Cloud Nine

I loved this album. After a long day at work getting back and putting this on whilst cooking dinner was an absolute winner

The Temptations are a weird group. They were early pioneers in funk but they came out of the motown scene. Most bands who straddle the genre line like this produce songs that sort of smear the line between. Not The Temptations. Oh, no. The songs on this album are very solidly either funk or motown. I love the funk tracks so much. They hit the pocket and just grind. They're great. The motown tracks no so much. They're great examples of motown soul ... I just don't dig the genre.

My vague knowledge of The Temptations remains vague, but now I know for sure that I love them

The A side could be an easy 5, but the back half drags into good but generic motown that brings the record down a bit.

👍🏼

Super 70s production - very wide stereo sound, funky bass lines, crunchy guitar and rhodes riffs, soulful singing - lots of love jams. Good to throw on and just vibe. Favorite song: Love is a Hurtin' Thing

(à lire impérativement avec la voix de Jacques Chirac) Écoutez, je dois dire que j'ai été très déçu par cet album. La pochette laissait présager une véritable bouffée d'air soul au milieu de tous ces albums de rock générés par Robert. De la soul, oui, mais de la soul psychédélique, j'émets des réserves.

Obviously, The Temptations Cloud Nine was groundbreaking at the time for its use of funk, but how does it hold up? To modern ears, the earnestness of the lyrics grates a little. Social consciousness is one thing, but these lyrics are pretty on the nose. But how about the music? The playing and arrangements of the first three tracks in the relatively new funk style are impeccable. They groove relentlessly. And sure enough, it's the Temps, so the vocals kick ass. After the initial blast of funk, the rest of the album reverts to the Temptations signature smooth soul. This is not necessarily a bad thing. There's a lot to be said for soulful and varied vocals, competent if conventional arrangements, and the solid songcraft and musicianship from the Motown stable. I've got to be honest. I prefer 70s soul to 60s soul, but Cloud Nine is one of the more solid efforts of the period. There is little of the outright filler, pointless covers of hit material, and outright pandering to crossover audiences that was all too common on Motown releases. I'll subtract half a point for some painful earnestness and out of subjective personal preference. 4 1/2 out of 5

I absolutely love this album. It's got a lot of funk to it, and it has a great groove. The instrumental choices were very nice and characteristic of the era, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Pleasant but unremarkable.

I went on youtube for this shit. Like it was 2011. Maybe that's why I liked it so much. Sitting in a simpler time. Good energy. Ah. The Temptations!

Feel good album. Started very soulful and got heavy 50s-pop toward the end. Not a huge fan of their rendition of "Heard It Through The Grapevine". Otherwise, good stuff.

I feel like there’s a whole group of people who find the Temptations really, really historically important but no one ever said anything and they just expect us to know? They don’t run around trying to insert the Temptations into ever conversation, it’s more like ‘whatevz, yer loss.’ Strange.

Loved this. I’ve been hitting a wall lately — not wanting to keep up with this. But this album basically reinvigorated me haha.

I think people who don't like funk or soul music might just be racist. Favorite track: Hey Girl

The Norman Whitfield years are underway—epic songs, psychedelic soul. David Ruffin is gone, and Dennis Edwards takes over as lead, but the voices remain the standard—Kendricks, Williams, and Franklin take notable solo spots throughout. The cover of the Gladys Knight/Pips version of Grapevine is decent, as are the other b-side cuts, but the title track and Run Away Child, Running Wild set the tone for the Temps to come. Funk Brothers moving at full speed. A perfect encapsulation of the late 60s Motown era.

An example of a temptation would have been to support Man City in the FA Cup final so that extra EUROPA space was available via the league. I resisted that temptation and kept my soul in place! This album has funk and seems to me a good example of the genre. I got bored as the album went on but resisted the temptation to skip tracks.

a good time :) missing that standout track to give it a 4 other than i need your lovin' though

Man, I'm actually on a roll of good, classic albums. I don't even know if I have notes on this. It's just good.

Proof that the Temptations are one of the greatest vocal groups of all time. Just wow.

This album had quite a few surprises from what I was expecting from the temptations. Quite a bit more funky in spots from the My Girl days. The industry back then was also very weird. It all seems to be very label driven and songs were just reused almost annually. "I head it through the Grapevine" had huge success with two different artists in the two years prior to this album, so 3 artists in 3 years all singing the same song. All versions are quite a bit different, and I know there even a couple other covers later on. It's one of those songs that just got everywhere. As a kid from Grapevine who watched the California Raisins I may have paid a little more attention than your average kid to this song. The rest of this album is pretty interesting too. I'm an era of 3 minute tracks there is a 9+ minute epic of Runaway Child, and had it not been for the kid crying midway through it would have been my favorite on the album. All other songs do their best to say what they need to and efficiently move on to the next, and that is appreciated. Favorite track "I gotta find a way to get you back" 5/5

My favorite period of my favorite Motown group began with this album. Norman Whitfield, who had already produced singles for The Temptations, took full control of production. This coincided with David Ruffin’s departure and the arrival of Dennis Edwards. “Cloud Nine” featured the five Temps sharing lead vocals, often trading lines within verses, to an increasingly funky, psychedelic soul sound. The Funk Brothers added wah-wah guitars and intense instrumental vamps to the traditional Motown sound, and the lyrics introduced social commentary to the more familiar love songs. The title track kicks things off and we’re in Sly & the Family Stone territory; the 9-minute “Runaway Child, Running Wild”, which builds to an organ- and guitar-fuelled crescendo, is stunning and points the way to the even more powerful workouts to come in the early ‘70s. The ballads were still here but times were getting tougher and, with Whitfield’s encouragement, so were The Temptations…

With the arrival of Dennis Edwards, the Temptations shift into a funkier direction while still keeping their Motown roots. Of its time, but that’s not a bad thing.

No. 234/1001 Cloud Nine 4/5 I Heard It Through The Grapevine 3/5 Runaway Child, Running Wild 3/5 (3x) Love Is A Hurtin' Thing 4/5 Hey Girl 3/5 Why Did She Have To Leave Me 4/5 I Need Your Lovin' 3/5 Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me 4/5 I Gotta Find A Way 4/5 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love 4/5 Average: 3,5 Really fun soul album.

not as good as the last temptations album, but still a 4

This was fun. I know this album gets pegged as the Temps' big funk and psychedelic turn, but much of it is not. It's more that they took their signature sound and tweaked it slightly to go with the tone of what was on the charts at the time. It actually works pretty well. The more funk-driven tracks of side 1 are the real deal. The title track is a stone cold classic. I'm just realizing "Runaway Child" clocks in at 9+ minutes. It's pretty awesome as well, and kind of surprising coming from this group. Honestly the only side 1 song that left me a little cold was the cover of "Grapevine," which brought nothing new to the song. Dennis Edwards absolutely deserves credit here for making his mark as a vocalist in the wake of David Ruffin's departure. He was never going to top Ruffin, but he sounds great here, his grit balanced nicely by Eddie Kendricks’ splendid vocal. The album could have been a flat-out failure, and it's actually a really fun listen. I'm actually digging several of the more conventionally Temptations-y romantic songs. They're lovely, classic Motown songs, which are always a delight to hear. Fave Songs: Cloud Nine, Run Away Child Running Wild, I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back), Why Did She Have to Leave Me, Love is a Hurtin' Thing

Don't think I've ever sat down and listened to a Temptations record before. Production sounds amazing, crisp and warm, it does the slightly disorienting 60s stereo thing where the drums are hard panned to one channel, so it's not a headphones record. Pretty ballsy putting a 9-minute track third, but it mostly worked here. Sounds like it's straddling the line between classic Motown and 70s soul - I preferred the Motown-style tracks. Really refreshing to hear another version of Grapevine that hasn't been played to death

The funky version of the Temptation works for me. There were times when I thought the mix could have been a bit better. Sometimes the falsetto stands out a bit too much from the rest of the arrangement. The songs, though, are top notch 4/5

This was enjoyable, but I’ve previously docked Creedence Clearwater Revival a point for a Grapevine cover that’s nowhere near as good as Marvin Gaye’s, so for consistency this is a 3

Pretty good. “Runaway Child, Running Wild” took me by surprise.

smooth and warm. OK

Grosse erreur de la part des Temptations, qui n'ont pas eu la présence d'esprit, a la sortie de leur album, de le rendre disponible sur les plateformes de streaming. Ceci plafonne par consequent directement leur note a 3/5. A l'heure du digital, il est tout bonnement scandaleux de ne proposer un album qu'exclusivement disponible sur Youtube. J'ai d'ailleurs alerté mon bon ami robtouillère de ce petit scandale, qui s'est empressé de le signaler directement à Robert Dimery, grâce à sa proximité extrême avec ce dernier. Des mesures devraient etre prises très bientôt, à bon entendeur.

It was okayish funky. I enjoyed it but I didn't love it

Basic motown shit

Was ok as backaground.

Meh. I liked the first song. Hated their grapevine cover.

Wonderful vibe

Good stuff

Classic soul album by one of the best , has Mrs Fitz favourite song on there top album

Love it. Own it.

Classic banger. Best version of the song "I heard it through the grapevine"

Probably one of the best transition albums.

RANKING 1) Love Is A Hurtin' Thing - 9.55 2) Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go) - 9.31 3) I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) - 9.3 4) Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love - 9.23 5) Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me - 9.22 6) I Need Your Lovin' - 9.1 7) Hey Girl - 8.8 8) Cloud Nine - 8.4 9) I Heard It Through The Grapevine - 8.35 10) Runaway Child, Running Wild - 7.7 AVG RATING - 8.90 PERSONAL RATING - 9 2/3 Spot are Interchangeable - Distinct but both very good, same with 4/5. Vocals, Instrumentation, Catchiness, Everything sounds distinct and amazing. All songs stand out, and they are all certified bops.

Groove e tranquilo.

Just a really good album. It's probably a 4.5 because of the 9 minute sing that could've easily been 4 minutes shorter... but I'm still gonna round up. I'd buy this on vinyl.

sentimento de cafezinho numa manhã de quinta-feira. 5/5

I heard it through the grapevine that I was feeling fine on cloud nine jamming these tasty grooves.

Okay I love the Temptations, so I’m expecting to be wowed. We shall see. I enjoyed this album. The Temps will always have some of my favorite songs!

Although not their best album in my opinion (that would be "All Directions"), this is incredibly great funk, especially in the first half of the album. From the psychedelic funk in the opener "Cloud Nine" to their remarkably fresh take on "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", culminating in the timeless groovin' and jamming soul/funk of "Runaway Child, Running Wild", this album is a goldmine for lovers of pure funk music (which I consider myself to be). Although the album continues in their previous "Motown" sound in the second half, it certainly foreshadowed what was to come with their masterpiece "All Directions". Solid 5/5!

5/5 - i really loved it!!! Amazing album! Wanna purchase it!!!!!

I would never though to listen to this, really glad I did

легкий, позитивный, очень приятный альбом. очень рада находке!

Incredible production. I like formulaic but the formula works!

awesome!

That album art! Banger.

Temp-ta-tion

interesting

Good listen

Fantastic album

The Temptations were the best of the Motown era and this early album helped launch their career. A Cloud Nice of a production from start to finish.

Loved it. It was funky and fun. Some songs I already knew

Awesome. Peak funky dance hall music

Loved this! What a groove. Cloud Nine, I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Runaway Child Running Wild, Don't Let Him Take Your Love all added to Liked Songs.

I think everyone in my generation has heard at least one Temptations song, but Cloud Nine shows them taking things in a new direction. This album marked their move into funkier, more psychedelic territory while still holding onto the Motown polish that made them legendary. You can hear the influences of the late ’60s swirling through it, but it never strays too far from their roots. The result is fresh, funky, and full of energy - an album that makes you want to keep moving. There isn’t a bad track on here, which only reinforces how monumental the Temptations were, not just for Motown, but for popular music as a whole.

that’s type shi i fw

One of the best classic records!

I love the Temptations and certainly their more groovy funky (70's) stuff. This album has a little bit of cheese left from the earlier albums but is mostly amazing esp. the first three songs. It would almost make me dance (and that's saying a lot). This is really amazing musicianship (also the band who never get enough credit). My only reason to pinch a star off would be that this band is a bit of a construct of singers. They don't play instruments and the songs are also not written my themselves. But that's how it was done. I'll just imagine Strong and Whitfield (the authors) are band members, and I also can't blame them for using the Funk Brothers as a band! So still a five.

I loved this album. My fave genre. Love the funky vibes. Great harmonies. Raw power and passion. Kept me hooked throughout.

I enjoyed this way way much more than I thought I would. This is the first album from 1001 that I saved to my library.

Great album

Fantastic. Such memories. It back in my playlist

Banging - wall to wall jammer. Perfect friday album.

Beautiful

Cloud 10 hombre tunes.

Would you say you are on cloud 5 stars?

upbeat af

Funky upbeat! 7/10

It took me a couple of listens to convince me that it belongs in my library, but it does. Their version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is best enjoyed if one tries to disassociate it with versions by other artists, I think.

Creo que es uno de los géneros más guays de esa época. Me recuerda mucho a los juegos/ pelis de los años 60/70. El cantante tiene una voz muy guay y las canciones están muy bien en su mayoría. Love is a hurtin' thing mi favorita sin duda

Classic soul.

and i was tempted

A wonderful classic album. Feel good for any time

Very easy listening. Pretty outstanding album.

funk just rocks

Piola, una onda medio rara mezcla de nirvana con algo mas

Another gem <3 loved it.

It's just so damn good. Seriously they turned in a soul/funk Motown album, and it hits all of those marks so damn well. First off the Temptations are awesome, even their early stuff is good but this is just perfection. Second, They did a version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine that is a wild take and I'm here for it. Third, It's got some classic Temptations sounds on the back side of the album so if you aren't in the more funk from them you are covered as well. Seriously it's great, it feels of it's age but doesn't feel tired. A great album.

It is said this was the Temptation’s first foray into psychedelic soul. I am very happy they did. I loved this album and enjoyed all the music, harmonies, and lyrics. Well worth many more listens!

i really liked this! since i’m catching up i’m not spending too much time reviewing/taking notes on my albums. however, i knew after the opener that this would be a great set of tracks. super groovy and funky. peak for sure. 5/5.

I love oldies like this. Great album, lots of meaning and feelings are in this.

Absolutely fantastic. Surprised I haven't heard it before. A joy the whole way through. Best: Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me Worst: Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)

Ground-breaking psychedelic soul, joy and darkness combined

The Temptations are one of the pillars of Motown and one of my favorite groups from the that classic Motown era. They put out so many great songs and this album is absolutely stunning. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-cloud-nine-by-the-temptations?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

absolutely glorious

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Rock solid. Love teetering the line of Funk and Psychodelic. A long way from MoTown(which also rips). Not many groups can venture into such varying genres and crush - but here they are. Under appreciated on many fronts

Interesting album. More popish than their earlier work. But again, you can groove to it

Real problems and real emotions

Psychedelic soul. Still wonderful to listen to.

This album slaps! Also, I heard they have better ones!