By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:53 pm:

Let's continue the conversation over here, folks. I know that several of you still have info and thoughts to share regarding our Tempting Temptations!

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:58 pm:

GOOD IDEA KEV!!!...MY HOME BASED MAC...WITHOUT THE T-1 LINES I HAVE AT WORK...ALMOST EXPLODED THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO PULL UP THE ENTIRE TEMPTATIONS THREAD!!!...ANYTHING TEMPTATIONS RELATED CERTAINLY DRAWS A LARGE RESPONSE ON THIS FORUM!!!...STUBASS

By TonyRussi (68.210.0.174) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:19 pm:

Here in Central Fl. Just saw an ad in the Orlando paper for the Temptations Review Featuring Dennis Edwards Sat. June 7th FREE the City of Winter Garden Centennial Celebration....then switching channels on the radio the CLEAR CHANNEL(ERRGH!)oldies station "yea, the Temptations will take the stage about 8:00PM June 7th at Lake Apopka in Winter Garden". Then they proceeded to play "My Girl". Somehow we gotta stop the FCC from letting conglomerates control/own too many radio & or TV stations.Independent record companies, artists ect don't & won't stand a chance.

By R&B (138.238.41.30) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:23 pm:

THIS TEMPTATIONS THREAD IS GREAT,I LOVE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO NOT ONLY LOVE THE TEMPS BUT ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE,SO MUCH HISTORY,SO MANY MEMORIES TO RELATE AND SHARE.WE MAY DIFFER ON THE PERSONEL OR SOME SONGS BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR,IT'S ALL A LABOR OF LOVE!DO ANY OF YOU REMEMBER A LITTLE KNOWN TUNE FROM THE EARLY 60'S CALLED[IT DON'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY]WITH PAUL ON LEAD,OR HOW ABOUT[TEARSTAINED LETTER]THEY WEREN'T HITS,BUT TWO OF PAUL'S BEST!TEMPTATIONS FOREVER.

By JoeR (170.148.10.41) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:29 pm:

R & B -

One of my favorite songs by Paul Williams is 'Just Another Lonely Night' and 'Tearstained Letter" along with 'I Couldn't Cry (If I Wanted To)'. A group I sang with, before joining the Channels, used to cover 'Tearstained Letter'. That song was one of Paul's best but I still lean towards 'Just Another Lonely Night'.

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels

By R&B (138.238.41.30) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

HEY JOE R,RIGHT ON,I MENTIONED ON PT.1 THAT[JUST ANOTHER LONELY NIGHT]IS ONE OF PAUL'S BEST,AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I REMEMBER HAVING THE ALBUM[TEMPTIN TEMPTATIONS]AND HEARING THAT SONG FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH IT'S SLOW PIANO INTRO,MY BUDDIES AND I WERE SAYIN,WHAT THE HECK BECAUSE IT ALMOST SOUNDED CLASSICAL TO US,BUT ONCE PAUL STARTED SINGING IT BECAME OUR FAVORITE SONG ON THE ALBUM AND I STILL GROOVE TO IT TODAY!

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

To carry on Tony's idea a little bit.....
....I saw something at Sam Goody's today that bothered the heck out of me. "Best Of The Temptations" on K-Tel for $7.99. No problem there. But the fine print said something like "....new recording by the original artists or groups with one or more of the original members..." So, who are the original artists, the Temptations as currently configured? They are after all THE Temptations. And would that then make Dennis Edwards an "original member"? This is getting a bit to confusing.
As to the Clear Channel problem, it isn't with CC or the Review. It's with that #%$&* jock who either can't read, or doesn't know any better.

By TonyRussi (68.210.0.174) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 04:32 pm:

Hey Man you are right about that situation the problem with Clear Channel is a complete whole other story.

By Scratcher (65.238.172.135) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 04:48 pm:

Doug,

The confusion is why collectors and Tempt fans categorize the different lineups with titles: the Original Temptations (Elbridge Bryant instead of David Ruffin); the Classic Tempts (David, Paul, Eddie, Otis & Melvin); and the Pyschedellic Tempts followed by the Dennis Edwards era (after the departure of Norman Whitfield as their producer).

The classification stops after the Dennis Edward's era for all intent and purpose with the exception of the Atlantic Records' era (w/ Louis Price) and the Ali Woodson stint.

Unfortunately, many who compiled Temptations collections seem to be totally ignorant of the various lineups and simply called them the Temptations or erroroneously refer to them as the original Temptations when none of tunes featured were recorded during Bryant's stint. I've even seen the wrong members depicted on the cover. I've also seen this with the Miracles.

Some, like myself, appreciate all the various lineups of Temptations. Others don't. I know many who just like the original or classic Tempts and others who prefer them with Dennis Edwards. I've seen people at record exchange type stores feverishly eyeballin' Temptations' covers looking for Dennis and Richard Street, if they don't see Dennis, in particular, they put it back.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 12:15 pm:

HEY SCRATCHER,GOOD POINTS,LIKE YOU I LOVE ALL THE TEMPS WORK BUT I LIKE THE DIFFERENT CATAGORIES OF THE LINEUPS FOR HISTORICAL REASONS AND PERSONS WHO ARE JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE TEMPS MAY NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL AND CLASSIC AND SO ON,SO IT MAY SERVE AS A REFERENCE POINT IN A WAY FOR THE NEW FANS.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 01:56 pm:

On Felix Hernandez's Rhythm Revue this morning "My Girl" was voted the number 1 song by listener's poll of all classic soul songs!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 02:32 pm:

SOUL SISTER: PROBABLY NUMBER 1 (CERTAINLY MOST PLAYED) OF ANY POP TUNE IN HISTORY!!!...STUBASS

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

HEY STU,YOU MEAN MORE THAN[HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL]?HEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 03:09 pm:

HEY R&B!!!...I THINK YOU'VE GOT YOUR GENRE'S A BIT CONFUSED!!!..."HERE COMES PETE THE TAIL" IS IN THE "STANDARD'S"...NOT "POP" CATAGORY!!!...THAT WOULD PUT IT IN THE BING CROSBY "WHITE CHRISTMAS" CLASSIFICATION ...AND BY ALL REPORTS...BING GETS THE NOD...BUT PETE RUNS A CLOSE SECOND!!!...NOW IN THE "CLASSIC" CATAGORY...YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT "PETER & THE WOLF" TAKES THE LETTUCE!!!

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 03:46 pm:

NOT THE WAY THE SINGIN BUNNY RABBITS SING IT,WITH THOSE SLAMMIN GUITARS AND DRUMS,THE THING ROCKS!NOW AS FOR PETER AN THE WOLF,DIDN'T THEY HAVE A FALLING OUT ABOUT ROYALTIES?THEY DIDN'T CALL HIM[THE WOLF]FOR NOTHIN!

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 03:50 pm:

SEE STU,YOU GOT ME TALKIN ABOUT THOSE D@@@$$#^^^&%%((!!!??M RABBITS AGAIN,OR DID I BRING IT UP?ANYHOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE TEMPS!

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 03:57 pm:

A LOCAL RADIO STATION DID A TEMPS SPECIAL TODAY AND IT WAS GREAT,ALOT OF GREAT SONGS WERE PLAYED INCLUDING..SMOOTH SAILING FROM NOW ON,WHICH WAS DAMON HARRIS FIRST LEAD.

By ABA21 (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 12:52 am:

NOW R7B.....I LIKE WHOEVER CHOSE TO PLAY SMOOTH SAILING CAUSE I LIKE HEARING THE WHAT I CALL B-SIDES THAT YOU DON'T HEAR IF YOU NOT A COLLECTOR LIKE ME. I PLAY SONGS LIKE DENNIS SINGING SINCE I LOST YOU, GOTTA FIND A WAY TO GET YOU BACK, OR EDDIE SINGING I'VE BEEN GOOD TO YOU OR IT'S JUST A LONELY WORLD WITHOUT YOU, DAVID ON SAY YOU OR IT'S A TRAGIC DEED WHAT YOU DO TO ME AND pAUL ON WHO YOU GONNA RUN TO OT JUST ANOTHER LONELY NIGHT, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST TUNES HE DID. I MEAN THOSE SONGS ARE REALLY GREAT! IT MAKES ME APPRIECIATE THE CLASSICS LIKE MY GIRL MORE WHEN THEY DON'T PLAY IT AS THE ONLY SONG THE TEMPS EVER MADE. THEY HAVE OVER 50 LPS AS A GROUP SO THERE IS SO MUCH MUSIC TO BE PLAYED AND ENJOYED BY ALL COMBINATIONS OF THE GROUP. i HAVE ALWAYS LIKE THE TEMPS HOUR FELIX DOES CAUSE HE PLAYS ALL THE GOOD STUFF.

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:40 am:

I was listening to some Temptations sides over the weekend and I tend to favor the original Tempts/Classic Tempts sides because Paul Williams was featured very prominently. I think we can safely say Paul was the original Temptation Lead singer. He soul drenched versions of classic Tempt material is superb. He and Eddie Kendricks had a thing going on prior to Davids induction to the group. Listen closely to tunes Farewell My Love, Dream Come true, Check Yourself & Slow Down Heart. Its true they didn't have the financial success until later but these guys were putting out quality product and honed the signature sound of the Temptations early in their formation.. I don't think that Paul ever recovered from David being inducted into the group and he being relegated to mostly B sides for the rest of his tenure with the group. I guess one day the story will be told, but from the outside looking in, thats what it looks like to me. Conversely Paul made the best of those B sides he appeared on. "I couldn't cry if I wanted to" is a favorite of mine as was "Just Another Lonely Night". Paul & Eddie were terrific together and that was as it should have been, they truly new how to complement each other through their stellar vocals. Turn back the clock sometimes when you listen to the Tempts and you'll hear what I saying. Funny thing the Tempts were captipulted into the spotlight by Eddies song, "The Way You Do The Things you do", however Eddies take on "Paradise" has yet to be duplicated. This group has so much history I could spend a day just writing about them. They are the greatest vocal group in history in my humble opinion and here many, many years after the death of Paul Williams,his legacy continues as does the Temptations. Temptations Forever.

Kdubya

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:51 am:

Kdubya:
Paul Williams will always be, in my opinion, the heart & soul of the Temptations - no matter who passes through the group to this day.

His lead vocal on "I Want A Love I Can See" is classic work - he was having a ball singing lead and pouring his soul into the song.

I have the soundtrack to the Tempts' 1969 TV special that was aired on NBC where he's singing lead on "My Girl" during a "hits medley" - he's singing the lead with so much soul & spirit.

Paul was a great talent who should've sang more leads during the Tempts heyday.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:55 am:

Aba21;
Who are you? Just curios since you mentioned my friend Felix's name. Maybe we've crossed paths before at Roseland or The Museum of Television & Radio ?
S.S.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:28 pm:

SPEAKING OF PAUL WILLIAMS...HE WAS ALSO CERTAINLY THE MOST ACCESSABLE OF THE TEMPTS...NO BIG HEAD THERE!!!...ALL THE GUYS WERE FRIENDLY AND PERSONABLE...BUT PAUL WOULD BE THE ONE TO STOP FOR AN HOUR WITH SOME KID JUST TO TALK MUSIC!!!...THATS HOW I MET HIM...AND BECAME FRIENDS...ALWAYS ENCOURAGING ME TO STAY IN TOUCH...STOP BY HIS PLACE TO VISIT...AND WOULD ALWAYS LOOK AFTER US WHEN US KIDS WOULD SHOW UP AT A PERFORMANCE (UNDERAGE)...AND TAKE US UNDER HIS WING!!!...I REMEMBER ONE TIME WHEN HE WAS GOING TO COME TO ONE OF MY GROUPS REHERSALS WITH OTIS TO HEAR US...BUT GOT CALLED TO A REHERSAL AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!...HE COULDN'T REACH ME TO TELL ME THAT HE COULDN'T MAKE IT...BUT TRACKED DOWN OUR PRODUCER...TONY WILSON...TO TELL HIM THAT HE HAD INTENDED TO SHOW UP...BUT COULDN'T MAKE IT...AND TO TELL THE BAND THAT HE WAS SORRY...PROBABLY JUST SO I WOULDN'T BE EMBARRASED IN HAVING ANNOUNCED TO THE BAND THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME HEAR US PLAY!!!...THATS REALLY THE TYPE OF GUY HE WAS!!!...SAME FRIENDLY GUY WHEN I RAN INTO HIM SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH...AND WE HAD A BURGER TOGETHER...NEVER LETTING ON THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG!!!...IT'S TOO BAD THAT HE WASN'T MORE OPEN ABOUT HIS PERSONAL PROBLEMS...BUT HE MAY HAVE FELT THAT NOBODY REALLY CARED...AND THATS THE SAD PART ABOUT THE WHOLE DEAL!!!...STUBASS

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 02:34 pm:

STUBASS:
REFERRING TO YOUR COMMENT BOUT PAUL, THAT MAYBE HE FELT NOBODY CARED, WASN'T HE VERY CLOSE TO EDDIE ?

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 02:55 pm:

CAN'T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT DELL...BUT HAD SOMEONE...EDDIE...OR ANYONE... INTERVIENED...PERHAPS THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT!!!...STU

By RD (63.188.49.81) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Stu, Paul was the same way before he became a Temptation. When he and Eddie Kendricks worked at the Majestic Hotel in Cleveland Paul was very well liked. He was a bellboy. They also woodshed with some local singers. One reason Eddie Kendricks didn't like Melvin Franklin in the beginning was because he wanted this deep bass singer he knew from Cleveland to be in the group. This would have given he and Paul voting power over Otis and Al Bryant.

People forget that the Classic Temptations was a merger of two groups that didn't know each other growing up. It's a miracle that the "classics" stayed together as long as they did.

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 04:00 pm:

RD:
PUTTING THE MOVIE'S VERSION ASIDE, JUST HOW MUCH INFIGHTING WAS THERE ?, VH1 OR BET REALLY SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON TEMPT LORE

By Aba21 (208.191.121.196) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 04:40 pm:

SS.you can email me at Aba21@aol.com and I'll fill you in. I'm from NY and moved to Texas recently.

Rd..do you know the name of the bass singer from Cleveland they wanted in the group first. how could you not like Melvin? The bass you spoke of must have had a voice off the charts. You make a good point on the fact they stayed together longer many thought they would have. Most folks think that they should have never broken up but there was so much stuff going on it probably was ill-fated from the start.

While the movie did a lot in terms of bringing new people to the Temps it also had a lot of non truths in there for people who really know the Temps. I mean for example Melvin was not chasing a skirt when his car was jacked but the fact the guy recognized him before he shot him was true.

I think they need to do a real doccumentary on the group from beginning to end on A&E even if it takes two hours. Hell they gave John Wayne two hours and the Rat Pack four and Playboy at least that many. I 'm sure the Temptations due to the popularity of the group and the movie deserve to have"the true story" told.

I think there was much more to the merger than just some two groups deciding to get together. And David lived behind Otis and was around them all the time at motown just waiting for an opportunity to get in. It amazes me it took so long for that move to oocur.

Also from articles I've read and people I have spoken with, Eddie saw Paul two days before his death and he was supposed to be in good spirits and looking healthy. Eddie was going to help him get an lp out or something to that effect.

There is no question in my mind the toughest person they have had to replace is Paul. Paul gave them another dimension they have not had since. He sang songs with a passion that has never been duplicated in the group since his death!

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:31 pm:

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT WERE THE MAIN PROBLEMS IN THE GROUP EARLY ON, DRUGS, BOOZE, MATERIAL ? AND WERE THEY REALLY AS CLOSE PERSONALLY AS THEY SEEMED, WHO WAS REALLY CLOSE TO WHO AND WHO WAS JUST BEING TOLERATED.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:40 pm:

I CAN TELL YOU DELL...THAT DAVID...AS WAS DEPICTED IN THE MOVIE...AND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FACTUAL PARTS OF IT...WAS A PROBLEM OF SORTS EARLY ON!!!...WHEN DAVID LEFT THE GROUP...AND I ASKED PAUL WHY HE LEFT...PAULS RESPONSE..."DAVID WAS ON CLOUD NINE"...COINCIDENTIALLY THE TITLE OF THEIR NEXT MAJOR HIT!!!...AS FOR THE OTHERS...MY GUESS IS THAT THE CLASSICS ALL GOT ALONG PRETTY WELL...EXCEPT I KNOW THAT THERE WERE ALSO SOME PROBLEMS WITH DENNIS...AFTER HE LEFT THE GROUP AND THEN WANTED BACK IN!!!...

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

AS FOR DRUGS AND BOOZE...IT'S NO SECRET THAT PAUL LIKED TO DRINK...BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT EFFECT IT HAD ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP...BUT COULD HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN HIS DECISION TO LEAVE WHEN HE DID!!!...AS FOR DRUGS...I'M SURE THAT THERE WAS A BIT OF THAT EARLY ON...AND PROBABLY ALSO DURING LATER INCARNATIONS...WHEN DRUG USE...DURING THE 70'S AND EARLY 80'S WAS MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS SOCIETY IN GENERAL!!!...THATS ALL I CARE TO SAY ABOUT THAT!!!...STU

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

WHERE WAS OTIS THEN? AT WHAT POINT DID HE GAIN SO MUCH POWER WITHIN THE GROUP, DIDN'T HE SEE WHAT WAS COMING WITH PAUL AND DAVID, THESE THINGS TAKE TIME TO DEVELOPE, THE MOVIE SHOWS HIM AS ALWAYS BEING ON TOP OF EVERY SITUATION THE GROUP ENCOUNTERED.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:09 pm:

DELL: I'D HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT OTIS'S *REAL* POWER CAME AS THE RESULT OF BEING THE "LAST ONE STANDING"...AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HIS POWER WITHIN THE GROUP WAS WHAT WE'VE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE WHEN ALL THE CLASSIC TEMPTATIONS WERE TOGETHER...JUST MY TAKE!!!...STU

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:14 pm:

STUBASS: OK I FEEL THAT, BUT OTIS COMBINED WITH MELVIN, MUST HAVE CARRIED QUITE A BIT OF WEIGHT, THEY DID FEEL AS IF IT WERE "THEIR GROUP", DID THEY NOT.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:20 pm:

DELL: IN RETROSPECT...I THINK THAT ANY OTIS-MELVIN ALLIANCE...WOULD HAVE BEEN COUNTERED BY DAVID AND EDDIE...WHO WERE...AFTER ALL...THE LEAD SINGERS!!!...STU

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:30 pm:

BUT WERE THEY RESPECTED ENOUGH BY THE OTHER MEMBERS TO DICTATE AUTHORITY, AS YOU SAID DAVID WAS A PROBLEM PRETTY MUCH FROM THE BEGINNING, I DOUBT, IF ANYONE FELT HE WOULD HAVE STAYED WITH GROUP LONG ANYWAY, AND EDDIE DIDN'T SEEM THE TYPE TO BE VERY ASSERTIVE.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:47 pm:

ALL INTERESTING THINGS TO PONDER DELL!!!...UNFORTUNATLY...I'M MAKING SUPPOSITIONS FROM SOMEWHAT LIMITED KNOWLEDGE...AND PERHAPS IT WOULD TAKE SOMEONE ON THE INSIDE TO GIVE YOU THE WHOLE STORY...BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE A SOMEWHAT EDUCATED GUESS!!!...STU

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:53 pm:

DEEPLY APPRECIATED......DELL

By Scratcher (65.238.172.76) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:28 pm:

Paul and Eddie were childhood friends from Birmingham, Alabama so they were tight. Otis and Al Bryant were real tight; Otis brought Melvin into the Distants and they had a close friendship.

Al got intolerable and was given the boot. David came in and became the wild card. Most groups voted on matters. Paul and Eddie mostly voted together against Otis and Melvin and vice versa. Of course, at times, I'm sure they all agreed on certain things.

At first David voted with Melvin and Otis, after all, Melvin was supposedly a distant cousin; plus, he knew both Otis and Melvin before he knew Paul and Eddie. Later I think David begin to side with Paul and Eddie.

When David got the boot Dennis came in and always sided with Otis and Melvin. Three against two. When Paul had to exit due to illness and an alcohol problem, and Eddie knew Richard Street was going to replace Paul, he got his hat cause it would have then been four against one. Street was the lead singer of the Distants and knew Otis and Melvin from way back. He was also Melvin's cousin.

Paul and Eddie always felt they should have been the main cogs in the Tempts because they brought the unique singing style (via their voices) to the group. The Primes were a far superior group to the Distants.

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 08:58 am:

Scratcher, you touched on the point that I was trying to make about the Temptations signature sound. I grew up loving these guys and I'm glad they are still making music. The Temptations had gotten so slick with their interchangeable vocal stylings that Cloud Nine, Puzzle People, Masterpiece & Skys the Limit always evoke a certain response from me because Paul was right in the middle of some of the best songs written and produced by Norman Whitfield. They were truly on top of the world and had infused a new dynamic in vocal harmony and lead singing. They were great and they knew it, they had a producer with an ego as big as theirs and fighting/infighting aside they made some glorius music. The Tempting Temptations....

By gdwms (67.97.33.140) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 09:32 am:

Shortly after the "Buddy Holly Story"movie came out,the surviving Crickets put together a TV special called"The Real Buddy Holly Story".They thought the movie was less than factual.You should read,Ritchie Hardin's account of how it really was on his website.I too wish,it would be featured on TV.I knew from the beginning of the movie,there was going to be dramatic license taken with the movie,when Al Bryant was shown as lead singer on"Come On"instead of Richard.I never understood why they did that.It left the unknowing
wondering why,AL no longer sang lead when Paul & Eddie joined.

By RD (63.188.32.222) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 09:43 am:

The Primes were originally the Cavaliers: Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Kell Osborne and Wally Waller. They became the Primes after leaving Birmingham and Waller left. I never heard Waller sing but Osborne's voice was as unique as Paul and Eddie's. His vocal range was inbetween the two.

Aba21: Paul Hayes (if my memory serves me right) was the bass singer. If I'm wrong and find out different I'll post. The guy who use to sing with Paul Williams and Hayes and some others, just funnin' is very sick and takes a lot of medication.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 11:14 am:

LET ME SUM IT UP BY SAYING THAT THE CLASSIC TEMPS WERE TWO SETS OF BEST FRIENDS[OTIS&MELVIN..EDDIE&PAUL]AND ONE OUTSISIDER[DAVID]WITH HIS OWN AGENDA,WHILE THE OTHERS SAW THEMSELVES AS A GROUP FIRST,DAVID WANTED TO BE A SOLOIST IN THE TRADITION OF SAM COOKE,THAT'S WHY MELVIN DIDN'T WANT DAVID IN THE GROUP BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT DAVID'S AMBITION WAS NOT TO BE A GROUP GUY FOR THE LONG HAUL.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 11:15 am:

Folks:
I am so amazed with the amount of knowledge I'm learning so far regarding the Temptations' background. I'm glad this thread is being continued. To Stubass, Scratcher, Aba21, Dell and others - where were you guys when Otis wrote his book and the movie was made years later?!? Someone needs to write another book regarding the Tempts and tell the real deal regarding Motown's Fearsome Five.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 11:24 am:

THANKS KEVGO: IT APPEARS THAT WE ALL...TO SOME EXTENT...POSESS KNOWLEDGE OF SOME PIECE OF THE PUZZLE BASED ON OUR OWN EXPERIENCES!!!...SPEAKING FOR MYSELF...IT WAS MOST INTERESTING AND REWARDING TO HAVE JUST BEEN AROUND TO WITNESS...FIRSTHAND...THIS HISTORY IN THE MAKING...AND LOOK BACK ON IT TODAY WITH SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE!!!...THANKS AGAIN!!!...STU

By Common (209.2.55.172) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know about the book that Richard Street was/has written? The last I read was that he was looking for a publisher.

Peace!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 12:15 pm:

KEVGO: ANOTHER INTERESTING THING...WHILE I WAS SOMEWHAT IN THE MIDST OF THE "CLASSIC" TEMPTATIONS PHENOMENON...AT THE TIME...MY BIG BROTHER WAS PRETTY MUCH OUT OF DETROIT (NEW YORK) DOING HIS OWN THING WITH PAUL ANKA...BUT STILL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE "FUNKS" AND HIS MENTOR JOE MESSINA...BUT YEARS LATER...BRUCE PRODUCED AND ARRANGED FOR THE TEMPTATIONS ON THE WEST COAST...SO HAS A SOMEWHAT DIFFEENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE GROUP OF GUYS THAT HE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH...AND IT IS A BIT INTERESTING THAT WHEN WE DISCUSS THE TEMPTATIONS...IT'S USUALLY FROM A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE!!!...I CERTAINLY WITNESSED SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS AT THE RECENT L.A. "FUNK BROTHERS" CONCERT BETWEEN BRUCE AND CORNELIUS GRANT AND OTHERS...AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS...OF COURSE...THAT WOULD JUST NOT BE PROPER FOR ME TO DISCUSS IN THIS TYPE OF OPEN FORUM BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES!!!...STUBASS

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 01:38 pm:

STUBASS:
I PERSONALLY ENJOY YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE TEMPTS, I FOR ONE CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT MUCH FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, BUT AS A VOCALIST I HAVE FOLLOWED THEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS (THEY ARE MY FAVORITE GROUP) SO MANY OPINIONS I HAVE OF THEM STEM FROM A VOCAL/ENTERTAINERS PERSPECTIVE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE LEARNED QUITE A BIT FROM THIS POST, AND THAT THIRST FOR TEMPT HISTORY IS WHAT DROVE ME TO START THIS POST. YOUR CONTRIBUTION, ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN EXTREMLY INSIGHTFULL, AND DEEPLY APPRECIATED, BUT......MY CURIOSITY IS GETTING THE BETTER OF ME, AND EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE IMPROPER, AS YOU PUT IT TO, TO DISCUSS CERTAIN ASPECTS OF TEMPT HISTORY, I IMPLORE YOU TO PART WITH "WHATEVER" INSIGHTS YOU CAN. IT'S NOT EVERYDAY THAT I GET TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE ON MY FAVORITE SUBJECT "THE TEMPTATIONS"

By Scratcher (65.238.172.166) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

Otis Williams wrote about the Temptations from his perspective and devoted a large portion to his upbringing, etc. It's not the whole story. If Paul or Eddie had written about the Tempts, it would have been different. Otis knew nothing or didn't care about the time Paul and Eddie spent growing up in 'Bama or the years they spent in Cleveland. If David had wrote about the Tempts it would have began with his entry in the group and been filled with items about his upbringing. I hope nobody here ever thought that Otis' book was the whole story.

Richard Street has been writing his bookf or sometime. It should be interesting cause Street did a lot prior to joining the Tempts.

By Scratcher (65.238.172.166) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 01:52 pm:

Oh by the way Dell. Eddie Kendricks was very assertive. He was just the quiet type who didn't talk much, especially to people he just met. He wasn't the kind of guy you asked a lot of questions.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 01:57 pm:

THANKS DELL: WHILE I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE TEMPTS AND LEND WHATEVER PERSPECTIVE THAT I CAN...I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE BEEN IN A FEW SITUATIONS THAT...AT LEAST ON THIS FORUM...WOULD BE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION BASED ON CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OR SITUATIONS WHERE GUYS WERE JUST BEING GUYS...AND I HAPPENED TO BE THERE!!!...BUT IT'S ALL GOOD...AND IN TOTALITY...THE TEMPTATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CLASS ACT AND GREAT...GREAT PERFORMERS!!!...THANKS AGAIN...STU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 02:04 pm:

PS TO KEVGO: WHEN OTIS FIRST WROTE HIS BOOK...SOMEONE CLOSE TO ME AND QUITE KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER RECIEVED A COPY AND TOLD ME ABOUT IT...ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE BOOK WAS A BUNCH OF "BULL S#!T!!!...I DID FIND THE MOVIE INTERESTING...JUST FROM A TIME & PLACE PERSPECTIVE!!!...STU

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 02:28 pm:

STUBASS:
OK, YOUR POSITION IS RESPECTED. MUCH IS SAID AND KNOWN ABOUT THE "C5" BUT WHAT ABOUT RON TYSON, NO ONE EVER HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT HIM AND HIS POSITION IN THE GROUP, AFTER ALL HE HAS BEEN WITH THEM FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, AND WITH EVERYONE ELSE BEING SO NEW HE DEFINITLY HOLDS A SENIOR POSITION, I'VE SEEN THEM, MAYBE 3-4 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, HE JUST NEVER LOOKS VERY HAPPY, AND WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE TEMPTATION "PROBATION" PERIOD CONSIST OF

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

Stu:
I had a cousin who met David, Eddie & Dennis who were touring together at the time (late 1980s). He said that when he mentioned Otis' book, Eddie politely told him that "the book is not worth mentioning because it doesn't tell the whole story" and left it at that.

When I was a radio producer, I wanted to book Otis Williams for an interview when his book came out but my Operations Manager (and morning show host) vetoed the idea - he felt the book was too "one-sided".

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By janebae (68.59.187.133) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 02:44 pm:

Kdyuba,

In reference to this post of yours:

Scratcher, you touched on the point that I was trying to make about the Temptations signature sound. I grew up loving these guys and I'm glad they are still making music. The Temptations had gotten so slick with their interchangeable vocal stylings that Cloud Nine, Puzzle People, Masterpiece & Skys the Limit always evoke a certain response from me because Paul was right in the middle of some of the best songs written and produced by Norman Whitfield. They were truly on top of the world and had infused a new dynamic in vocal harmony and lead singing. They were great and they knew it, they had a producer with an ego as big as theirs and fighting/infighting aside they made some glorius music. The Tempting Temptations....

the new dynamic in vocal harmony and lead singing is what I am interested in and would like to hear more about.

You're right. They were grreat and knew it. And you are also right about their producer's ego. Smokey may have been just as confident, but he had a different method of working smoothly with people.

Beethoven was a genius and knew it. The Tempts were geniuses too and knew it. People shouldn't expect laid-back, easy-going temperaments from highly talented people. They don't succeed without drive.

I am not interested in whether the Tempts disagreed with each other at times, particularly not with "who was right." Even close-knit families disagee and argue at times. And I suspect outsiders are responsible for a lot of the disagreements. I am interested in what they accomplished and still do accomplish with their music. For the Tempts have moved with the times, yet still remain classy and elegant.

If we go back to Beethoven, musical instruments have changed, new instruments have been ionvented, and yet Beethoven still remains the greatest even though his compositions cannot sound the way they did when they were first played. The Temptations are the same.

By R&B (138.238.41.30) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

IN CASE ANYONE IS INTERESTED,IN THE BOOK[THE MOTOWN STORY]MELVIN HAS AN EXCELLENT INTERVIEW IN THE CHAPTER[MEET THE TEMPTATIONS]HE TALKS IN DEPTH ABOUT RICHARD AND DAVID.

By Common (209.2.55.170) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

R&B: I have that book. The interview is interesting to say the least! Very interesting that Melvin stated that it was Paul & Eddie who brought the MOR/show tunes to the group & that he & Otis were strictly doo-wop.

Peace!

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

janebae, thank for for a very well written response. We are on the same page. The Temptations, whatever the incarnation have always been a class act and tried to produce quality product. I truly admire them, The Dells and The Dramatics among others for staying on course and contributing to the soundtracks of our lives. For the past 40 years of my life they have made some very significant contributions to my mental health and well being, just don't ask my wife about the physical side because she'll want to give me my four sons back..........:-)

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 05:22 pm:

DID ELDRIDGE BRYANT GO ON TO SING WITH ANYONE ELSE AFTER THE TEMPTATIONS. I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THINK HE DID A STINT WITH THE DRAMATICS.

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 08:15 am:

Dell you're right on that account. If memory serves I believe he appeared on their Live LP. I'll have to dig it out to make sure.

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 11:14 am:

Kdubya:
I ALSO RECALL ELDRIDGE BRYANT HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE DRAMATICS, WHICH SHORTEN HIS STINT. ALSO, AS I INQUIRED EARLIER, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME INFO ON RON TYSON.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 11:22 am:

KDUBYA,YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK CLOSELY ON THAT AL BRYANT THING WITH THE DRAMATICS,BECAUSE MELVIN STATED THAT AL DIED IN 68 WHICH WAS BEFORE THE DRAMATICS BECAME POLULAR.

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

R&B:
THE DRAMATICS WERE ORIGINALLY NAMED "THE SENSATIONS" IN 1964, THEY CHANGED THEIR NAME IN 1965, I'M NOT SURE BUT I THINK THEY MADE THEIR FIRST SINGLE "ALL BECAUSE OF YOU" IN 1967, ON A SMALL LOCAL DETROIT LABEL, I'M NOT SURE WHO THE MEMBERS WERE THEN, BUT LIKE I SAID, BRYANT DIDN'T SING WITH THEM LONG......IF AT ALL.

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 01:14 pm:

Hi!
The very first Dramatics line-up in 1962 was Elbert Wilkins (actually the founder of the group; or the catalyst), Ron Banks, Larry Reed, Roderick Davis and Larry Demps.
The next but only semi-official recruitment was Robert Ellington. Ron: "We added him and let him sing with us, because his mother would let us rehearse in their basement." Robert never recorded with them. Arthur Phillips was another guy, who used to hang around those days, but he never became an official members.
He, however, became a member of the 70s splinter group, led by Elbert Wilkins and including also Wee Gee, Dupree Sims and Isaac Red.
They first recorded two singles for Wingate (and cut four sides for an upcoming album, which still today remain in the can), and after that came the Sport release in '67.
According to the liners to the Dramatics' Live album in '88 (on Fantasy in the USA, and on Stax in Europe) Elbridge Bryant was supposed to be a member of one of the '72 shows featured on that album, but he was mistaken for Elbert Wilkins - and that's where the confusion comes from.
Best regards
Heikki

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 01:54 pm:

HEIKKI:
ANOTHER MYSTERY SOLVED, THANK YOU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 03:36 pm:

DELL: BELIEVE IT OR NOT...I KNEW THE DRAMATICS BACK IN THEIR EMBRYONIC DAYS!!!...LARRY DEMPS (SQUIRREL) WAS A REAL NICE GUY...AND WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO RECRUIT ME TO PLAY WITH THEM. I KNEW LENNY MAYES BACK THEN ALSO...BEFORE HE WAS EVEN BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE DRAMATICS!!!...LENNY WAS SINGING SOLO...AND AS A DUET WITH A GIRL NAMED VALERIE (HE REMINDED ME OF HER NAME RECENTLY)!!!...THEY WERE PERFORMING ON PRETTY MUCH THE SAME CIRCUIT THAT I WAS PLAYING. THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY CREDIBLE GROUP...AND SERIOUS ABOUT STICKING WITH IT...ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT LARRY WENT BACK TO FINISH HIS EDUCATION!!!...STU

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 03:45 pm:

According to the liners to the Dramatics' Live album in '88 (on Fantasy in the USA, and on Stax in Europe) Elbridge Bryant was supposed to be a member of one of the '72 shows featured on that album, but he was mistaken for Elbert Wilkins - and that's where the confusion comes from.
Best regards
Heikki

Seems Like the old memory aint as bad as I thought! Thanks Heikki......

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 05:16 pm:

STUBASS:
CAN YOU HELP ME WITH ANY BIO ON RON TYSON

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

DELL: SORRY BUDDY...RON TYSON *MAY* HAVE BEEN OVER TO MY PLACE BACK IN AROUND 1980 WITH GLEN LEONARD AND A COUPLE OF OTHER "THEN" TEMPTS (IF I COULD REMEMBER IT CLEARLY...THEN *I* PROBABLY WASN'T THERE!!!...I'LL ASK MY BROTHER...WHO I KNOW SAW OLLIE WOODSON AND CORNELIUS GRANT RECENTLY...IF HE HAS ANY RECENT RON TYSON SIGHTINGS...BUT OTHER THAN THAT...CAN'T REALLY HELP YOU AT THIS TIME...BUT *SOMEONE* OUT THERE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A RECENT UPDATE!!!...C'MON...LETS HEAR IT!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 06:09 pm:

Dell:
It's best to ask Bobby Eli, since Ron Tyson started his career in Philadelphia doing background vocals for producers such as Thom Bell, Norman Harris and Bobby himself.

From what I know, Ron was part of a crew of singers in Philly who supplied background vocals for groups whose voices may be fine for the stage but need augmentation in the studio. This crew included Ron, Carl Helms, Phil Hurtt, Barbara Ingram and even Linda Creed. These groups included Blue Magic and the Stylistics.
Ron was also a member of a few Philly-based groups as well (names escape me) and actually wrote for the Temptations when the group spent a brief spell with Atlantic Records.

The rest Bobby Eli can fill in.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 10:39 pm:

Ebonys/Ethics

By Aba21 (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 12:48 am:

Ron's group was Love Committee out of Philly and he did write some songs for the Temps during the Glenn years I believe.

Another question posed along time ago was where was I when the book was being written. I was pretty close to Melvin during that time. Many people accuse Otis of all the misgivings in the movie. First the Five Heartbeats was movie that Otis didn't want to be about the Temps because way back then he was considering doing a movie about the Temps. Otis role in the movie was executive producer. He did not write the script and I doubt he had final say on the dailys. He certainly was not there on a daily basis to oversee the direction of the movie as that job fell to susanne depasse I would suspect.

As far as the group goes he was in total control by then even with Melvin in the group but i don't think he made any decisions without running it by mMelvin first. Melvin was all ready having major health problems and it was all he could do to perform every night.

RD....thanks for the name of the bass singer. I thougt I heard of him before but I am mistaken.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:41 am:

ABA21: IF YOU WERE AROUND MELVIN A LOT...DO YOU KNOW HIS CLOSE FRIEND SINCE BOYHOOD...FRANK H (THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW)!!!...A CLOSE MUTUAL FRIEND OF MELVIN AND MYSELF???...IF SO...PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!...THANKS STU

By stephanie (64.63.221.148) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 08:16 am:

I have a question. There is a site that is up on the Internet by Pauls family and they say that Paul was sick with sickle cell anemia and that he sometimes had to travel with an oxygen tank!!! I had never heard this in ANY of the Motown books or interviews or books about the Temps..can anyone explain why this was never mentioned I know some of you have seen this site. They say he was not sick from drinking it was due to his other health problems..
Stephanie

By THE URBAN GURU (67.35.36.156) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 08:46 am:

With all of the discussion around G.C.Cameron joining the Tempts,is there a possibility that Smokey and his skills could be part of this "new" direction? THE URBAN GURU

By Scratcher (65.238.127.230) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 12:04 pm:

Dell, Ron Tyson has a website that contains his bio and other goodies about him.

By Aba21 (208.191.121.196) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

Stubass....I have to admit the name is not familiar to me. Most of my time with him was spent with him alone in my part of the woods, NJ/NY. He attended some of my functions. Came to see me play in LA and things like that. He was a big BB fan as far back as I can remember. I met Mama Rose, Kim and some of his family memebers at shows and still communicate with his daughter. Hit me off to the side and we can talk. Aba21@aol.com.

Steph....that was info on Paul I don't think they wanted made public. Just like they didn't want you to know how sick Melvin was. Having an Oxygen tank off the side of the stage, not singing every song or doing all the routines, the bad wrist from the shooting, near the end of his career or all the medication he had to take just to perform. Wasn't something the general public knew a lot about before Otis second version of his book.

And don't even get started on the Dramatics. If there were no Temptations, the Dramatics............aw man they could blow.

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:14 pm:

Aba21:
VERY TRUE ABOUT THE DRAMATICS, BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURES ?

By Scratcher (65.238.127.230) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:28 pm:

The Futures were one of many Temptations clones groups. They were virtually unknown, however, outside the Philadelphia area and parts of the east. If you lived in the south, midwest or west you probably didn't hear their records on the radio or see them perform.

I heard "Love Is Here," but I didn't hear it on the radio, the DJ at the college I attended played it, and other recordings, for patrons of the student lounge. I later found a DJ copy somewhere. The Dramatics' remake doesn't begin to measure up to the Futures' original. They never made it because nobody ever put any big bucks behind them.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:31 pm:

HEY ALL: KEEP IN MIND GUYS...(AND THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE DETROIT "SOUL MUSIC" SCENE DURING THE 60'S WILL BEAR THIS OUT)...THAT THE "DRAMATICS"...LIKE MANY...MANY GROUPS AROUND TOWN DURING THAT ERA...STARTED OUT AS "TEMPTATION WANNABEES"...NO CRITICISM THERE...BUT THEY WERE VIRTUALLY ALL CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH...VOCAL PARTS...VOICINGS...AND LEAD SINGER STYLES...EMULATING THE "PROTOTYPE" TEMPTATIONS!!!...I SAW GROUP AFTER GROUP DURING THAT TIME...AND THEY WERE VIRTUALLY *ALL* DOING TEMPTATIONS STUFF...RIGHT DOWN TO THE CHORIOGRAPHY!!!...THEREFORE...MOST OF THEM...UPON GETTING SOME SORT OF RECORD DEAL...DID TEMPTATION KNOCKOFF MATERIAL TO SOME EXTENT!!!...THE DRAMATICS WERE ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT AT SOME POINT...AS WERE A FEW OF THE OTHERS THAT HAD SOME SUCCESS...BUT THE *ALL* STARTED OUT COPYING THE ONE AND ONLY "TEMPTIN TEMPTATIONS"...JUST THE WAY IT WAS...ONE GROUP TRYING TO "OUT TEMPTATION" THE NEXT!!!...STUBASS

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:39 pm:

VERY TRUE THE MONEY WASN'T THERE, BUT A COUPLE OF THEIR EX-MEMBERS, ARE SURE GETTING HIGH PROFILE JOBS NOW, TEMPTS, AND I BELIEVE THE SPINNERS NEW LEAD WAS WITH THEM.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.230) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:43 pm:

As I stated previously Stu, you're right.

Some Temptations' Clones:

1. the Imperial Wonders
2. the Dramatics
3. the Futures
4. the Ethics
5. the Chi-lites (they didn't begin or end as clones but did so doing a two-three year period in the sixties).
6. the Younghearts (a pretty poor clone)
7. the Temptones
8. the Corner Boys/Silent Majority
9. the Choice Four
10. the Whatnauts (to some extent)

There were many amateur and one record clones. .

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 01:57 pm:

THE WHATNAUTS ALSO REMINDED ME OF THE MOMENTS WITH THEIR SONG "I'LL ERASE AWAY YOUR PAIN"

By Aba21 (208.191.121.196) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:07 pm:

Dell...How you been? I liken the struggle of the group to anyone who comes from no money to lots of money. I don't think any of them had a great formal education so to speak and so what do you do when you waited so long for some money after not having any? You spend. And anyone with money will tell you your problems really just begin when you get some.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.230) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

Right Dell, but the Whatnauts also did a lot of message songs, including a rendition of the Tempts' "Message To a Blackman" and tunes with multi ping ponging leads like "Help is on the Way."

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:33 pm:

SCRATCHER: DESPITE ALL THE "WANNABEES"...I REMEMBER...WHEN I WAS WITH THE "STRIDES"...AS BAND LEADER AND BASS PLAYER... SUGGESTING TO OUR MANAGER THAT PERHAPS THE GROUP SHOULD GET AWAY FROM THE "TEMPTATION DUPLICATION SYNDROME"...DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE WERE AMONG THE VERY *BEST* OF THE LOCAL "WANNABEES"...EVEN RECOMMENDING THAT WE WORK ON SOME STRAIGHT FOUR AND FIVE PART HARMONY...SANS A DOMINANT LEAD SINGER (EVEN MENTIONED AN UPDATED "MILLS BROTHERS" KIND OF STYLE)...JUST TO BE DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE!!!...HIS RESPONSE!!!...HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS FU*@ING CRAZY!!!...OH WELL!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:37 pm:

Stu:
As they say - if it ain't broke....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Aba21 (208.191.121.196) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:41 pm:

The Futures........Mr. Bojangles, Ain't Got Time For Nothing. silhouettes and my favorite, Feels Just Like The First Time. As old Eddie Kane of the 5 Heartbeats would say, "those boys could warble!"

By Aba21 (208.191.121.196) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:44 pm:

Yeah Stu.....why you wanna mess wit a good thing?

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 10:25 pm:

WASN'T BROKE KEVGO...JUST WEREN'T STYLIN IN THE LATEST CONCEPT CAR!!!...AND...IF IT WERE SUCH A GOOD THING ABA21...WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING IN THE AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS TODAY???...STUBASS

By RD (63.188.32.39) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 10:31 pm:

The Dramatics stopped being Temptations' wannabees when L. J. Reynolds replaced the departed William Howard (who sounded like David Ruffin).

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 09:45 am:

OF ALL THE TEMPTATIONS SOUND ALIKES THE DRAMATICS WERE THE BEST,LISTEN TO[IN THE RAIN]I COULD HEAR THE TEMPS SINGING IT WITH EDDIE AND DAVID ON LEAD.

By B-town (207.8.188.200) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 10:53 am:

"What You See Is What You Get" most definitely sounds like a Temptations song.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 11:23 am:

AGREE ON BOTH GUYS!!!...CAN YOU IMAGINE DAVID RUFFIN ON "IN THE RAIN"???...WOW!!!...STUBASS

By B-town (207.8.188.200) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 11:27 am:

Well all great soul groups must have a song about rain. The Temptations "Wish it would Rain", and even New Edition Can You stand the Rain

By stephanie (64.63.221.99) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 11:48 am:

I have a question all of you gurus...didnt the Manhattans start the white glove thing? I thought it was them or was it the Temptations?
Stephanie

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 12:23 pm:

ACTUALLY STEPH: THE WHITE GOLVE THING WAS STARTED BY THE DOORMEN AT THE RITZ CARLTON!!!...MICHAEL JACKSON LOST ONE...AND TOOK IT TO AN ENTIRELY NEW LEVEL!!!...STU(THEY SHOULDA WORN MITTENS)BASS

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 12:25 pm:

STEPHANIE:
NOT SURE ON THE CORRECT ANSWER, BUT I DO KNOW THE WHITE GLOVES WERE A TRADEMARK FOR A GROUP CALLED THE UNIFICS, 2 HITS WERE "COURT OF LOVE" AND "THE BEGINNING OF MY END"

By stephanie (64.63.221.99) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 12:42 pm:

I met a cabdriver years ago who told me he was one of the Unifics and he was skinny and wore glasses and looked a little bit like David Ruffin.
He told me back in the day he made a lot of money but didnt save it. This was in MD near Washington DC when I met him in 1991. Im amazed at the number of people who remember them..
Stephanie

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 12:42 pm:

AND SPEAKING OF WHITE GLOVES,THE VANDELLAS HAD THE WHITE GLOVES THING GOING IN THE EARLY SIXTIES!

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

IF I HAD TO GUESS I WOULD SAY THAT THE WHITE GLOVES TRADITION IN R&B WAS PROBABLY STARTED IN THE FIFTIES BY SOMEONE LIKE THE FLAMINGOES!

By Scratcher (65.238.172.248) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 02:56 pm:

Forget about the white gloves what about the turbans? A group out of Baltimore in the '60s called the Persians performed in turbans. I know they weren't the first, however, the trend was started in the '50s. The most popular Turban single was "Too Much Pride."

Stephanie the Unifics were very popular. I have a friend now who's dying for a CD by them. They only had two significant records: "Court of Love" and the droning "Beginning of My End," but people love them. I hear their stage act, I never saw them, was exciting.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 02:57 pm:

Stephanie:
The Unifics came from Washington, DC - they attended Howard University when they recorded their hits "The Court Of Love" and "The Beginning Of My End".

Their classmate Donny Hathaway was the arranger on their recordings.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Scratcher (65.238.172.248) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 03:02 pm:

The Unifics' Al Johnson went on to cut some solo records and later became a producer.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 03:05 pm:

The Manhattans were doing the white glove thing they were known for all along since their beginning, I never saw the Temps wearing them early on. The turbans were also worn in the 50s by Chuck Willis, also The Turbans, and later by the Manhattans for a breif time.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 03:07 pm:

Forgot The Unifics were later on emulating the white gloves of their predecesors.

By Scratcher (65.238.172.248) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 03:21 pm:

Blue Magic had the derby hats and cane thang goin' on. I never saw the Tempts' in white gloves either. The Manhattans use to wear them and so did the Lovettes.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 03:54 pm:

Scratcher:
I know this company is known for their inconsistancy but the there is a Unifics CD anthology on the Collectables label of their Kapp/MCA recordings (including the hits we've been talking about). Does your friend know about this collection?
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 03:55 pm:

The Unifics also cut a single for Jerry Butler's Fountain label in the early 1970s.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 05:32 pm:

Stephanie:
I SAW THE UNIFICS ONCE, AND THEY DID "THE BEGINNING OF MY END" THEY CAME OUT IN TOTAL DARKNESS WEARING GLOWING WHITE GLOVES, CARRYING A COFFIN, IT ADDED SOMETHING TO WHAT WAS ALREADY A VERY SAD SONG. I NEVER SEEN ANYONE DO THAT AGAIN, THEY HAD EXTREMELY GOOD ROUTINES, BUT I HEARD THERE WERE RUMORS OF THEM HAVING BIG DRINKING AND DRUG PROBLEMS, DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE, BUT IT WOULD EXPLAIN HOW QUICKLY THEY FELL OFF, AND NOT HAVING ANY MONEY TODAY.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 05:57 pm:

Thank You Scatcher.
S.S.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.52) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 06:19 pm:

No KevGo, he probably doesn't. He doesn't buy online or through the mail, only from local stores. I didn't even know about it but I wasn't looking for a Unifics' CD cause they're not one of my favs. I'll pull his coat.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 12:54 pm:

HEY SCRATCHER,I REMEMBER THE PERSIANS WEARING THOSE TURBANS AND THE WHOLE SULTAN OUTFIT ON A LOCAL T.V.SHOW IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES,THERE WAS A GROUP CALLED THE TURBANS WHO STARTED THAT TURBAN THING IN THE FIFTIES.