The Temptations
Studio album by
the Temptations
ReleasedAugust 7, 1981 (1981-08-07)
StudioSigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia and Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle
Genre
Length41:03
LabelGordy
ProducerThom Bell
The Temptations chronology
Give Love at Christmas
(1980)		 The Temptations
(1981)		 Reunion
(1982)
Singles from The Temptations
  1. "Aiming at Your Heart" / "The Life of a Cowboy"
    Released: 1981
  2. "Oh, What A Night" / "Isn't The Night Fantastic?"
    Released: 1981

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.

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, and more recent members Richard Street and Glenn Leonard.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

The album leans more 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 was that it wasn't marketed to a crossover audience.[4]

Chart performance

The album peaked at No. 119 on the Billboard 200 albums chart[5] and No. 36 on the Top Black Albums albums chart.[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 where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Arranged byLength
1."Aiming at Your Heart"Charles B. Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, Richard RoebuckBill Neale5:58
2."Evil Woman (Gonna Take Your Love)"Leroy M. Bell, Casey James 3:20
3."The Best Of Both Worlds"Thom Bell, Linda Creed 3:41
4."Ready Willing And Able"Alan Glass, Preston Glass, T. Bell 3:25
5."Open Their Eyes"T. Bell, Creed 4:14
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Arranged byLength
6."Oh, What A Night"T. Bell, Creed 4:03
7."The Life of a Cowboy"Jefferson, Roebuck 3:33
8."Just Ain't Havin' Fun"T. Bell, Creed 4:06
9."What Else"Simmons, Jefferson, Roebuck 4:11
10."Your Lovin' Is Magic"A. Glass, P. Glass, T. BellNeale4:05

Personnel

Musicians:

  • The Temptations (Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Glenn Leonard) – vocals
  • Thom Bell – keyboards
  • Bobby Eli, Bill Neale – guitars
  • Bob Babbitt – bass
  • 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

References

  1. ↑ The Temptations – The Temptations Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved August 13, 2022
  2. ↑ Lytle, Craig. Review of The Temptations at AllMusic. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  3. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 697.
  4. ↑ The Temptations – The Temptations Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved August 13, 2022
  5. ↑ "The Temptations' Chart History on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Temptations' Chart History on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  7. ↑ Aiming at Your Heart by The Temptations – Track Info | AllMusic, retrieved August 13, 2022
  8. ↑ "The Temptations Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "The Temptations Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  1. The Temptations on Discogs
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