They could out sing, out dance, out perform and outclass anyone, anywhere, at any time. It is the harsh attitude malfunction of this writer that The Tempts were beyond a doubt the finest vocal group to come out of Motown (in itself enough to cause fistfights), if not the entire era in which they recorded.
The remastered version of this spectacular album runs two CD's long, and to hear it with the extra cuts, previously unreleased versions of classics will be a revelation for those who think that funk/soul and especially Motown was incapable of going into the Sgt. Pepper or Bitches Brew territory.
The Fabulous Funk Brothers were never so well served as they are here, and that includes the must-have 20th Century Masters Millennium collection. The FFB are given more room to run and their longer leads into the songs as well as their stronger backing of the five powerhouse voices is amazing.
This is the kind of musical revelation that is unworthy of downloading. It is the kind of re-working and remastering that makes the actual, physical purchase a requirement. It in and of itself renders greatest hits packages and the monster 5-disc Emperors Of Soul box set obsolete.
Ball Of Confusion here clocks in at 4:09, Psychedelic Shack
runs 6:22, Runaway Child Running Wild 9:35, and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone has been brought to 12:04. I cannot fathom having ever heard Papa Was A Rollin' Stone in the form here, more strings, stronger, fuller: how was that possible? It was flawless to begin with, one of the greatest shining moments of the era, possibly the single greatest moment in Motown: that bass line, the way the voices sneak in and around each other, taunting the lyrics... amazing.
The Tempts here also walk up to War, made famous by Edwin Starr, and claim it for themselves.
Front to back, a magnificent statement.
I find the late Sixties/early 70's work of The Temptations incredible by any standards. Moving out of the Smokey Robinson era was liberating for them. Don't get me wrong, Smokey crafted some of the greatest pop songs in history,many of which were Temptations hits, but once they moved toward more politically aware funkier material, that is where they achieved true greatness, and the covers they did were so spot on, like the Curtis Mayfield cover they did. I once read a journo back in England who said that Motown's social commentary period was really just "What's Going On" and Edwin Starr's "War" single. No mention of the Temps whatsoever. That guy ought to be made to eat this release for breakfast. I need my copy NOW!
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartfelt review!
ReplyDeleteAha fabulous review!Gotta send you both my Fun N Soul mix!ya dig!
ReplyDeleteTrish