The Temptations (1981 album)

1981 studio album by the Temptations

The Temptations

Studio album by

the Temptations

Released| August 7, 1981 (1981-08-07)
Studio|

* Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington

Genre|

* R&B
* Soul
* Pop

Length| 41:03
Label| Gordy
Producer| Thom 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: July 17, 1981
2. "Oh, What A Night" / "Isn't The Night Fantastic?"
Released: October 9, 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
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

[edit]

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

[edit]

All tracks are arranged by Thom Bell, except side one, track one and side two, track five arranged by Bill Neale.

Side oneNo.| 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

Side twoNo.| 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Chart (1981)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard 200[8] | 119
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 36

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

1. The Temptations on Discogs

* v
* t
* e

The Temptations

* Otis Williams
* Ron Tyson
* Terry Weeks
* Tony Grant
* Jawan Jackson

* Melvin Franklin
* Eddie Kendricks
* Paul Williams
* David Ruffin
* Dennis Edwards
* Ricky Owens
* Richard Street
* Damon Harris
* Louis Price
* Ali-Ollie Woodson
* Theo Peoples
* Harry McGilberry
* Barrington "Bo" Henderson
* Ray Davis
* G. C. Cameron
* Joe Herndon
* Bruce Williamson

Studio albums|

* Meet the Temptations
* The Temptations Sing Smokey
* The Temptin' Temptations
* Gettin' Ready
* The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul
* The Temptations Wish It Would Rain
* Cloud Nine
* Puzzle People
* Psychedelic Shack
* Sky's the Limit
* Solid Rock
* All Directions
* Masterpiece
* 1990
* A Song for You
* House Party
* Wings of Love
* The Temptations Do the Temptations
* Hear to Tempt You
* Bare Back
* Power
* The Temptations
* Reunion
* Surface Thrills
* Back to Basics
* Truly for You
* Touch Me
* To Be Continued...
* Together Again
* Special
* Milestone
* Phoenix Rising
* Ear-Resistible
* Awesome
* Legacy
* Still Here
* Temptations 60

Cover albums|

* The Temptations in a Mellow Mood
* For Lovers Only
* Reflections
* Back to Front
* All the Time

Live albums|

* Temptations Live!
* Live at the Copa
* Live at London's Talk of the Town
* The Temptations in Japan

Other albums|

* Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations
* TCB
* The Temptations Show
* Together
* On Broadway
* The Temptations Christmas Card
* Give Love at Christmas
* Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits
* Greatest Hits II
* Anthology
* Emperors of Soul
* The Ultimate Collection

Singles
(US/UK Top 10)|

* "My Girl"
* "Get Ready"
* "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
* "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"
* "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
* "All I Need"
* "You're My Everything"
* "I Wish It Would Rain"
* "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"
* "Cloud Nine"
* "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
* "Run Away Child, Running Wild"
* "I Can't Get Next to You"
* "Psychedelic Shack"
* "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"
* "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
* "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
* "Masterpiece"
* "Let Your Hair Down"
* "Happy People"
* "Shakey Ground"
* "Treat Her Like a Lady"
* "The Motown Song"
* "My Girl" (reissue)

Related|

* Band members
* The Temptations (miniseries)
* Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations
* Discography
* The Supremes
* The Undisputed Truth
* Smokey Robinson
* Norman Whitfield
* Barrett Strong
* Sly Stone
* George Clinton

* Category

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