptations
Title: Meet the Temptations
Rating:
Release Date: 1999-05-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Way You Do the Things You Do 2: I Want a Love I Can See 3: Dream Come True 4: Paradise 5: May I Have This Dance 6: Isn't She Pretty 7: Just Let Me Know 8: Your Wonderful Love 9: Further You Look, the Less You See 10: Check Yourself 11: Slow Down Heart 12: Farewell My Love 13: Oh, Mother of Mine [*] 14: Romance Without Finance [*]

Pleased Ta Know Ya Fellas
The truth is that the Temps have been releasing singles since 1960 or 1961 (to my knowledge), and this album features some of their earliest group songs. The Temptations' first album from 1964 is a wonderful "introduction" to an extremely talented group whose star was about to be on a vertical rise in the coming years. Berry Gordy handles a lot of the composition as he did on many of the earlier Motown groups at the time. Since most of the songs precede 1964, there is a heavy Doo-Wop sound, for the group's early sound was indeed deep rooted in harmony call and response, such a sound heavily influencing their later records in the mid and even late 60's. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" IS from 1964, and has that upbeat mid 60's style tempo and is an uplifting song. Eddie Kendrick's lead falsetto is wonderful here. One of my favorites here is the upbeat "Paradise:" one other song comes to mind while hearing this song: "Sherry Baby" from the Four Seasons, but the Temptations' song, as similar as the tempo and tone may be, is a beautiful original: Melvin Franklin's Bass opens up the song, and Eddie leads this beautiful doo wop winner. Eddie also leads "May I Have This Dance" but in a slightly lower tenor. It is a humble, classy, charming, and innocent song about getting with a love interest. Paul Williams really rocks on "Farewell My Love," and as with any other Temp who takes lead, he handles it with easy finesse, and he shares some leads with again wonderful Eddie. Eddie again leads on the slow drag ballad "Dream Come True" with dreamy doo wop harmonies and sweet strings and easy tempo. There are a few faster tempo songs with a rock `n roll flair: "Romance Without Finance" from circa 1961, a cool jam, and others like "Isn't She Pretty" have a faster tempo. The minor drawback of this album is the lack of two gorgeous doo-wop ballads, the heart wrenching "Tear Stained Letter," and the sad-then-hopeful "My Pillow," but back then LP's had limited time space I guess. Whatever; this early collective of fine Temptations' songs is more than worth its weight in any precious stone and is priceless in my opinion.


The Men OF Soul
All the songs are not bad on this cd I enjoyed listening to the beginnings of the Temptations. I enjoy the Temptations in everything they do this is the start of them singing and I love "Check Yourself" and played it alot.


The Meet and Greet
What he does with I Want a Love I Can See, Just Let Me Know, and Farewell My Love are awesome. The most special thing about this album is most of the songs are led sang by Paul Williams, who I have decided was not only the best singer in the group but my favorite member even though he died 8 or 9 years before I was born.

The least special thing about this album is that Berry Gordy produced a considerable amount of the songs and his songs always end up having a similar sounding melody or beat to other songs that already existed. Of course, the fact he would "borrow" melodies from other songs is nothing new when you consider how he "borrowed" his artists' royalties and forced many of them to die penniless because of his greed and svengali personality. There is no reason, other than Gordy's greed, why a group like the Temptations shouldn't have been millionaires by the late Sixties with all the hits they had. It doesn't matter they didn't write a majority of their own music. Neither do many artists today, but they're still rich.

The two reasons I won't buy the Emperors of Soul 5-cd collection even though something is telling me I should is 1) I know there will be songs not included on that collection: e. g. Just Let Me Know and Your Wonderful Love are two beautifully sang songs by Paul that are not on Emperors of Soul. 2) I guess I don't feel I really need that much Temptations music and instead should pick & choose certain individual albums and call it a day. Time will tell if I change my mind.

I also wish they would have added "Come On" as another bonus track. I wonder how many fans of the Temptations movie listen to that song waiting for the toilet to flush.

Bottom Line: a good start but not a five-star outing.
.


The Tempts Before David Ruffin
Apparently word got around, so the label was forced to include "The Way" on the group's second album, "The Temptations Sing Smokey". Motown was not truthful about this album in 1964; it represented a culling of three years or so of unsuccessful singles by the Temptations, with their new hit "The Way You Do The Things You Do" added on. Elbridge Bryant, who preceded David Ruffin in the group, did not sing lead; most of these songs feature the great Eddie Kendricks.


Nice Meeting You All!
If you love the Temps, then this is a must have for your collection! Great early stuff from the original five.


You can see a complete list of all The Temptations discography, or go back to the The Temptations tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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