Masterpiece (The Temptations album)

Last updated
Masterpiece
Temptations-masterpiece.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 21, 1973
Recorded1972–73
Studio Hitsville USA, Detroit
Genre Soul, funk, psychedelic soul
Length42:08
Label Gordy
GS 965
Producer Norman Whitfield
The Temptations chronology
All Directions
(1972)
Masterpiece
(1973)
The Temptations in Japan
(1973)
Alternative covers
The Temptations Masterpiece Alternative Cover.jpg
An alternative re-edition cover

Masterpiece is a 1973 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced and written by Norman Whitfield.

Contents

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Track listing

All selections written and produced by Norman Whitfield.

Side one

  1. "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" – 4:36 (lead singer: Richard Street)
  2. "Masterpiece" – 13:49 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin)

Side two

  1. "Ma" – 4:46 (lead singers: Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin)
  2. "Law of the Land" – 5:08 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Richard Street)
  3. "Plastic Man" – 5:53 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street)
  4. "Hurry Tomorrow" – 8:06 (lead singer: Damon Harris)

Personnel

Singles history

Charts

Album

Chart (1973)Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP) [4] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [5] 17
Spanish Albums (AFE) [6] 13
UK Albums (OCC) [7] 28
US Billboard 200 [8] 7
US Top R&B Albums [9] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP) [10] 51
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [11] 47
US Top R&B Albums [12] 15
US Billboard 200 [13] 56

Singles

YearNameUSUS

R&B

UK
1973Masterpiece (Vocal)71-
Plastic Man408-
Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)352-
Law of the Land--41

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP) [14] Gold100,000*
United States (RIAA) [15] Gold500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r19822
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 15, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9780743201698.
  4. "Tous les Albums de l'Artiste choisi". InfoDisc. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  6. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  7. "The Temptations Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  8. "The Temptations US Chart History". Billboard . Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  9. "The Temptations". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  10. "InfoDisc : Les Albums (CD) de 1973 par InfoDisc". 2016-01-10. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  11. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1973. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  12. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  13. "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  14. "French album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in French). InfoDisc.Select THE TEMPTATIONS and click OK. 
  15. "American album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece". Recording Industry Association of America.