The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s to mid 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.
Otis Williams is an American second tenor/baritone singer. He is occasionally also a songwriter and a record producer. Williams is the founder and last surviving original member of the Motown vocal group The Temptations, a group in which he continues to perform; he also owns the rights to the Temptations name.
A Song for You is a 1975 album by the Temptations. It features two R&B #1 hits: "Happy People", and "Shakey Ground", one of the group's final R&B #1 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).
Phoenix Rising is a 1998 studio album by American vocal group The Temptations. It was released on the Motown label on August 18, 1998. Featuring the debut of new Temptations members Barrington "Bo" Henderson, Terry Weeks, and Harry McGilberry, following the departure of Ali-Ollie Woodson, who ended his tenure with the group ; as well as the final Temptations album for Theo Peoples, who Henderson replaced.
Ear-Resistible is a studio album by American vocal group the Temptations. Served as the follow-up to Phoenix Rising (1998), it was released by Motown on May 16, 2000. Featuring the Top 20 Urban Adult Contemporary singles "I'm Here", which peaked at #3, and "Selfish Reasons", which peaked at #18, the album won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
For Lovers Only is a 1995 covers/pop standards album by The Temptations for the Motown label, something of a sequel to their 1967 album The Temptations in a Mellow Mood. The album features the final recordings of Melvin Franklin, who fell ill during recording and died before the album's release. Franklin was replaced on the tracks he does not sing on by Parliament-Funkadelic's Ray Davis in his only album appearance with the group. The first single, "Some Enchanted Evening", reached #40 on the Urban Adult Contemporary charts.
Legacy is a 2004 album by The Temptations for the Motown label, introducing new Temptations G.C. Cameron and Joe Herndon. The album was the group's final release on Motown; they left the label shortly after its release. "Somethin' Special" was a Top 40 hit on the Urban Adult Contemporary Charts peaking at #25. The cover photograph was taken by Aaron Rapoport.
Emperors of Soul is a 1994 box set compilation for The Temptations, released by Motown Records. The five-disc collection covers the Temptations' entire four-decade history, from the first recording of The Distants in 1959 to four new recordings by the then-current Temptations lineup of Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, Ron Tyson, and stalwart members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin.
Together Again is an album by the American R&B vocal group the Temptations, released on Motown Records in 1987. It is the group's thirty-fourth studio album, and the first released under the Motown imprint. All of Motown Records' previous Temptations releases were made on the Gordy label, which was discontinued and whose artist roster and back catalog was consolidated into the main Motown label in 1987.
Surface Thrills is the first of two 1983 albums released by the American R&B vocal group, the Temptations, on Motown Records' Gordy label.
Back to Front is the sixty-first studio album by American vocal group The Temptations. It was released by New Door Records on October 23, 2007. It contains mostly covers of songs that were hits for Stax Records artists, as well as other non-Motown artists. The album also includes covers of "Minute by Minute" by The Doobie Brothers and "How Deep Is Your Love" by The Bee Gees.
"Treat Her Like a Lady" is a 1984 single by American vocal group by the Temptations. Released on November 6, 1984, it is the first single on which Ali-Ollie Woodson sang lead. The song appears on Temptations' album Truly for You, also released in 1984, and was co-written by Woodson and Otis Williams and co-produced by Woodson and former Earth, Wind & Fire members Al McKay and Ralph Johnson.
To Be Continued... is a 1986 album by American R&B vocal group The Temptations released on June 17, 1986 by Motown Records' Gordy label. The album featured the group's third top ten R&B hit of the 1980s, "Lady Soul", which reached No. 4 R&B and No. 47 pop. It was the third and final album to feature Ali-Ollie Woodson during his first stint with the group. The following year he was replaced by Dennis Edwards, then two years later rejoined the group replacing Edwards. Also, saxophonist David Sanborn appears on the title track.
Awesome is a 2001 album by the Tempations. Despite many changes in personnel, the album became the 45th to reach the Billboard 200, the first being Meet the Temptations in 1964. The lone single "4 Days" peaked at #19 on the Urban Adult Contemporary Charts.
Milestone is a 1991 studio album by American soul group the Temptations. It would be the last full length album to feature founding member Melvin Franklin and the last to feature Richard Street, who exited the group in 1993, following a dispute with Williams.
Back to Basics is the second of two studio albums released by American soul group The Temptations in 1983. The album saw the group reunited with former producer Norman Whitfield, and would also be the first to feature Ron Tyson as first tenor, who would eventually become the second-longest serving member in the group’s history. It would also be the last studio album with longtime frontman Dennis Edwards before his second departure and the first appearance of Edwards’ successor Ali-Ollie Woodson.
Touch Me is a 1985 studio album from American soul group The Temptations.
Special is a 1989 studio album from American soul group The Temptations. The album marks the return of Ali-Ollie Woodson as the group’s lead singer following Dennis Edwards’ third and final departure.
Temptations 60 is a 2022 studio album by American soul group The Temptations. The release marks the 60th anniversary of the group signing to Motown and was preceded by two singles, including a collaboration with Smokey Robinson. The album has received positive reviews from critics.
