Search - The Temptations :: Solid Rock

A Rare Gem

R. Toomey | Piscataway, NJ United States | 03/05/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is The Temptations right after the departure of two incredible voices; Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. Now with a new lineup intact...Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, Richard Street and Damon Harris, The Temptations were well on there way into the 70's soul scene. This album includes such songs as "Superstar", "It's Summer", "Stop The War Now" and "Take A Look Around". Their version of "Ain't No Sunshine" is even great. The only problem with this rare gem is that it's extremely hard to find on CD. It has been out-of-print for several years. Motown has yet to remaster this one. It's definitely a great one if you find it."

"One of the Temptations most forgotten gems"

M. Spencer | Stockbridge, GA by way of D.C. | 02/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To make a long story short how I got this album is almost a miracle in itself. Out of all the Temptations cd's this one has got to be the most difficult to find and for a while it seemed liked a had a better chance of winning the lottery than I do of getting my hands on this cd. Well what do you know after a long hard search I finally found it on cd, and now I gett to throw away my old cd that that I recorded off my mom's old vinyl version(thank goodness). Now about this album let me start off saying this was the first to feature the voices of second tenor Richard Street and the great first tenor of one Damon Harris. While no singles off this album did as good as the albums before(although "Superstar" did make it to 8 and 18 on the r&b and pop charts respectively). But as a whole this album flows really well thanks to the great productions onf Norman Whitfield. "Take A Look Around" was the first single and it did quite well with first timers Richard and Damon taking the lead while Dennis takes the vamp. But the second song a remake of Bill Withers "Ain't No Sunshine" really takes off after harmonizing the first half of the song. Again Richard and Damon really shine on this one. This was also the first album that the Funk Brothers start getting credited as studio musicians on the albums they played on with the Tempts and Whitfield. But again Whitfield has to show off his production genius and relegat the Tempts again as mere background singers for "Stop The War Now", which was really starting to get under the groups skin. But one of my favorite tunes is the "What It Is?" which was letter covered by the Undisputed Truth(along with every other song the Tempts did, but thats another story). But my abosulute favorite has got to be "Superstar" with its funky wah-wah guitars and great bass work by Jamerson Jamerson and Whitfields new Bob Babbit. I think Whitfield was really showing his behind off on this one becacuse this all the Tempts get a down on this one and the production is still at the forefront. The other songs are not quite as good but their no duds either. Great overall album and must have if you won the lottery (lol). Peace Out."