George HaffendenThe Motown legends return to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary with a new album.
It’s always exciting to report that there’s new music from The Temptations. Sure, the line-up continues to change, but whatever they record and perform is usually pretty good.
Their last effort, All The Time, was surprisingly good. The Tempts covered the likes of Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd and Maxwell, along with a few original songs, including the fantastic ‘Waitin’ On You’. But now, to celebrate their 60th anniversary they’re back with an album with new material.
(Well, almost. The Tempts have embraced the spirit of Greta Thunberg, and have recycled a couple of songs from their archive. This is the third time they’ve recorded ‘Elevator Eyes’, and ‘Calling Out Your Name’ has been around since the nineties.)
And despite the last two years seeing The Tempts off the road due to COVID, the line-up has continued to change. Before the pandemic struck Larry Braggs departed in 2019. He was initially replaced by Mario Corbino in 2020, who debuted with a televised medley of hits performance. But then after just a handful of live performances last year he too has left the group.
While The Temptations have made no public announcement on Mario’s departure, something clearly went wrong. His name isn’t mentioned at all in the album credits. Nor is he listed in Otis’s extensive linear notes, in which he pays tribute to every other Temptation member. (He even mentioned Ricky Owens who briefly replaced Eddie Kendricks before being sacked for forgetting the lyrics on stage).
It’s a tad awkward considering what you can hear of Mario on Temptations 60 is pretty good. It’s sad Mario has left so fast. His rendition of ‘Treat Her Like A Lady’ on YouTube is very, very good. But if anything, a change in line-up for The Temptations is somewhat fitting for a group that’s had over 25 members in it’s history.
Today Otis Williams, the last surviving original member, leads the group. He’s joined by Ron Tyson (nearly 40 years in the group), Terry Weeks (nearly 25 years) and Willie Green (nearly 7 years). The group recently announced that actor and singer Tony Grant will join as the new lead singer.
The ever-changing line-up aside, Temptations 60, is pretty good. No matter who is in the group, Otis always ensures The Temptations maintain a level of vocal excellence. It’s helped that long-time members Terry and Ron take a lot of lead.
For this milestone, Otis has executive produced the album himself. He’s managed to bring together an impressive group of writers and producers together, such as Smokey Robinson, Narada Michael Walden, along with members of The Temptations wider entourage.
The Smokey-penned and produced first single, ‘Is It Gonna Be Yes or No’ is a real grower. It may not be the line-up that Smokey worked with back in the sixties, but he knows how to get the best out of them. Smokey uses each member well: Willie Greene’s deep bass intro gives way to a laid back groove overlaid with The Temptations classic harmonies. Using Terry, Ron and Mario on alternating leads – along with Smokey’s own vocal – it’s a vocal masterclass. Even Otis gets a couple of lines to sing. It’s a fitting tribute that after 60 years, The Temptations finally get to duet with the man who gave the group their first major hits.
Keen to link the new line-up to the past, the group then pay tribute to the ‘Classic 5’ era on ‘When We Were Kings’. Heavy on nostalgia, it’s nevertheless a sweet tribute to the men who first put the group on the road to musical immortality. Long-time member Ron Tyson sounds sweet as ever as he trades lead with Mario.
Ron also contributes as a songwriter on the album, writing the fierce ‘Time For The People’, a politically charged song that is essentially Ball Of Confusion’ 2.0. A bit idealistic perhaps, especially if you live in America or England at the moment. But with powerful vocals from Terry Weeks and a funky track, it’s pretty good. Besides, anything Terry sings, we’ll listen.
As it was on All The Time, the album’s best moments usually arrive on the songs where Terry Weeks sings lead. In concert Terry (unless covering) doesn’t sing nearly enough lead. But Otis is smart enough to give him plenty of lead on The Temptations recent albums. For instance, he’s all over the album Ear-Resistable, a surprise hit for the group that netted them a Grammy. His unique vocal style gives The Temptations a contemporary edge, but his voice is like none other in Temptations history. And his loyalty to the group is seriously impressive.
For me, the best song on Temptations 60 is ‘Calling Out Your Name’, co-written by Terry, Otis and Victor Carstarphen. First recorded by a little-known group called For Lover’s Only (that Otis managed and Terry sang with), this version is stunning. Terry’s lead is phenomenal, and the song itself very good. More reminiscent of The Temptations nineties albums than their sixties heyday, it’s the standout song on Temptations 60.
One pleasant surprise is ‘I Want It Right Now’, with Ron on lead (he also co-wrote the song). It’s hard to describe: it’s not exactly reggae but definitely has a calypso edge. Every time I listen to it I feel like I should be in some resort in the Caribbean, sipping some rum-based cocktail (in reality, I’m sat in my car on the way to do the weekly big shop). It’s a really catchy song, and Ron sounds great, even if he’s not singing in his trademark falsetto.
The rest of the album is pretty good too: ‘Elevator Eyes’ is nice (although the version on Ear-Resistable is still my favourite); ‘You Don’t Know Your Woman’ bounces along on an infectious groove; ‘How Do You Spell Love’ sounds like something Cameo might have recorded; and Terry shines again on ‘My Whole World Stopped Without You’. On ‘Breaking My Back’ the whole group shines, trading leads while Willie lays down his bass vocals anchoring the harmonies.
The album closes on a remake of ‘Come On’, originally recorded by Otis’s first group, Otis Williams and the Distants (which featured future Temptation Richard Street on lead vocals). Otis opens the song reminiscing on his life as a Temptation, before Mario launches into a nice remake of a piece of Temptations history. Buoyed by Willie’s outstanding bass vocals, it’s a nice way to finish Temptations 60.
All in all then, Temptations 60 is well worth your time. The album continues to grow on me with each listen, and it’s always a joy to get new music from one of the greatest bands in history.
Despite all the changes, and whether you think the group should have retired long ago, reaching this milestone is impressive. So is the fact that Otis and The Temptations are still writing, recording. A gifted singer and performer, Otis’s real talent is keeping the show going, year in year out. He celebrated his 80th birthday last year, resumed touring and put together Temptations 60. Few people continue into their 80s, but Otis, thankfully, shows no sign of slowing down. He clearly gets joy from keeping the legacy going.
And this group of Temptations are seriously impressive. Ron and Terry’s longevity is to be admired, especially in a group where the original members didn’t last half as long. And Willie Green’s bass is the best since Melvin Franklin. Hopefully Tony Grant will also make his own worthwhile contribution to The Temptations’ legacy.
Could this be the last album of new music from The Temptations? Possibly, and if it is, it’s a nice way to bow out. But with Otis’s drive and determination to keep the group going, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more music from The Temptations before the show finally ends.