This article needs additional citations for verification .(April 2010) |
A Song for You | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 16, 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1974 | |||
Studio | Motown Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA) | |||
Genre | Soul, funk | |||
Length | 35:53 | |||
Label | Gordy G6 969 S1 | |||
Producer | Berry Gordy, Jeffrey Bowen, James Anthony Carmichael, Suzee Wendy Ikeda, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford | |||
The Temptations chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from A Song for You | ||||
|
A Song for You is a 1975 album by the Temptations. It features two R&B #1 hits: "Happy People" (originally intended for recording by its authors, the Commodores), and "Shakey Ground", one of the group's final R&B #1 songs.
The title track features lead singer Dennis Edwards on a song written by Leon Russell. Richard Street and Melvin Franklin sing lead on the track "Firefly".
A Song for You features a familiar device of the time used to exhibit the versatility of 1970s soul groups: one side features up-tempo cuts and the other side focuses on ballads. Several songs on side one such as "Glass House" and "Shakey Ground" featured P-Funk-backed dance grooves and even a writing credit for former Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, while side two had tracks such as "I'm a Bachelor" and "Memories", which showcased a more subdued style of soul.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C [2] |
This album, while it was initially panned by the Rolling Stone Record Guide , proved its worth, going gold (selling over 500,000 copies) and winning the 1976 American Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album. This was also the final album by Eddie Kendricks's replacement Damon Harris, who was let go after this album. He would rejoin his Young Tempts (aka "the Young Vandals") bandmates as Impact.
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Happy People" | Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Donald Baldwin | 3:38 |
2. | "Glasshouse" | Charlemagne, Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Richard Street, Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin | 3:54 |
3. | "Shakey Ground" | Dennis Edwards, Eddie Hazel, Alphonso Boyd, Jeffrey Bowen | 4:03 |
4. | "The Prophet" | Melvin Franklin, Jeffrey Bowen, Kathy Wakefield, Larry Duncan | 4:28 |
5. | "Happy People" (Instrumental) | Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Donald Baldwin | 2:27 |
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "A Song for You" | Dennis Edwards, Leon Russell | 4:40 |
2. | "Memories" | Dennis Edwards, Donald Baldwin, Kathy Wakefield, Jeffrey Bowen | 6:01 |
3. | "I'm a Bachelor" | Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams, Damon Harris, Richard Street, Melvin Franklin | 4:21 |
4. | "Firefly" | Richard Street, Melvin Franklin, Jesse Boyce | 4:02 |
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [3] | 77 |
Canadian Albums ( RPM ) [4] | 14 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [5] | 9 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [6] | 62 |
US Billboard 200 [7] | 13 |
The Bridge is the tenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on July 25, 1986. It was Joel's last studio album produced by Phil Ramone as well as the last to feature Joel's long-time bassist Doug Stegmeyer and rhythm guitarist Russell Javors. The album yielded several successful singles, including "A Matter of Trust", "Modern Woman", and "This Is the Time".
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a song originally performed by Motown recording act the Undisputed Truth in 1972, though it became much better known after a Grammy-award winning cover by the Temptations was issued later the same year. This latter version of the song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Psychedelic Shack is the twelfth studio album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1970. Completely written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield, Psychedelic Shack almost completely abandoned the "Motown Sound" formula, instead delving fully into psychedelia. Along with the hit title track, the album also features the group's original version of "War", which became a major hit for Edwin Starr later in 1970.
"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" is a song by American soul group the Temptations, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and produced by Norman Whitfield, it features on the group's 1971 album, Sky's the Limit. When released as a single, "Just My Imagination" became the third Temptations song to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single held the number one position on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart for two weeks in 1971, from March 28 to April 10. "Just My Imagination" also held the number one spot on the Billboard R&B Singles chart for three weeks, from February 27 to March 20 of that year.
Sky's the Limit is the fourteenth studio album by the Temptations, released in 1971 through Gordy Records. The album includes the #1 hit "Just My Imagination ", the Top 40 hit "Ungena Za Ulimwengu ", and the original version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes", later a Top 5 hit for The Undisputed Truth.
All Directions is a 1972 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced by Norman Whitfield. It reached number two on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most successful non-collaborative album on the chart, and became their twelfth album to reach number one on the Top R&B Albums chart.
Solid Rock is the fifteenth studio album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced by Norman Whitfield. The LP was the first made primarily without founding members and original lead singers Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. Frustrated by conflicts and fights with Temptations Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, and producer Whitfield's steadfast insistence on producing psychedelic soul for the group when they really wanted to sing ballads, Kendricks had quit the act and negotiated a solo deal with Motown's Tamla label.
The Temptations in a Mellow Mood is the sixth studio album by the Temptations, released in 1967 by Gordy Records. Composed primarily of pop standards such as "Ol' Man River" and "For Once in My Life", and similar songs written by Holland-Dozier-Holland and other Motown staff songwriters, the Mellow Mood album was part of Motown chief Berry Gordy's crossover plans for the group. Gordy wanted the Temptations, already the most popular male group among black audiences, to attract a large white fanbase and be able to secure playdates at supper clubs like the Copacabana, where the group had first performed in the summer of 1967.
Cloud Nine is the ninth studio album by American musical group The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1969.
The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul is the fifth studio album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1967. Featuring four hit singles, With a Lot o' Soul is the most successful Temptations album from their "classic 5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams constituted the Temptations' lineup.
Puzzle People is the eleventh studio album released by American soul quintet The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label in 1969. Produced entirely by Norman Whitfield, Puzzle People expanded on the psychedelic soul sound of the Temptations' previous LP, Cloud Nine. Although a few straightforward soul ballads are present, the album is primarily composed of Sly & the Family Stone/James Brown-derived proto-funk tracks such as the lead single "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down", and the number-one Billboard Pop hit "I Can't Get Next to You".
The Temptations Wish It Would Rain is the seventh studio album by the Temptations, released in 1968 via Gordy Records. It was the final release from the group's "Classic-5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams constituted the Temptations' lineup.
The Temptin' Temptations is the third studio album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1965. The album includes several of the group's hits from 1965, and also includes a handful of singles that were not included on the Temptations' first 1965 album, The Temptations Sing Smokey. Among these are the 1964 singles "Girl " and "I'll Be in Trouble"; and the 1965 singles "Since I Lost My Baby", and "My Baby". Seven of the album's 12 tracks had previously been released as singles and their B-sides, though "My Baby" preceded the album only by a month.
House Party is a 1975 album released by the American R&B vocal group, the Temptations, on Motown Records' Gordy label.
The Temptations Do the Temptations is an album by the Temptations, released in 1976 via Gordy Records. The Temptations' Motown contract was terminated after the release of the album.
The Temptations' Christmas Card is a 1970 Christmas album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. The album was released on October 30, 1970. It's also the group's first holiday release, it features each Temptation leading on various popular Christmas standards and original Christmas songs.
Reunion is a 1982 album by The Temptations for Gordy Records. The album was released during the 1982 Temptations Reunion tour, which reunited David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the Temptations after a decade-long absence. The album also features then-current Temptations Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, and founding members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin. Reunion featured the single "Standing on the Top", produced by and featuring Motown funk star Rick James, who had previously used the Temptations as the background vocalists for his 1981 hit "Super Freak". It was their first album to reach the top 40 since Wings of Love (1976).
Surface Thrills is the first of two 1983 albums released by the American R&B vocal group, the Temptations, on Motown Records' Gordy label.
"Shakey Ground" is a 1975 R&B single by The Temptations. It was co-written by Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, who plays lead guitar on the song.
Power is a 1980 studio album from American soul group the Temptations, their return to Motown after a brief contract with Atlantic Records. Dennis Edwards also returned to the group after Louis Price, who recorded during the Atlantic period, left.