Gordy 947 – released March 6, 1970
—peak: #1 R&B, #24 Pop

Features more of the sounds that dominated the previous two albums, from the power-packed title cut (which sampled "I Can’t Get Next to You" on the intro) to the infectious "Hum Along and Dance." More message tunes with "War" and "You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth." "Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind" should be required listening for all those who engage in natural herbal stimulation (you know what we mean). In poetry form, Melvin muses on "the happiest season of them all" in the original "It’s Summer." The Tempts also offer covers of two Gladys Knight and the Pips hits—"You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)," and "Friendship Train," the latter offering knockout orchestration—you won’t even realize it’s nearly eight minutes long.

Psychedelic Shack

It's Summer

You Make Your Own Heaven and
Hell Right Here on Earth

War

Hum Along and Dance

You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)

Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind

Friendship Train

Sky’s the Limit

Gordy 957 – released April 22, 1971
—peak: #2 R&B, #16 Pop

Even the great performers save the best for last. That’s what Eddie and Paul did with "Just My Imagination." With Eddie on lead and Paul singing the bridge, their joint Tempts swan song was not only a triumphant return to old-school ballads, but a defining moment in the Temptations’ careers—particularly that of Eddie, who rode this track into a successful solo career. Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong’s messages are still present, however—with "Man" and "Unite the World," whose title is translated from Swahili. The original version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes," featuring Eddie in front, was a hit that never became—Whitfield remade this into one for the Undisputed Truth shortly after Kendricks' departure.

Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love [re-mix]

Man

Just My Imagination
(Running Away with Me)

Throw a Farewell Kiss

I'm the Exception to the Rule

Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)

Smiling Faces Sometimes

Love Can be Anything
(Can't Nothing be Love but Love)

Gordy 961 – released January 7, 1972
—peak: #1 R&B, #24 Pop

This album begins the post-Eddie and Paul period, with Damon Harris and Richard Street plugging the holes. One minor hit is yielded, "Superstar," viewed initially as a direct attack at David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. Marvin Gaye is covered (again) in "The End of Our Road," and "Ain’t No Sunshine" runs three times as long as the original Bill Withers version. The LP’s lackluster showing on the pop chart suggests the audience’s growing tiredness with the long songs and message tunes (e.g. "Stop the War Now," which runs over 12 minutes).

Take a Look Around

Smooth Sailing From Now On

Ain't No Sunshine

Superstar
(Remember How You Got Where You Are)

Stop the War Now

It's Summer [re-mix]

What It Is

The End of Our Road

All Directions

Gordy 961 – released July 27, 1972
—peak: #1 R&B, #2 Pop

A variety of tunes and sounds, including covers of "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)," Issac Hayes’ "Do Your Thing," and the Ashford & Simpson-penned "Love Woke Me Up This Morning," a wonderful lead vocal for Damon Harris. Don’t sleep on Otis Williams, though, as he gets a rare lead in "I Ain’t Got Nothin’." More social enlightenment with "Run Charlie Run" and "Mother Nature." All this is overshadowed by "Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone"—one of the Tempts’ biggest hits ever and a multiple Grammy winner.

Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On

I Ain't Got Nothin'

Run Charlie Run

The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone

Mother Nature

Love Woke Me Up This Morning

Do Your Thing

Gordy 965 – released February 23, 1973
—peak: #1 R&B, #7 Pop

Norman Whitfield and Motown presented an album produced, written, and arranged solely by Norman himself. Even Norman’s picture on the album’s back cover was bigger than the group’s. (Barrett Strong left Motown after the previous album.) The title track totals just under 14 minutes in length, the most for any Temptations record. The much-edited single version of "Masterpiece" gave the group another R&B number-one hit, and another Grammy award as well. Richard Street shone on "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" in which he macked to an sophisticated honey.

Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)

Law of the Land

Masterpiece

Plastic Man

Ma

Hurry Tomorrow

1990

Gordy 966 – released December 7, 1973
—peak: #2 R&B, #19 Pop

The final Whitfield-produced Temptations album was no different than the others, with minor hits featuring Richard's smooth "Heavenly," and two Dennis-led songs, the dance inflected "Let Your Hair Down" and "You’ve Got My Soul on Fire." Damon Harris performs at the top of his game on "I Need You," and "Ain't No Justice," "Zoom," and the title song offer glimpses of the future with an almost prophetic tone. So went the productions of Norman Whitfield, who proved he didn't need Motown or the Tempts to make a hit when he struck big, under his own banner, with Rose Royce.

Let Your Hair Down

Ain't No Justice

I Need You

1990

Heavenly

Zoom

You’ve Got My Soul on Fire

Gordy 969 – released January 16, 1975
—peak: #1 R&B, #13 Pop

With Whitfield gone from Motown, a change in direction was in order, and it was In a Mellow Mood co-producer Jeffrey Bowen, with the help of Berry Gordy, who delivered it here. The set is full of refreshing tunes, from "Happy People" (which featured the Commodores as the backing band), to "Glasshouse," to "I’m a Bachelor," to "Shakey Ground," the album’s big hit. Three ultra-romantic moments are provided courtesy of "Firefly," "Memories," and the title song (covering Donny Hathaway and Leon Russell), where Dennis Edwards’ performance gave producer Bowen food for thought on the follow-up.

Happy People

A Song for You

Glasshouse

Memories

Shakey Ground

I'm a Bachelor

The Prophet

Firefly

Happy People (instrumental)

House Party

Gordy 973 – released November 4, 1975
—peak: #11 R&B, #40 Pop

To quote Otis Williams, from his 1988 autobiography Temptations, this album was a "mismatched collection of, pardon my French, sh*t." The nine tracks featured producers ranging from Memphis soul man Steve Cropper to Brian Holland (who with brother Eddie co-wrote the set’s only big single, "Keep Holding On"). The Temptations themselves wrote and co-produced "Darling, Stand by Me" and "What You Need Most (I Do Best of All)," the first Tempts song for new tenor Glenn Leonard, who replaced the fired Damon Harris.

Keep Holding On

Ways of a Grown-Up Man

It's Just a Matter of Time

Johnny Porter

You Can't Stop a Man in Love

Darling, Stand by Me
(Song for My Woman)

World of You, Love, and Music

If I Don't Love You This Way

What You Need Most (I Do Best of All)

Gordy 971 – released March 10, 1976
—peak: #3 R&B, #29 Pop

The highly anticipated follow-up to A Song for You failed miserably. At the root of the problems was co-producer Bowen’s fixation with Dennis Edwards. Bowen wanted to record an Edwards solo project, which the group refused to allow, so he went ahead and did the next best thing—recorded most of the tracks here with only Dennis’ voice audible. Regardless of that, two of those songs, "Paradise" (not a reprise of the 1962 single), and the title track are satisfying listens. The album’s only single, "Up the Creek (Without a Paddle)," featured Sly Stone as an unaccredited writing contributor.

Sweet Gypsy Jane

Mary Ann

Sweetness in the Dark

Dream World (Wings of Love)

Up the Creek (Without a Paddle)

Paradise

China Doll

The Temptations
Do the Temptations

Gordy 975 – released August 16, 1976
—peak: #10 R&B, #53 Pop

The title spoke for itself—the group wrote and co-produced six of the eight tracks, using a variety of harmonies. "There’s No Stoppin’…" evokes earlier dance cuts like "Funky Music Sho’ Nuff Turns Me On." "I’ll Take You In" has a sort of "A Song for You"-like feel to it. "I’m on Fire" sought to light up the sheets as the Tempts never did before. The B-side of the album’s only single, "Who Are You," was "Let Me Count the Ways (I Love You)," featuring Melvin in a one-of-a-kind performance.

Why Can't You and Me Get Together

There's No Stoppin'
(Till We Set the Whole World Rockin')

Who Are You (and What Are You Doing
for the Rest of Your Life)

Let Me Count the Ways (I Love You)

I'm On Fire (Body Song)

Is There Anybody Else

Put Your Trust in Me Baby

I'll Take You In

No

Yet

Atlantic 19143 –
released November 10, 1977
—peak: #38 R&B, #113 Pop

For their first Atlantic effort, the group traveled to Philadelphia to work with this trio of producers, alumni of the Gamble-Huff academy of Philly Soul. Among the songwriters enlisted for the project was Ronald Tyson, a moonlighting tenor, and one whom Otis kept in mind years later, when he searched for a replacement for Glenn Leonard. Louis Price, the first replacement for Dennis (who was fired shortly before the Atlantic signing), debuts his Jerry Butler-type baritone here on several tracks.

Think for Yourself

It's Time for Love

In a Lifetime

Let's Live in Peace

Can We Come and Share in Love

Read Between the Lines

She's All I've Got

I Could Never Stop Loving You

Snake in the Grass

Bare Back

Atlantic 19188 –
released September 20, 1978
—peak: #46 R&B

The Holland brothers (sans long-time partner Lamont Dozier) finally got their chance to produce an entire Tempts LP. Featured some great tracks, but the disco (gasp!) craze buried this one into also-ran territory.

Yet

Mystic Woman (Love Me Over)

Wake Up to Me

I Just Don't Know How to Let You Go

You're So Easy to love

That's When You Need Love

I See My Child

Bare Back

Touch Me Again

Ever Ready Love