George HaffendenOur love-in with the music and performances of The Temptations continues, as we look back at a very special song from the eighties.
In 1983 the Temptations teamed up with the Four Tops on the Motown 25 show to perform a medley of hits in the style of a ‘Battle of the Groups’. Of all the performances on the show, from Marvin Gaye to Michael Jackson, the Tempts and Tops is surely a highlight. At that time The Temptations line-up included original members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, lead singer Dennis Edwards, long-time Tempt Richard Street, and then new member Ron Tyson. The ‘battle’ between the two groups was such a success that the two groups decided to take it on the road, and Motown even scheduled the Four Tops to appear on the Temptations Back To Basics album. The album was a so-so effort, but it marked the end of the Dennis Edwards era, and marked the beginning of the Ali Ollie Woodson era.
By this point Edwards had already left the group one: when the Temptations left for Atlantic Records in 1977 Edwards did not follow, and was briefly replaced by Louis Price. The Atlantic experience was one that both the label and the group would regret, and sadly for Price, despite his immense talent, his tenure as lead singer of the Temptations was short and largely unspectacular. When the Temptations returned to Motown, Edwards was back in the fold. But by 1983 tensions within the group had re-emerged: Glenn Leonard had left amicably to join the ministry, and was replaced by Ron Tyson (who remains with the group today); but it was the tension between Edwards and the others that was the main problem. In fact, Edwards left during the recording of the album.
The Temptations brought in former member of Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes Ali Ollie Woodson, a remarkable and dynamic singer that would reinvigorate the group on record and in performance. His first official release, as lead singer of the group, was the R&B smash ‘Treat Her Like A Lady’, and would become his signature song. Yet, Woodson had a voice that was so incredible he could sing anything – the phone book, your favourite takeaway menu – and it would sound great. The follow up album to 1984’s Truly For You, on which ‘Treat Her Like A Lady’ appeared, was 1985’s Touch Me. The album was a bit of a disappointment compared to Truly For You, but it did feature one brilliant song: ‘Do You Really Love Your Baby’.
None other than the dynamic duo of Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller wrote the song; both were riding high for their collaboration of Vandross’ breakout single ‘Never Too Much’ among others. The Temptations clearly wanted some of the Vandross magic, and although this song did not get enough attention as Vandross’ productions for Aretha Franklin or Dionne Warwick, it’s actually pretty good. Miller’s thumping bass, combined with Woodson’s astonishing lead vocal, complete with trade-offs with the soaring tenor of Ron Tyson, makes for one pretty groovy song. It’s catchy lyric is rather infectious and very enjoyable, and although it made the Top 20 on the Billboard R&B Charts, its largely forgotten in Temptations history. Thankfully, the song and album have recently been re-released for us to enjoy digitally. Check it out, this is a pretty good song.
BONUS MIX
Our hero and friend, the legendary New York DJ John Morales did a special M&M mix of this song with his partner Sergio Munzibai back in the day – you can listen to it below, and you can hear us discuss the track with John in our interview with him here.