Cloud Nine
The Temptations
1969
Album Summary
Cloud Nine is the ninth studio album by American musical group The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1969. The album marked a major turning point in the group's career. It is the first full Temptations studio LP to feature Dennis Edwards as the replacement for David Ruffin, who was fired in June 1968. It also marked the beginning of the Temptations' delve into psychedelic soul under the ambitious direction of producer Norman Whitfield. The change in style polarized longtime fans but proved highly successful, with the album rising to number four on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart. It earned the group received their first Grammy Award in 1969.
Wikipedia(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.
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.
I loved this album. After a long day at work getting back and putting this on whilst cooking dinner was an absolute winner
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!
My vague knowledge of The Temptations remains vague, but now I know for sure that I love them
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Great album. I wasn't familiar with individual songs, but it's a great mix.
Me gusto un chingo este álbum tiene una buena vibra y en escala de fumable esta mega top
This little pitstop on the evolution of soul into funk through Motown is everything I needed. It's uplifting and melodic but also raw at times. The title track as an album opener is such a heavy hitter.
Funky, groovy, great album. Couldn't stop myself from tapping my feet to just about every song. Favourite Tracks: Cloud Nine, Love is a Hurtin Thing, Dont Let Him Take Your Love From Me
Pleasantly surprised by this album. Sort of thought they were all my girl type music (not that thats bad, i just dont need a whole album of it). but this album was funky and cool
The temptations got me on Cloud 9. And I think the main guy is a Eunique
Perfect Temptations album, very diverse songs that never get bored: great album in every aspect
Had to get a free trial with Apple Music to listen to this. And very glad I did. Fascinating, almost 'concept' album bordering soul and psychadelia. Definitely caused me to re-evaluate The Temptations, and for the better
Another great discovery from this endeavour is that 1969 is most likely the greatest year in music to date. Perhaps common knowledge to some already. Fuck there was a lot of good music pumped out to see off the decade.
Weird version of Grapevine but still interesting. Amazing playing and great vocals. Can anyone in the world dislike classic rnb?
Voi juma, et kannatti palaa näihin Spottarissa-vajaata-levyihin! Mä ehkä joudun ostaa levysoittimen ja tän albumin (jos löytyy ja on varaa). Saatana. Huh.
Unfortunately only 4 songs available to listen on Spotify. I found the rest on Youtube. A great album, very funky. I love it!!
I have never heard any of the songs on this album. Some have less than 100k listens on spotify. For all wiki says about this being a wildly successful album and it earning them a grammy, has this been lost to all but the super fans? Only their previous super hits get play any radio play? Anyway, this is one of those gems I do this for. From the first notes I knew this album would crush it.
Even though I’m not normally an R&B fan, this album is incredible. The vocal harmonies are perfect, the emotions are a vibe, and the soul can be felt in every note. Just listen to it and tell me I’m wrong. Standout songs are I Heard it Through the Grapevine and Why Did She Have To Leave Me.
Absolute fire. Shame a number of the tracks are greyed out on Spotify…
A really enjoyable pop album infused with just the right amount of Soul and funk to make every song enjoyable. A great Sunny days album walking about and dancing. Cloud Nine, I heard it through the Grapevine and Runaway Child, Running Wild are my favorites, super strong opening for the apbum... 5/5 for my tastes.
A but more intense and “issues” driven than your classic “My Girl” Temptations. Predicting some of the classic sounds of the 70s quite early. But hey, when I see Temptations I do a 5 star
It was good, at least the few tracks I could find on streaming services!
You may have to resort to YouTube to find this as it doesn't appear to be listed on either Tidal or Amazon Music. Once you do find it though, well, what a cracking lite album. The music, the voice, the pace - all spot on.
This is a hell of a good album. Top 10 tracks throughout, amazing theme, and perfect music. 5/5
Awesome tracks in the first half but there are some fillers at the end
I feel the only weak spot here is their version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Rest of the album is some classic soul and funk, along with some excellent story telling. Favorite tracks: "Runaway Child, Running Wild", "Don't Let Him Take Your Loving From Me"
Some great, dark, a psychedelic soul. Shame had to listen on YouTube on my phone.
A bit of a departure from their previous albums but still holds up with the new sounds they were looking for
The dudes voice is FRIED on this record, but it makes it even more smooth somehow. Classic Motown basslines and instrumentation here. I mean, it’s the Temptations, cmon man. Favorite track: Cloud Nine Least favorite track: Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing
I like the kind of psychedelic instrumental arrangements. I think the vocals sometimes keep it from being a real favorite for me, but every other part is really good.
Didn't hit me as hard as the prior offering by the Temptations, though I think the album version I pulled up may not have been the best mastering, the sound seemed a little muddy. Still great.
Old school funk from the old school Temptations. Lyrics in this sometimes seem to harken back to slavery, or at least that was what I was feeling. No doubt they were politically charged people in their day.
Love good mo-town, and this is a great collection of songs! Highlights: -I Heard It Through The Grapevine -Why Did She Have To Leave Me -I Need Your Lovin
Great album! While I've heard of The Temptations never really gave them an actual listen and super impressed!
Good upbeat early disco/mid-funk vibes, and a completely new version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".
Hey look, an album from '69 that I actually liked! Recommended season: Summer
Take me to funk town, I vibed really hard with half of the songs, the more ballad like ones I didn't enjoy as much
Levy oli hankalasti löydettävissä (ei spotify/tidal, ei kirjastossa, mutta youtubesta löytyi soittolista). Vaivannäkö kuitenkin kannatti tällä kertaa, oli oikein sujuvaa 60-luvun rokkia. Varsinkin levyn alkupuoli oli tosi menevää, mutta loppua kohdin meno vähän laimeni.
Pretty nice. Classical soul infused with funk and jazz elements. I particularly liked Runaway Child.
As to be expected by The Temptations, this album was fantastic. Not perfect, but still amazing.
This album is a total whip. The temptations always provide just what I need.
Oh thank God, what a palette cleanser after the last album. This is great. I don’t have a lot of thoughts about it other than it’s great. Soulful, fun. Favourite track: “Don’t Let Him Take Your Love from Me”
Really dug the motown soul. Good music to drive to. Reminds me a bit of Otis Redding.
The whole album wasn't on spotify so it might be higher or lower than a 4. I loved it
28th July 2021 Listened on my phone in the morning and finished the morning after cos Spotify didn't have all the songs. Had to finish on YouTube which was annoying. Yeah they're pretty legendary and have some amazing tunes
Love that Motown beat. Unmistakable sound. Cloud 9 - This is way funkier than I associate with the Temptations - no big band sound. Just guitars and drums. There's an almost live sensibility to it - lead vocalist comes off the mic. I am guessing this was recorded live in studio and not produced and pieced together. I Heard it Through the Grapevine. Now, I associate this with Marvin Gaye or Gladys Knight. Was this a Temptation song first? Apparently this is a cover, but it's good. Run Away Child, Running Wild - Back to that funkier, rock sound of Cloud 9. This is a surprisingly fresh and rocking album. Not the way I think of The Temptations, and I like it. "I Want My Mama" scream is jolting and terrifying. Quite a message, and then the instrumental jam that follows is impressive! Love is a Hurtin' Thing - Much more produced with that backing horn section and strings. Soulful song though. I like it. Great album! Hey Girl - Another soulful song - simple lyrically, "Hey Girl, don't go away." It's more about mood. Probably the worst song on the album. Just meh. Why Did She Have to Leave Me - A better version of Hey Girl. More story, more vocals. Side A of this album is definitely the side to listen to. Side B is more derivative, but it's a great sound! I Need Your Lovin' - More don't leave me. I was wrong, and I'll fix it stuff. I think the well is drying up. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me - Interesting spin on the old familiar. The broken man who is being left is pleading with her to not let HIM take her from him. Crazy. Typical Temptations song. simple drum kit snare/closed cymbals with horns and a guitar. Decent rhythm, but this side of the album does get repetitive. I Gotta Find a Way to Get You Back - How many girls leave this guy and send him to a desperate plead to get her back. Got a little saxophone on this one though! I do like this song's vibe more than the others on this topic. Gonna Keep Tryin' Til I get Your Love - Bass line is super reminiscent of Sugar Pie Honey Bunch I can't Help Myself, which was a Four Tops song. Interesting.
Yes, I've heard of the Temptations but I couldn't list any of their records off of the top of my head. Yes, I've heard "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", but I haven't heard this version. Maybe I've never heard the Temptations' version of the song. I think all of the tracks on this album were new to me. This was a good album to listen to. "Cloud Nine" has a great intro, and was a great way to start the album. I'm sure there are tracks that deserve a second listen to get a full appreciation of the album. I'd listen to this album again.the tracks on this album were new to me. This was a good album to listen to. "Cloud Nine" has a great intro, and was a great way to start the album. I'm sure there tracks that deserve a second listen to get a full appreciation of the album. I'd listen to this album again.
Couldn’t find this actual album but great tracks and live this period of the Temps.
Psychedelic soul is a super interesting genre and something I have not explored with the Temptations. There are experiments that don’t quite work, like a cover of ‘I heard it Through the Grapevine’ but there are some really great sounds on this album. ‘Runaway Child, Running Wild’ is a standout for me and a great jam. Of course this is still a Temptations record and so we still get those lush harmonies for which the group is known
Side one is kinda revelatory...what if The Temptations worked together ... the song Cloud Nine might just be the result. Next is a great take on Heard it Through The Grapevine and the 9 minute closer is another funky, introspective freak out that packs a real punch. Love side one. Side two gets back to more familiar territory, silky smooth vocals, lush production with plenty of strings...syrupy sweet. This is a great album for someone who wants a taste of the classic Temptations sound and a glimpse into their experimental side. 4.25 stars
A good departure from thier older stuff. Not a big fan of this version of grapevine but I like the dip into psychadelia.
Disco cool, la pasé muy bien, no conocía nada de los temptations, según yo. 8/10
8/10 pretty cool, i don't expect albums of this genre to have 9 minute songs, and this one did it well.
'Cloud Nine', el tema, és tot un clàssic; sembla la inauguració dels 70 i l'avançament de la blaxplotation abans que comenci la década. 'Runaway Child, Running Wild' és una altra joia, com si anessin preparant la bogeria musical que editarien pocs anys després sota el nom de 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone'. El problema amb la resta del disc és el mateix que amb la majoria de discos d'ells, hi ha massa palla. El so, però, i la brillant transformació del grup conforme als nous temps que havien de venir fan del disc un de molt disfrutable... i de molt recomenable
This was a lot more funky than I was expecting. Still a few old school Temptations songs on it but mostly a different vibe than I'm used to with them. I hadn't heard most of these songs before but still really enjoyed the album.
I really love The Temptations. Heard it through the grape is just a solid piece man. It's always been interesting to me, I grew up near a vineyard and we'd pick grapes and blue berries from to time. And It rings so true lol. You can't see anything through it, so you just kind of have to listen. Super makes sense once you've been in the situation. But nah it's this interesting mix of Funk meets motown and It just fucks man.
je crois que j'ai bien aimé mais je me souviens presque de rien, la pochette est trop belle cependant
Happy, lighthearted upbeat vibes, enjoyable music, but nothing really stands out to a 5 star level
Nice, classic with a psychedelic twist. A little different and I usually like Motown and soul anyway.
Very solid album through and through but not a ton I would personally listen to over and over on my own playlist. Potentially closer to a 3.5 but earned a 4 for me on the strength of the whole album.
Listened to on 2/1/22 3.5/5 Favorite Song: I need your lovin Super fun album with jazz influences would listen to again
Solid album great for background music while I prepare breakfast. If you are a fan of Mowtown R&B Funk it's a great album. Also, perfect length @ 35 min total it wasn't too short or too long.
The album is good, I liked it a lot. The title track is a really awesome and Runaway Child, Running Wild really surprised me for how good it was, I loved the lyrics and instrumentation of these two songs. The rest of the album is also good, I liked the fact that a good amount of the songs in this record are about losing the woman you love.
A very uneven album, but the funky tracks are so fire that I don't even care. Best track: Cloud Nine
Flawed but brilliant. A side is more psychedelic soul than the B side and although both sides are great in their individual ways, the songs on the B side, whilst being nearer to the original Temptations' sound are not as good as those earlier songs.
05/06/2022 This was a nice one to get on a Friday. A week full of bullshit ending with a smooth funky album like this was nice to go out on.
I like this one more than the last Temptations album we were sent. They were testing out the fusion of psychedelic and soul which must have been exciting for them. They made the new genre work and Cloud 9 is an excellent example of this. They also had a new singer after an acrimonious split with the last guy, so they must have been particularly motivated to make an ass kicking album. They succeeded.
Awesome album! I absolutely love the cover. Almost a 5, the love songs get a little stale
Fabulous on a sunny afternoon - that 9 minute song in the middle was a surprise and slightly creepy with the kid on !
Easy to listen to. Lots of really modern sounds that really surprised me for an album from 1969.
True, some of the songs sound an awful lot alike, but when its this good, thats alright baby!
It's rather good is the short answer. Cloud 9 (the song) feels like it's birthing 70s funk and soul, absolute tunes. The rest of the album is less bold, but still giving me ten great soul tunes. Annoying it isn't on Spotify, though.
Enjoyed the songs I could listen too, half of the album had been remove by Spotify
Nice happy album, a lot of the songs aren't on Spotify but the songs that are, are nice
Oh hell yeah. The first side is a massive jump forward from the classic Motown sound into a "psychedelic soul", the source material for the funk sound of the 70s. Poignant lyrics, great instrumental compositions, and harmonies and vocals as good as ever. The second side dials it back a little with more subtle touches of the experimental first half, which IMO, weakens the record. Still a great album though.
i like cloud nine and runaway child running wild ! the other two didn't stood out and the tracks : i heard it through .... love is a hurting....hey girl .. i need you loving .. don't let him... gonna keep on trying... weren't available on my spotify
I'm usually not wild about old R&B, but this hits differently. Really liked it!
Love the Temptations, but not my favorite album. Still, excellent music.
It was an interesting listen, as I had heard many of these songs covered by others first.
Ok so first thing’s first. When I saw it was The Temptations today, I somehow mixed them up with The Foundations and was wondering if Build Me Up Buttercup would be on this album (what a great song). Obviously, it isn’t. However, I still look forward to hearing The Temptations! Songs I already knew: I Heard It Through The Grapevine Favourites: Runaway Child Running Wild, Why Did She Have To Leave Me This wouldn’t usually be my kind of music, but what a fun album! The bass singer has a fantastic voice, and it was always a treat when he’d get a solo line every now and then. The music stays exciting throughout and it’s easy to find yourself bobbing you head along without even realising it. It didn’t exactly melt my face of or change my life, but not every album needs to. An easy recommendation for anybody who just wants a fun album and nothing more.
Another band I've listened to just incidentally but never really sat down and focused on an album from but it's really great. Breaks out of the traditional soul formula and does a lot of cool progressive stuff with it.
So much amazing energy, but the song subjects weren't doing it for me as much. I even want to give it a 3 for that reason... but... it's such powerful music. Makes you feel alive instantly.
First half of the album is amazing, second half has some boring songs. Love it overall.
First half is funky, second half is more generically Motown, but both halves are solid throughout.
So much richness of soul in this, which can feel like a lost chapter of the '60s. The production feels a bit rough and muddy, it's music to take seriously, even as one is enjoying it pretty deeply.