Temptations - "The Temptations - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1"

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• Temptations Greatest Motown

Free Music Notes for "The Temptations - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1"

Free Music Review: Cream of the "Smokey" years
Hit: 5 Stars

Even up to 1966 it could be argued that 45s were still the coin of the realm when it came to pop and soul music. So when this showed up - just in time for Christmas - in record stores late that year it was one of the best albums Motown ever issued exactly because it was ALL 45s. It gathered every Temptations single from "The Way You Do The Things You Do" (January 1964) to "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (August 1966). Although a couple of significant early Norman Whitfield productions appear, this first `Greatest Hits' basically represents the period when The Temptations `belonged' to Smokey Robinson.

It is, by far, the one to have for those folks who'd prefer to duck the Temptations `relevant' and `psychedelic' period: Cloud Nine, Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down, Psychedelic Shack, et.al. Don't misunderstand me; I love that later stuff too, just fine. They are still funky jams. But it should be admitted that at least lyrically those later, specialized tunes, have aged poorly. Having "the month of May, when it's cold outside" because you're passionately in love sounds just as fresh in 2003 as it did in January 1965. On the other hand, "incense in the air, peace signs hangin' everywhere" conjure images that are certainly relics today.

This first volume of "Greatest Hits" was released on the Gordy label, no. 919. The original liner notes were written by Bill Cosby in which he states three things he believes improve with time: "a good tobacco, a woman, and The Temptations' performance." I guess he was a genius even then.

Just between you and me though, I'd trade away 10 factory sealed copies of the CD of it for one VG+ original mono vinyl pressing from 1966 with the `script' Gordy label. What can I tell ya? - I'm a purist.

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