The Temptations (1981 album)
1981 studio album by the Temptations
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The Temptations is a studio album by American R&B group the Temptations, released via Motown's subsidiary label, Gordy Records on August 7, 1981. The album is the group's third album upon their return to Gordy Records after their brief stint at Atlantic Records.
- Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington
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| Released | August 7, 1981 | |||
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| Length | 41:03 | |||
| Label | Gordy | |||
| Producer | Thom Bell | |||
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| Singles from The Temptations | ||||
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Background
The album is the result of the Temptations' collaboration with the critically acclaimed record producer Thom Bell, whom they had met eight years prior.[1] The album features two original members of the group, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, recurring member Dennis Edwards, with then-recent members Richard Street and Glenn Leonard.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [3] |
The album leans toward pop, which alienated them from their R&B audience. According to Craig Lytle of AllMusic, the reason why the album wasn't a huge success is that it wasn't marketed to a crossover audience.[4]
Chart performance
The album peaked at No. 119 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and No. 36 on the Top Black Albums albums chart.[5][6] The only charting single from the album was the album's debut single, the uptempo R&B groove "Aiming at Your Heart" featuring Street and Leonard on lead vocals. The single peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was more successful on the Hot Soul Singles chart, reaching No. 36.[7]
Track listing
All tracks are arranged by Thom Bell, except side one, track one and side two, track five arranged by Bill Neale.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aiming at Your Heart" | Charles B. Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, Richard Roebuck | Richard Street, Glenn Leonard | 5:58 |
| 2. | "Evil Woman (Gonna Take Your Love)" | Leroy M. Bell, Casey James | Dennis Edwards | 3:20 |
| 3. | "The Best Of Both Worlds" | Thom Bell, Linda Creed | Leonard | 3:41 |
| 4. | "Ready Willing And Able" | Alan Glass, Preston Glass, T. Bell | Edwards | 3:25 |
| 5. | "Open Their Eyes" | T. Bell, Creed | Leonard | 4:14 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Oh, What A Night" | T. Bell, Creed | Street | 4:03 |
| 7. | "The Life of a Cowboy" | Jefferson, Roebuck | Edwards | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Just Ain't Havin' Fun" | T. Bell, Creed | Edwards | 4:06 |
| 9. | "What Else" | Simmons, Jefferson, Roebuck | Melvin Franklin | 4:11 |
| 10. | "Your Lovin' Is Magic" | A. Glass, P. Glass, T. Bell | Street | 4:05 |
Personnel
Musicians
- The Temptations (Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Glenn Leonard) – vocals
- Thom Bell – keyboards
- Bobby Eli, Bill Neale – guitar
- Bob Babbitt – bass guitar
- Charles Collins – drums
- Larry B. Washington, Edward W. Shea – percussion
- Don Renaldo and His Strings and Horns – strings and horns
Production
- Thom Bell – arrangements, conductor
- Bill Neale – arrangements, conductor (tracks: "Aiming At Your Heart", "Your Lovin' Is Magic")
- Dirk Dalvin – chief engineer
- Bruce Bluestein, Rob Perkins, Rick Fisher – assistant engineer
- Tammara Bell – production coordinator
- Johnny Lee – art direction
- Terry Taylor – design
- Francesco Alexander – photography
Charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[8] | 119 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 36 |