One of the odder 60s LPs from the Supremes, the soundtrack to a film that starred the group, with some guest appearances by The Temptations – in Motown-show versions of tracks that often feature the singers lapsing into medleys of other tunes, or doing some popular hits of the day. Titles include "Respect", "Somewhere", "Stop In The Name Of Love", "TCB", "For Once In My Life", "Hello Young Lovers", "I Hear A Symphony", and "The Impossible Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last totally righteous albums by the Temptations – recorded at the end of their progressive run at Motown, and done with some really hard-hitting tunes and production from Norman Whitfield! Tracks step off with that beautiful mix of badass soul, heavy production, and soaring harmonies that always made the group so great during this period – and the tracks are some wonderful numbers that get way way past the hit-bound material of other albums. Paul Riser handled arrangements for the set, bringing in a few sweet touches that are very much appreciated on the mellower numbers – and titles include the extended mellow funky number "Zoom" – plus "1990", "I Need You", "You've Got My Soul On Fire", "Heavenly", and "Ain't No Justice". LP, Vinyl record album

The Temptations going in all directions – and all of them pretty darn groovy too! The set's still heavy on the solid, righteous sound of Norman Whitfield – who gives some of the best cuts that psychedelic soul imprint he really perfected with the group – a quality that has a lot more funk than other Motown acts were getting at the time – yet still lets the harmonies soar! A few other numbers showcase a more mature ballad style – different than the sweet soul of their roots, and definitely with an adult vibe we really love. Titles include heavy funk on "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On", and their great cover of Isaac Hayes "Do Your Thing" – some mellow mature covers like "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" and "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" – plus the long version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", and the tracks "Mother Nature" and "Run Charlie Run". LP, Vinyl record album

A tightly funky set from The Temptations – a record that has the group still standing strong in the post-Norman Whitfield years – working here with producer Jeffrey Bowen in a groove that's almost got some P-Funk touches at times! Things are somewhat polished, but still in the best mainstream funk mode of the time – and in a way, the record's almost a blueprint for the style that so many California groups would pick up in the next few years – upbeat grooves, often driven with some heavy bass at the bottom, but still with enough room for well-crafted vocals on the top. Arrangements are by James Carmichael on most tracks – and the backing group includes Wah Wah Ragin and Eddie Hazel on guitar, both of whom get plenty of space to work out on the set. Tracks include the instrumental "Happy People" – plus "Glass House", "Shakey Ground", "The Prophet", "A Song For You", "Firefly", and "I'm A Bachelor". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal moment for The Temptations – a set that has the group hitting even more of a deep soul sound than before – at a level that really sets them apart from some of the other groups on Motown at the time! There's a richer, fuller sound going on here – as the group work with producer Norman Whitfield in a style that's not entirely psychedelic soul, but instead places a strong focus on the emotional power of their harmonies! Tracks are shorter than some of the funky Temps jams, but they pack a hell of a lot in a very small space – as the lyrics bristle with open, honest emotion throughout. Titles include the perennial classic "I Wish It Would Rain" – a song that opens up a whole new level of emotional depth – plus "I Truly Truly Believe", "Why Did You Leave Me Darling", "No Man Can Love Her Like I Do", "Fan The Flame", and "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)". LP, Vinyl record album

Motown's second pairing of its two biggest groups of the late 60s – a massive 7-voiced meeting in soul music, with results that are surprisingly great! Frank Wilson produced the whole set, and he does a good job of keeping all players in check – never letting the whole thing get too gimmicky, and managing to convey a sound that brings the best of both groups to the table. Titles include "Sing A Simple Song", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", "Why", "For Better Or For Worse", "I'll Be Doggone", "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", and a great Motown remake "My Guy My Girl", which features both versions of the hit coming together! LP, Vinyl record album

The Temptations on Atlantic Records – sounding different than their Motown years, and still pretty darn great! The group's got some wonderful help here from the team of Brian and Eddie Holland – still very much in fine fine form, and coming up with some backings that have a warm modern soul groove that really works great with the group's harmonies – a great step forward they might never have gotten at their previous label – almost handled here as if the Temps were some bold new discovery in soul, getting really top-shelf treatment. Otis Williams is firmly in place with a fine lead vocal, and there's a smooth grooving feel here that really matches the bigger Philly groups on Atlantic at the time. Titles include "That's When You Need Love", "Mystic Woman", "Ever Ready Love", "Touch Me Again", "I See My Child", and "You're So Easy To Love". LP, Vinyl record album

They certainly got the title right on this one – because the album's an early 70s masterpiece from the Temptations – one of the last in their legendary run of records with Norman Whitfield! By this point, the group are way past simple harmony soul – and are working with Whitfield to make these mini-symphonies of righteous grooves – heavy on the bass and bottom they moved into in the late 60s, often touched with social messages, and using the group's voices like different instruments to rise the whole thing into a masterful triumph throughout. Whitfield wrote and produced the record, Paul Riser provided tremendous arrangements – and titles include "Hey Girl", "Masterpiece", "Ma", "Plastic Man", "Hurry Tomorrow", and "Law Of The Land". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set of psychedelic soul from this fantastic 60s group! The record is one of the groundbreaking albums the Temps cut with producer Norman Whitfield – and it's a landmark session that perfectly showcases what Whitfield's full-on, guitar-heavy, bassy-bottom style could do for the group! A few mellow cuts hearken back to earlier days – but there's some excellent moments that really let the new sound shine – soaring out with trippier touches that are totally great! Highlights include the storming cut "I Can't Get Next To You", a trippy remake of "Hey Jude", the original "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down", and the haunting "Message From A Black Man" – one of the most righteous moments ever in late 60s Motown! LP, Vinyl record album

A great 80s set from The Temptations – one of the few Motown acts who managed to deliver great work again and again over the years! The production has some 80s traces that are slightly dated, but the vocals are still top-shelf all the way – strongly moved much more into a mellow and modern mode than the group's righteous 70s years, but still plenty darn soulful for our ears – and proof that no matter what the lineup, or the setting, The Temptations could always come out with some top-shelf work! The record's got a nicely balanced feel that most younger groups of the time would have done well to consider – and titles include "Running", "Treat Her Like A Lady", "My Love Is True", "Set Your Love Right", "I'll Keep My Light In The Window", and "Memories". LP, Vinyl record album

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A late 60s Motown classic – with a deep heavy soul sound that mixed psychedelic elements into a rolling righteous groove – with a style that was perfect for the political tenor of the times! The formula worked extremely well for The Temps, and shifted them from being just a regular Motown vocal group into a super soul power that shaped soul music heavily in the next few years. Of course, a good deal of the credit goes to producer Norman Whitfield – who's really in his element on the set, and gives the group a sublime blend of heavy bass, fuzzy guitar, and tripped-out production on the vocals. Includes the classic "Psychedelic Shack", plus "Friendship Train", "Take A Stroll Thru Your Mind", "Hum Along And Dance", and "It's Summer". LP, Vinyl record album

The Temptations sing the work of Smokey Robinson – and they've even got Smokey along to help them out on production! Given the high Robinson quotient on the set – both on production and songwriting – you'd almost expect this one to be a copycat of The Miracles' music at the time. Yet The Temps really manage to bring plenty of their own greatness to play on the material – deepening some of the songs with wonderful harmonies, and creating a sound that's often a bit less sweet and a bit more soulful than Smokey's approach with his own group. Titles include "It's Growing", "Who's Loving You", "What's So Good About Goodbye", "Depend On Me", "Way Over There", and "What Love Has Joined Together". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic early Temptations – a wonderful little record produced by Smokey Robinson with a sweet group finish! The harmonies are impeccable, and the sound is perfect Motown – tight and classy, but with enough rough edges to keep things soulful at the best parts – and there's a romping sort of groove to many tracks, almost making the album sort of a mini-Motown dance party of sorts! Titles include "Just Another Lonely Night", "The Girl's Alright With Me", "Don't Look Back", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Everybody Needs Love", "My Baby", "You've Got To Earn It", and "Born To Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last albums the Four Tops ever issued on Motown – but also one of the best, and a set that really has the group taking off in a strong new direction for the 70s! Frank Wilson's at the production helm, and the set has all these cool little twists and turns that work perfectly with the magnificent harmonies of Levi Stubbs and the group – a mode that draws on all their vocal highlights from older years, but also refits them with a more spacious, more mature sort of sound! The approach is different than that used with the Temptations at the same time – less political, but still flowing with plenty of new ideas – handled by arrangers Jerry Long, Jimmy Roach, and David Van DePitte. The title cut – "Still Waters (Run Deep)" – is a perfect example of this – as the tune's got weirdly wonderful production, almost as watery as the cover image, and a bit of moog buried in there – which comes forward even more on the reprise of the song at the end of the record. Other titles include "Love Is The Answer", "Reflections", "I Wish I Were Your Mirror", "Bring Me Together", "LA (My Town)", and "Everybody's Talkin". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the darkest records to ever come out of the Detroit soul scene! As you might guess from the title, the album is Funkadelic's first – and it's a swirling mass of psychedelic guitars, echoey drums, and bass-heavy riffing, all topped off by the band's harmony vocals, which sound like a perversion of the deep-Motown styles of groups like The Temptations or Undisputed Truth – taken into even headier territory! The original 5-member version of the group includes Eddie Hazel, Mickey Atkins, Tawl Ross, Bill Nelson, and Tiki Fulwood – all working here with some mindblowing George Clinton production! Tracks include classics like "I Bet You", "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic", "Music for My Mother", and "What Is Soul" – and the album's the stuff that made these guys a legend right out of the box! LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible lost album from Motown's David Ruffin – material recorded for his third solo album, but unreleased at the time – and presented here with a whole bunch of rare bonus material too! The quality of the work is incredible – done in a soaring style that's a perfect summation of the genius of Motown at the end of the 60s. Ruffin really steps away from his work with the Temptations here, and moves masterfully into the role of a solo star – working with such strength that we're puzzled as to why Motown never issued the set – but even more delighted to finally have it back out in such a great package! The original album was supposed to feature 12 tracks, but the set adds in an additional 11 numbers that were recorded during the same time, including a few rare mono mixes. The whole thing's great – and includes the incredible track "Each Day Is A Lifetime", plus "Out In The Country", "I Want You Back", "Let Somebody Love Me", "It's Gonna Take A Whole Lot Of Doin", "Heaven Help Us All", "Mountain Of Memories", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do", and "Don't Stop Lovin Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous little album from Jimmy Ruffin – as "ruff" as the title implies, with a much deeper groove than you might find from other Motown releases at the time! The style here is really wonderful – rich, heartfelt vocals from Jimmy that easily match the best of the Detroit underground of the time – a style that's a bit like Darrell Banks or JJ Barnes, with echoes of the southern sound of the 60s – but produced to perfection with all the best that Motown could muster! Jimmy gets lots of heavy help from Norman Whitfield – who produced about half the tracks on the set, and gives Ruffin a sound that's somewhere between his righteous soul with the Temptations, and the best Motown grooves of his earlier work for the label. Other production is by Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier, William Weatherspoon & James Dean, and Richard Morris – all of whom follow Whitfield's lead nicely – and although the album's got few runaway hits, it's a rock-solid effort throughout – just the kind of album that makes us love the Motown full-length scene even more than the label's singles! Titles include "Lonely Lonely Man Am I", "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)", "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me", "Everybody Needs Love", "Sad & Lonesome Feeling", "Love Gives Love Takes Away", and "Farewell Is A Lonely Sound". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by The Drifters, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, The Eldorados, The Chantels, Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Temptations, The Bobettes, The Crests, and The Cadillacs. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Four Tops, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Jr Walker & The All Stars, and The Jackson 5. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Mary Wells, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jr Walker & The All Stars, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Four Tops, and Stevie Wonder. LP, Vinyl record album

Hi Records perfection from the mighty Al Green – slightly later than some of his key early hits, but a record that shows Green still taking fire on all burners! Production is by the team of Al and Willie Mitchell – in a mode that's slightly fuller and more updated than before, but still very much that original mode the pair pioneered during Green's first years at Hi – a smooth, rich sound that's never slick, never poppy, and never cloying – and a mode that never falls into disco or pop temptations other singers were trapped in at the time. Backings are by the Memphis Horns and Memphis Strings – with some occasional backup vocals from Rhodes Chalmers & Rhodes or The Duncan Sisters – and titles include "I'd Fly Away", "That's The Way It Is", "Glory Glory", "Always", "Full Of Fire", "Together Again", "Soon As I Get Home", and "Let It Shine". LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Amii Stewart, Commodores, Temptations, Ike & Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Joe Baatan, Thelma Houston, and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A strange album of spiritual tunes recorded by Motown stars – done in dedication to the passing of Loucye G Wakefield, sister of Berry Gordy, and head of collections at Motown! The album includes some rare tracks by artists you'd know mostly from other styles – and features "He" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" by Marvin Gaye, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" and "How Great Thou Art" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" by Stevie Wonder, and "The Lords Prayer" by The Temptations. LP, Vinyl record album

With classics by The Miracles, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Brenda Holloway, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin, Jr Walker & The All Stars, The Originals, Commodores, Smokey Robinson, Rick James, Dazz Band, Jermaine Jackson, and Lionel Richie. LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album from The O'Jays – and an undeniable Philly classic! The record was the third the group cut for the Philadelphia International label – but it was really the first one that pushed their strong righteous soul agenda, sort of a mix of message-oriented lyrics and heavy soul (ala The Temptations), fused with the warmer more sophisticated styles of the Philly sound! The blend is perfect – and has a way of getting the message from the underground right into the living room – and a bit onto the charts as well! From the image on the cover – which features the group in a slave ship setting – to politics of tracks like "Don't Call Me Brother", "For The Love Of Money", "Put Your Hands Together", and "This Air That I Breathe", the record's an extremely unified effort – kind of to the O'Jays what What's Going On was to Marvin Gaye. Other titles include "You Got Your Hooks In Me", "Now That We Found Love", and "People Keep Tellin Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare Earth get some super-heavy help on this set from Norman Whitfield – who wrote all the tracks for the record, and produced the whole thing with a thundering intensity to match his best work with The Temptations! Given Rare Earth's more rock-styled bent, the sound's a bit different here – but the record has an undeniably soulful quality that really makes it stand out – even amongst other excellent early work by the group. Titles include the super-extended jammer "Ma", which runs for over 17 minutes in length – plus great versions of "Hum Along & Dance", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", and "Big John Is My Name". LP, Vinyl record album

A great selection of older Motown numbers – with a few newer tracks from the 70s! The selection of tunes is a bit strange – given that the film was film set in Chicago in the mid 60's, whick makes you think the kids would have been listening to Chicago tunes on local labels like Okeh, Brunswick, and other labels – but overall, it's still a decent set. The original tunes are pretty great – like the instrumental "2 Pigs and a Hog", which was an old sample back in the 80's – and the tracks "Haulin", "Sweet First Love", "Cold Blooded", and "Three AM", which feature music by Freddie Perren. Other older tunes include "Stop In The Name of Love" by The Supremes, "Baby Love" by The Supremes, "Fingertips" by Stevie Wonder, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "Reach Out I'll Be There" by Four Tops, "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" by GC Cameron, "Beechwood 45789" by The Marvelettes, and "Ooo Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, Brenda Holloway, Four Tops, Mary Wells, The Contours, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, and Barrett Strong. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark debut from the mighty Erykah Badu – a record that really set the world on fire when it first appeared – and which continues to blow our minds all these many years later! There's a simple, straightforward grace to the album that comes through immediately – as Erykah tries to forge new ground for soul music, but does it by taking a few steps backwards – not into retro modes, but more in a way that focuses on the core vocal, songcraft, and right instrumentation that can make a special soul record such a standout. She does a great job of both avoiding easy commercial paths, or some of the temptations to embrace other then-contemporary genres – which has made the work of some of her colleagues seem a bit dated. The record defines a whole new style of expression – "Baduizm", if you will – one in which Erykah sings with a depth that stretches back through a century's worth of jazz, soul, and gospel influences – but works a groove in a stripped-down and forward-thinking mode that sets the pace for countless Neo Soul singers to come! Titles include "Certainly (Flipped It)", "Next Lifetime (radio)", "On & On", "Appletree", "No Love", "4 Leaf Clover", and "Sometimes (mix #9)". LP, Vinyl record album

Plenty of Impact from this great Philly group – a soaring quartet who harmonize with some great Bobby Eli arrangements – at a level that shines as strongly as the best 70s work by Blue Magic or The Spinners! Impact never broke the big time as strongly, but they're a great group in the best 70s Philly mode – rooted in an older harmony style, but able to really take off with some sweet Sigma Sound styles – the sort of balance that few other groups managed to handle this well. The quartet features Damon Harris, who sang with the Temptations after Eddie Kendricks left in 1971 – and the group is a re-formation of The Young Vandals, who recorded briefly on T-Neck before Harris left for the Temps. Titles include "Happy Man", "Give A Broken Heart A Break", "Love Attack", "It Only Happens In the Movies", and "Winning Combination". LP, Vinyl record album

The first solo album that Eddie Kendricks cut after leaving The Temptations – and a great one! Motown genius Frank Wilson produced the whole album, and it's got a really unified feel that you don't always get on Motown albums – possibly proof that the label was really invested in starting Eddie off on a strong solo career. The record's got a wonderful sweet soul sound – with Eddie's great vocals at the center, and some complicated arrangements that work very well on the ballads, and which kick it up on a few tracks, hinting at Eddie's later successful boogie style. Titles include "Something's Burning", "Let's Go Back To Day One", "It's So Hard For Me To Say Goodbye", and "Can I". LP, Vinyl record album

All-star roster on Motown through the years , including The Marvelettes, The Supremes, The Temptations, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Kendricks, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston, Commodores, and Rick James. LP, Vinyl record album

Lots of great cuts on this UK-only collection – 16 tracks, with work from Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Supremes, Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Four Tops, and Jimmy Ruffin LP, Vinyl record album