George HaffendenHappy Birthday to Dennis Edwards, the former lead singer of The Temptations and The Contours! So in honour of one of the finest singers to be with The Tempts, and one of the best voices in soul music period, today’s rare cut track comes from Edwards’ solo career.
Born in Alabama, Edwards moved to Detroit at the age of ten and later studied at the Detroit Conservatory of Music. In 1966 Edwards was singed to Motown, primarily to stop other labels from pinching this raw talent, and was assigned to perform with The Contours – who had struggled to reach the heights of their 1964 hit ‘Do You Love Me’. Around this time The Temptations were riding high: with David Ruffin singing lead, the Tempts seemed untouchable. Yet, success had gone to Ruffin’s head – he no longer toured with the band, and after The Supremes became Diana Ross & The Supremes (and The Miracles became Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), Ruffin wanted the same. The rest of The Temptations said no, and the fracture lines were set. Otis Williams and Eddie Kendricks had noticed Edwards performing with The Contours, and when the decision to sack Ruffin was finally made in 1968, Edwards was in.
The first song Edwards recorded with The Temptations was ‘Cloud Nine’, which won Motown their first Grammy – and propelled The Temptations down the path paved by Sly & The Family Stone of psychedelic soul. The hits followed: ‘Running Away Child, Running Wild’, ‘Psychedelic Shack’, ‘I Can’t Get Next To You’, ‘Ball of Confusion’, and, of course, ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’. Then, in 1977 Edwards was sacked – The Temptations left Motown, and Edwards had a shot at a solo career. Yet, in 1980 The Temptations had shot of Edwards’ replacement Louis Price, and Edwards was back. After the exquisite album ‘Power’, The Temptations reunited with Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin for a tour; despite being a commercial success, the tour had taken its toll: Glenn Leonard was on his way out, as was Ruffin and Kendricks, and Edwards for a second time.
This time, Edwards tried to rekindle his solo career and in 1994 released the smash duet with Siedah Garrett ‘Don’t Look Any Further’. On the B-side, however, is one of Edwards’ brilliant songs – ‘I Thought I Could Handle It’. The song is distinctively eighties, but nonetheless bearable, and Edwards vocals are at the top creating a wonderful song that was sadly overshadowed by the A-side.
Yet, by 1987 Edwards was back with The Temptations, but left for the final time by 1989. He then went on tour with Ruffin and Kendricks, but when both died by 1992 he went on tour with his ‘Temptations Revue’ – continuing to tour around the world today.
We wish Dennis Edwards a very happy birthday, and hope you enjoy this rare cut!