Cloud Nine

Good

Some bops, the psychedelic aesthetics seem mismatched tho

Pretty good

Not bad. Preferred the motown songs to the funk ones but all decent

Loved the funk, hated “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” and the back half dragged a bit. Solid album, especially when they let the songs cook but a few too many flaws

Really happy to have this album. I was really into it.

8/10 Muy buen album, alegre, divertido. Me encantó

Very sixties, very far from me.

Presumably means a great deal to somebody somewhere, but I found it awfully dull.

so, so good!

tenho a impressao que essas banda/cantores de funk/soul e até jazz americano dos sec xx são tudo igual. boas musicas de qualquer forma.

Esta bueno, por la epoca y las voces. Me gusta en general pero no pasa 3.3

Motown mixed in with some late 60s psychedelia. Cant go wrong with that formula

This album really reminds me of my grandad. Top points. A side is miles better than the B side though

3 5 Liked some songs more than others, especially Runaway child

★½

This kind of felt like 2 different albums spliced together, an absolutely stellar funk record and a pleasant yet unremarkable Motown record. I do quite like it overall though, even if I think it loses steam in the second half where the more generically Motown cuts live.

2.5+/5 Malheureusement pas monté dans le train

I absolutely love the temptations, was on cloud nine through this whole album

Effortlessly cool.

It's alright, but not my tempo.

I almost didn’t finish this one actually. I thought it would be more like “build me up buttercup” Motown vibes but it was a bit too old school for me

Iistened at work 8/31/26 Monday really good groove

Groovy funky and quite fresh

Great background music when having the parents over

Classic

It's good, it's great even - but it's kinda...just that. It doesn't go above and beyond.

Quite enjoyable. I probably prefer the more motown sound than the psychedelic soul, but I wouldn't turn either away. I Heard It Through the Grapevine pales in comparison to Marvin's version, and the extended interlude on Runaway Child, Running Wild is a bit to get through. But nevertheless solid album worth listening to.

Man, I love the Temptations. Four powerful voices, brilliantly arranged and laid over a top-notch Motown band. This album was where the band (or rather their managers and producers) started moving away from straightforward love songs into more psychedelic territory, with generally good results. Dennis Edwards shines in his first full album as the Temptations' lead singer. Some songs are a bit heavy on long instrumental breaks for what should be a voice-focused album; half of the 9-minute "Runaway Child, Running Wild" is almost purely instrumental. It's GOOD instrumental work - this is Motown in its prime - but seems a bit out of place. All in all, though, this is a snapshot of a hit-making machine in its prime.

I imagine that The Temptations were purely Motown based on what I’d heard so was pleasantly surprised when there was a large amount of funk thrown in. The album however was very front loaded for me and I became slightly fatigued towards the end.

Very smooth jazz/soul album with some upbeat songs. Favorites: Cloud Nine, Hey Girl, and Love is a Hurtin' Thing.

Speller med hjertet

Feel good kitchen music

The random crying kid had me thinking I finally snapped. Otherwise, it was enjoyable.

This is just a cool album. Funky with the temptation sound is such a sweet vibe. 7/10 Top song... Why did she have to leave me

A funky 3.5

Honestly quite fun soul, really gets you feeling good

Cloud Nine The Temptations 1969 Genres: Pop, Soul, Funk Styles: Psychedelic 1. Cloud Nine (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El narrador describe las dificultades de vivir en la pobreza y la falta de oportunidades, y presenta "cloud nine" como una especie de escape mental de esa realidad. La felicidad que ofrece no es tanto una solución real como una forma de evadirse de los problemas y sentirse, aunque sea momentáneamente, lejos de ellos. 2. I Heard It Through the Grapevine (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El protagonista descubre por rumores que la persona que ama está pensando en dejarlo por otro. Está angustiado porque se entera indirectamente de la posible infidelidad y no sabe si puede confiar en lo que ha escuchado. 3. Runaway Child, Running Wild (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Un joven se escapa de su casa buscando libertad y creyendo que puede vivir por su cuenta. Con el avance de la canción, esa aparente aventura se transforma en una situación mucho más oscura: el mundo exterior resulta peligroso y el chico termina enfrentándose a una realidad muy diferente de la que imaginaba. 4. Love Is a Hurtin' Thing (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El protagonista reflexiona sobre el lado doloroso del amor. Aunque amar puede producir felicidad, también puede provocar sufrimiento, especialmente cuando los sentimientos no son correspondidos o una relación termina. 5. Hey Girl (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Una declaración directa de enamoramiento. El protagonista se siente atraído por una mujer y le expresa cuánto le gusta su personalidad, su manera de ser y todo lo que la hace especial para él. 6. Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go) (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El protagonista intenta comprender por qué la mujer que amaba decidió abandonarlo. Está confundido y dolido, y no encuentra una explicación que le permita aceptar la ruptura. 7. I Need Your Lovin' (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El protagonista expresa cuánto necesita el amor de la mujer que desea. La canción gira alrededor de la dependencia afectiva y de la necesidad de tener nuevamente cerca a la persona amada. 8. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El protagonista teme que otro hombre consiga conquistar a la mujer que ama. Le pide que no permita que ese rival destruya su relación y expresa sus celos y miedo a perderla. 9. I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Después de perder a la mujer que ama, el protagonista está decidido a encontrar alguna manera de recuperarla. No acepta la separación y busca una oportunidad para reparar la relación y volver a estar juntos. 10. Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: El protagonista está decidido a conquistar a una mujer que todavía no le corresponde. Promete continuar intentando ganarse su amor y no rendirse hasta conseguir que ella lo quiera. -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,5)

Nice discovery, however the tracks are quite similar and unmemorable.

The Temptations are good.

3.10

Underwhelmed by this album. Decent A side with a surprisingly forgettable 2nd half. Expected more from an album touted as a turning point for the band with a bigger emphasis on experimental production. Very derivative, but some decent moments. Top tracks: Cloud Nine; Runaway Child, Running Wild

Romantic and cool! I was on Cloud, like, 7 or 8

oh man this is smoooooooth as butter... loved it. my fav song on an album is always the 10min long one...

Vrolijke soul

261. ok

Fun little listen. The temptations are legendary and are for a reason, clearly feel where music developed from with this as a base

The Temptations!!!!!! Easily one of my favorite soul/r&b/vocal groups of all time. That being said I am not delusional when it comes to my life long adoration of the Temps. You don't need to listen to this album in its entirety before you die, an argument could be made that you dont need to listen to any of their discography as COMPLETE album. 'Best of' compilations exist for a reason. Now, specifically this album: Its a jump to the more psychadelic R&B of the time. Cloud Nine is fantastic, the rest of the album is anywhere from good to OK though it is always nice to hear a Paul Williams lead (Hey Girl and Dont Let Him Take Your Love From Me).... I love that mans voice. Anyhoo. 3 stars.

They say this was a turning point in the career of this legendary group, but only the first few tracks are psychedelic. Also, they did this as a reaction to the "There's a Riot Going On" release, seeing their contemporaries' success forced them to make the change. About 2/3 of the album is their typical style of music, which to me doesn't make this a required listen. They have better albums. I think this one is somewhere between a 2 and a 3 out of 5. While the song about the runaway kid is pretty neat, I don't think I'll be going back to this one.

gostei mais que all directions, álbum bem gostosinho de ouvir, nem senti o tempo passar!

gostei ainda mais que o último que veio deles! muitíssimo divertido. to impressionada que aqui tem uma que conhecia em outras versões

Una obra de arte, que ue felicidad me da escuchar buena mueica, fui feliz

I was expecting this album to be a bit more funky. It's just a bit lacking across the board. All the tracks are at least enjoyable but it's lacking a standout tracks or two. It did teach me that there are over 100 covers of Heard it through the grapevine, although this isn't one of the beat. A nice 3* listen.

Out of the gate, this album was different from what i expected. There is some cool experimentation going on and the grooves are grooving! The title-track and Runaway Child, Running Wild are simply amazing tracks. They almost set up the rest of the album to fail. Squashed in between is a cover of I Heard It Through The Grapevine that really doesn’t appeal to me or does anything interesting with the song. The rest are more traditional soul-songs that are not really to my taste, but of course that’s a question of personal taste. Regardless of that, The Temptations just make great soul songs. The melodies, the vocal harmonies, the instruments. Everything is on point, but it does not really excite me. Still, i am bamboozled by the first half of this album. I have to dig deeper into their discography and hope, they developed their psychedelic streak further.

I thought I would like this one more.

Perhaps because I was expecting to like I ended up a touch disappointed.

Another one that is a good listen but nothing special to go any higher.

I enjoyed this

Seems more noteworthy for the influences it brought into a mainstream sound but above all is a showcase for the Funk Brothers.

Great album

solid, a little generic on the second half but solid

Despite not being a very nice person, David Ruffin was the heart of the Temptations. Without him, I can only give them a 4

Excellent

I saw the Temptations name and expected more than what was presented on this album. It was okay, but the hype killed it. 2.75/5

Я не можу сказати, що я прям заслуховуюсь постійно психоделік соулом, але кожен раз, коли потрапляє якийсь класичний альбом, то зазвичай це дуже гарно. Хороші пісні, звук, партії - все топ.

Temptations це звісно дуже стильно і все таке, але маю з цим альбомом ту саму проблему що і з більшістю інших альбомів 60х - все це для мене звучить як артефакт епохи, саундтрек до часів, під час яких я не жив; а ось сприймати це просто як альбом я чомусь не можу. Хоча все одно дуже стильно, оці вставки з низьким вокалом взагалі кайф. Коротше 3.5

Despite what Chris says, I don't absolutely hate The Temptations. Didn't absolutely love this album either though. Probably historically important but there's other music from this period I like better

Killer bass lines, doing some beatles spacial sound work. The child calling for mom is certainly a choice!

Crazy intro. This is like a funk invasion. The vocals sound heavenly. The only downside of this album is the heartbreak lyrics in the songs.

This starts out really great! I've never heard a full album from The Temptations before, and I'm still not very familiar with Motown or soul, but a lot is happening on this album—sometimes maybe even too much. This is especially true on the long, haunting, and psychedelic 'Runaway Child, Running Wild.' The screaming child mixed in is breathtakingly uncomfortable and scary. However, with so many vocalists, I feel all the different backing vocals and sounds are a bit too much at times. On the positive side, the percussion is very nice and the funky guitars are great. Some songs have great lyrical themes (like 'Cloud Nine' and 'Runaway Child'), but others are really simple, throwaway love songs—even if the music still swings greatly. I had also never heard this very different version of 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine.' I understood that this version was recorded to quickly jump on the train of Marvin Gaye's popular version. The first half (3 songs) I would rate a 4/5, but it drops a bit in the second half, so it will stick at a 3/5.

I mean, it's the Temptations, so it wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly my favorite thing to listen to.

Lots of vibey songs

The most mid experience ever... It's good music, but it just isn't that striking at all. Won't be listening again, but wouldn't mind hearing the music at a restaurant or elevator. It's ok! It was pretty boring though.

This psychedelic funk record starts of strong with danceable grooves and catchy baselines. The Runaway Child song is a great banger that I saved to my personal playlists. The rest of the record slows down to accommodate the love hits that end the record on a softer note. All in all an enjoyable listen. 7/10.

Pretty solid pop-soul, nothing stood out as exceptional but nothing bad either.

Как-то не тронули. И звук грязноватый.

For the first three tracks I was really enjoying this and we were looking at a 4 or 5 star album. Unfortunately it fell away for me after that. There wasn’t anything bad but nothing I liked anywhere near as much as tracks 1-3. Top Track - Runaway Child, Running Wild

We didn't even know we wanted the funk, until they invented it ...

Like the vocals, but didn't really feel strongly about it.

There isn't really much in the way of their iconic hits on this one, but there's a couple of funky jams in the first half that I dig. Albums by groups that are primarily known for their singles are tough to place on this list.

Man, I had no idea the Jesus Twins borrowed those lyrics from the Temptations on Cloud Nine! This album has paramount value and any low ratings are superfluous. Feel my ubiquity lives forever!

Fun old Motown music. I had only heard My Girl before, so it was cool to listen to some of their other music.

Didn’t enjoy this. Boring

It's fine. No where near as good as thier other album on this list. I think at this point I'm running out of things to write about for albums/artists I'm not too familiar with, but that probably says more about the album than it says about me. I liked the psychedelic feel though.

(8.6)

честно говоря слабовато, хотя по всем параметром должно было бы зайти

What a great listen! The music and lyrics really stuck out to me. Only thing I didn’t love was the topics were mostly centered around heart break which I think I got a little tired of after a while. Otherwise would totally revisit!

#72 A fun psychedelic soul album. Very groovy. Highlights: Cloud Nine, Runaway Child, I Need Your Lovin', Why Did She Have To Leave Me, I Gotta Find A Way.

Ok.

It was alright. Background music.

2.5 no way that’s there best album

It's good, but not a very unique soul record. Cloud Nine is a good track though

I have yet to hear a Tenptations album I didn't like. This is no exception

Cloud Nine finds The Temptations eschewing their gospel roots for a funkier psychedelic sound inspired by Sly and the Family Stone. This is sound they would adopt for almost the entirety of the upcoming decade of the 1970s, to great critical success. The only thing holding back the record is the uneven and often poor quality of the production. I'd have been less critical with my scoring if I'd listened to it on AM radio or a well worn vinyl, but listening in lossless with high quality headphones made all the technical issues even more glaring.

Heard of the the temptations, but never listened to an album of theirs. Honestly pretty high expectations because I like other albums of this genre from this time. Great song writing and harmonies on cloud nine. Really good drums too. Grapevine was pretty cool. Well written but didn’t grab my like cloud nine. Really cool percussion again on runaway child. Really good writing in this one too. Love the guitar riff on this one too. The second half of this song is so good. Didn’t feel like 9 mins at all. Really nice strings and production as a whole again on love is a hurtin thing. Just a super chill song. Hey girl is just ok. Good production but lyrics are just ok. Much better writing on why did she have to leave. Awesome strings again. I really like the voice of the singer on don’t let him take your love from me. This song is really well written. Cool horns. Gonna keep on tryin is another Extremly well produced and well written song. Great way to close out the album. Super relaxing album as a whole. Not the best soul record ever but it is a collection of 10 good songs. 3.6/5 stars.

good

Motown gem

Surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this. They were so obviously setting a standard for soul and RnB to come. 4 Boolean: True

3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-temptations/cloud-nine/ It's okay. Kinda standard soul (to the extend I know how to be able to judge soul).

Listened before?: yes Cloud Nine - 4/5 I Heard It Through the Grapevine - 3/5 Run Away Child, Running Wild - 3/5 (too long) Love Is a Hurtin' Thing - 4/5 Hey Girl - 3/5 Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go) - 3/5 I Need Your Lovin' - 4/5 Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me - 3/5 I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) - 3/5 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love - 3/5 Average score: 3.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have not heard of any other cloud besides the 9th one. Do others exist?

This is a weird one to me. The music is fine but the songs selected are strange for a Temptations album. Quite a few seem to focus on a single singer opposed to the quartet’s usual harmony-forward approach. This could have been a bold choice but I think the result bears it out to be misguided. I even dislike the way the vocals are recorded in most songs such that the sit on top of it next to the mix without meshing into it.

A mix of great with mediocre. Extra star for the bassist.

Standard 60s psychedelic.

Definitely sounds of it's time with funk, soul, and a little of the tail end of Motown with songs like, "Why Did She Have To Leave Me" and "Hey Girl". Overall, this album was an enjoyable listening experience.

Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: Bold, soulful, and transformative. Cloud Nine reinvented The Temptations. Gone was the polished romantic soul of their earlier years, replaced by psychedelic soul, funk rhythms, and socially conscious themes. The result is one of Motown’s most daring records. (en.wikipedia.org⁠) Favorite Track: “Cloud Nine.” Norman Whitfield’s production is explosive, the groove is irresistible, and the shared vocals give it incredible energy.

Was thrown off by some of this album in a good way. has some good songs

Muito bom

Not my thing

Softer than i expected

10 songs Heard a lot of their music as my dad used to play it semi regularly when I was younger and I've always enjoyed their work. No song on this album really stood out to me, but it was solid overall.

Funky.... a bit boring for me

awesome

Didn’t finish all of it, but not out of dislike in any way. Not bad!

Overall pretty enjoyable. Some good tunes!

who doesn't love the temptations

Funky like a monkey. Nice to see how they embraced the changing times reinventing themselves keeping the old and adding the new. Don't Let Him Take Your Love for those liking the old school sound. Dennis Edwards has a monster voice, range, rasp, incredible! Full horn section I hear you bari sax you! 3 Not a huge fan of the transition. Kudos to them for evolving, but there are better examples like a Mayfield or Hayes, but perhaps not so much a whole quartet quintet of singers doing it together.

Starts off really funky and then we go to the same cookie cutter motown sound, which they def perfected, I just was hoping for more of the experimental stuff since that’s where we started

hmmmmmm

Kuk vibe, men litt lite musikkbilde uten sterke følelser

Sweet deeet sweet

Reminds me of being in high school show choir again, I have to be in a bet specific mood for Motown and then I love it

Motown is so fun. I cleaned the garage to this with my dad, and it was perfect vibes.

My favorite Temps album and one of the all time best Motown albums.

Bien

Beautiful harmonies- nice little album

Highlights: Cloud Nine, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Runaway Child Running Wild. 3.3

2e helft was wel erg motown

Wasn't bad, didn't grab me this time but would listen again with an open mind.

The grooviest shit. I’ve loved this music since I was a kid, thrilled to relisten

# The Temptations - *Cloud Nine*: An In-Depth Review Released on February 17, 1969, *Cloud Nine* is far more than just another album from the legendary Temptations; it is a landmark recording that fundamentally altered the trajectory of the group and the Motown label itself. It marks the beginning of the group's "psychedelic soul" era, a daring fusion of social commentary, funk rhythms, and psychedelic production. ## Lyrics: The Harsh Reality Behind the Euphoria The lyrical content of *Cloud Nine* represents a significant departure from the standard Motown fare of romantic ballads and love-lorn tales. The title track, "Cloud Nine," written by the powerhouse team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, is a poignant narrative of poverty and escape . The lyrics are unflinching: *"The childhood part of my life wasn't very pretty / You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city"* . The protagonist's journey from a desperate upbringing to seeking a job and finding none leads him to depression, and finally, to "Cloud Nine" as a mental escape from a "dog-eat-dog world" . While the euphoric chorus ("I'm doing fine up here on Cloud Nine") suggests a state of bliss, the verses ground the song in a despair that has led many to interpret it as a reference to drug use . However, the group and its creators have consistently denied this was their intention. Otis Williams, the group's sole surviving original member, has explained that the phrase "cloud nine" was a long-standing expression for being in a state of euphoria, not a coded drug reference . As he put it, they were "just writing from what they felt," and producer Norman Whitfield and co-writer Barrett Strong didn't even use drugs . Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, even thought the song was about getting high, but Williams maintains the song was about an emotional, not chemical, escape . This theme of social hardship is further explored in the album's epic second track, "Run Away Child, Running Wild." The lyrics tell the story of a young boy who runs away from home and becomes lost, his fear and regret palpable as he calls out, "I want my Mama!" The song is not a glorification of rebellion but a cautionary tale that captures the vulnerability and desperation of a child in a harsh urban environment . ## Music and Production: A Psychedelic Revolution The music and production of *Cloud Nine* were revolutionary for Motown. The album is the brainchild of producer Norman Whitfield, who, after initial reluctance, embraced the psychedelic sounds pioneered by Sly and the Family Stone at the behest of Otis Williams . The result was a seismic shift from the polished, pop-oriented "Motown Sound" to a grittier, more experimental "psychedelic soul" . This new sound is immediately apparent on the title track. The song opens with "some of the most warped sounds ever to grace a Motown release" , featuring a prominent wah-wah guitar played by Dennis Coffey, a driving, hard-hitting beat, and conga drums . This was a stark contrast to the string sections and pianos that had defined the group's earlier hits . All five members—new lead singer Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams—trade lead vocals in a style inspired by Sly Stone's multi-lead approach . The album's most audacious moment is the nine-and-a-half-minute opus, "Run Away Child, Running Wild" . At a time when radio singles were typically three minutes long, this track was a bold statement. It masterfully combines doo-wop vocals, droning organ lines, and a lengthy instrumental jam session with hard-hitting drums reminiscent of James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone . The song's extended instrumental break showcased Whitfield's ambition to create immersive soundscapes, a technique he would further develop on subsequent classics like "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" . ## Themes: A New Social Consciousness The overarching theme of *Cloud Nine* is a newfound social consciousness for The Temptations. The album moves away from the personal and romantic and instead tackles broader societal issues facing Black America. The lyrics on "Cloud Nine" address poverty, unemployment, the breakdown of the family, and urban despair . The message is not one of political activism but of survival and the complex need for an escape from a reality that is "a rat race where only the strongest survive" . This shift in subject matter was a direct reflection of the turbulent times. In 1968, a year of immense social and political upheaval in the U.S., Motown was seen by some as out of touch with the counterculture and the increasingly militant messages of other soul artists . *Cloud Nine* allowed The Temptations to remain relevant by speaking to the realities of their audience while maintaining their signature vocal sophistication. ## Influence: Saving Motown and Sparking a Genre The influence of *Cloud Nine* cannot be overstated. It is credited with saving Motown from becoming "increasingly outmoded" and putting the label "back at the forefront of American popular music" . The title track earned Motown its first Grammy Award (for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance), a significant achievement for the label . More importantly, the album opened the door for a new genre: psychedelic soul. Its success gave Whitfield the creative freedom to push The Temptations even further into experimental territory with albums like *Psychedelic Shack* and *All Directions*, and socially conscious hits like "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" . The album's fusion of funk, rock, and soul paved the way for artists like Funkadelic and became a vital precursor to the funk and disco that would dominate the 1970s . ## Pros and Cons of the Album **Pros:** * **Historical Significance:** A pivotal album that saved Motown, revolutionized The Temptations' sound, and pioneered the "psychedelic soul" genre . * **Influential Production:** Norman Whitfield's innovative production, featuring wah-wah guitar and extended instrumental passages, was groundbreaking and forward-thinking . * **Socially Conscious Lyrics:** The album's honest and unflinching lyrics about poverty and urban life gave the group a new relevance and gravitas . * **Musical Highlights:** The title track is a classic, and "Run Away Child, Running Wild" is a daring and successful nine-minute epic . * **New Vocal Energy:** The addition of Dennis Edwards, with his "grit and righteous indignation," provided a perfect voice for the group's new, harder-edged material . **Cons:** * **Uneven Tracklist:** The album is essentially split into two halves: the revolutionary side one and a more conventional side two that returns to the group's standard balladry . This makes it a "halfway house" rather than a complete transformation . * **Lack of Consistent Innovation:** The second side's more traditional fare, while well-performed, can feel like a step backward after the artistic fireworks of side one. * **Interpretive Ambiguity:** While the creators deny drug references, the lyrical content of the title track can be interpreted as either a profound statement on escapism or a more literal, problematic endorsement of drug use . ## Conclusion *Cloud Nine* is not without its inconsistencies, but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. As the album that introduced the world to "psychedelic soul" and revitalized the career of one of music's greatest vocal groups, it remains an essential listen. The album's first side, in particular, with its powerful lyrics and groundbreaking production, stands as a testament to a moment of immense creative risk that paid off spectacularly. It is an album that captures a band, a producer, and a label adapting to a changing world and, in doing so, helping to change the course of popular music itself.

Nice album not sure its a critical one

Me identifique mucho en sus letras, poderosas si las arrastras al significado de mi que vives, te hace querer bailar y seguir escuchando el album una y otra vez.

Solid album by the master's of r n b soul. The LP starts out strong with 3 really good songs but then the rest of the album loses it's punch.

Was loving this album until the "I want my mama" part. freakin annoying. Really started out strong with the first track, a few other groovin tunes, but lost me as the album went on.

Thought I was gonna like this more than I did. The first half didn’t really do it for me, boring rendition of Grapevine, though the 10 min track didn’t earn its length. But very much enjoyed the second half and its Motown, Northern Soul vibe.

Funky and soulful

Pretty good but a little topheavy

This is a very nice soul album with some psychedelic hints here and there. While this wouldn’t be my go-to album for psychedelic soul, it’s absolutely an easy and inoffensive listen at worst, but this album is undeniably great. I feel it is missing some soul staples at some point, but the true highlight of this thing is runaway child, a lush, 9 minute experience of pure soul bliss. Maybe a few too many love songs too but so what.

All very nice, but nothing stirs me.

I'm going to have to listen to it for a second time when I get time. First impressions are I liked the first (title) track. Wasn't a fan of the second track (a version of "I heard it through the grapevine"), but that's my only minus point. I know some really like this version but I have never heard this album before so it really took me by suprise and not in a good way. Did really like: 3. "Runaway Child, Running Wild" 4. "Love is a Hurtin' thing" 5. "Hey Girl" 6. "Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)" 7. "I Need Your Lovin'" 8. "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me" 9. "I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back)" 10. "Gonna Keep on Tryin' till I Win Your Love" Not my usual diet but I have been trying to get more into soul music the past 10 years (Franklin, Flack, Simone, Supremes). Haven't listened to a lot of male groups but was intending to, but never been a fan of falsettos and male harmonies (only thing that impressed me before was the unwavering "The Stylistics" - even if not a fan) That's a me problem, not a them problem though. So, 4/5

Pretty catchy, I've never listened to an entire album of theirs.

Before today I ignorantly assumed that the Temptations put out safe Motown music that didn't dare mess with the formula. While they have the Motown style down perfectly, it was the experimenting that wowed me the most. They were clearly inspired by the sounds that were coming out of the psychedelic movement. The album kicks off with the title track, which sounds so funky that you could be mistaken that you were listening to Parliament. The bravest cut on here is the near 10 minute "Runaway Child, Running Wild", which has a cool groove throughout that made it feel like it was from a blaxplitation movie. The second side of the record is filled with your standard Motown songs about heartbreak. They are very well done though, with pleasant strings and gorgeous harmonies. Even when this record plays it safe, it still makes for music that is very easy to listen to.

The bass is so good in this album. Love the lines. 3.5/5

Aaaaaahhh yiiisssss!

Classic tracks but honestly a snoozer 3.5

album de reprises (je crois) assez sympa

I'm starting to see the sauce with this band. There is such an uplifting quality about their music; it's the same thing that made me fall in love with "My Girl" a while back. It's great summer music. It leaves me with the melancholic thought that those were simpler times. At least music is timeless. Another light 4

When I was a kid, we had 3 straight Temptations albums, when they were (apparently) attempting to be groovy and psychedelic, this album (1968), Puzzle People (1969), and Psychedelic Shack (1970). My favorite was Puzzle People, but I liked all 3. This was the classic (at least for me) Temptations lineup of Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams, with songs by Whitfield and Strong, and backing music by the Funk Brothers. The funky vocals in the title track and 'Runaway Child', in particular, show the influence of Sly Stone. Can't top Marvin Gaye's version of 'Grapevine' (and Gladys Knight & the Pips do a good version, too), but it's still enjoyable to hear the Temptations put their stamp on it. High quality throughout, good variety, excellent musicianship (Edwards and Kendricks, in particular, stand out for me). A solid 4 stars. Very glad to have the opportunity to come back to this one again after far too long.

I love the way Motown is mixed: the reverb on the percussion and strings, the warm buzzy bass, it's like there's a warm hum running through it all. It's not my favorite collection of Temptations songs. I think I like it noticeably less than All Directions so I feel I'm forced to give a 3 here, but its a strong 3. "Runaway Child" is not as good as "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Most of the themes are forgettable and the structures simple. James Jamerson's bass playing is my highlight (holding it down with one finger) I'm curious what makes this psychedelic soul, besides the pattern on the cover

I was shocked that that's how R&B sounded like before. To me, it reminds me more of jazz. I loved it though. It's sort of this amazing album i would play to make a vibe while my guests are here or if i had a cafe/ bar. So good!

Funky. Mostly just funky.

In an attempt to update their sound, The Temptations looked closely at Sly and the Family Stone. Wonderful stuff, but the first half sounds too close to the Family Stone's style. As for the second half, they played it safe And decided to stick with the Motown formula. Individually, there are many great songs on here. As a whole, it feels two-faced and disjointed.

Very groovy and sounds great! Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys some classic soul music.

Was a much simpler time for lyricism like but still a lot of good tunes, can’t complain

just ok

Meh. I was expecting much more. Barely rates a mention

Solid! 8/10

Golden oldies feels like a term my 95 year old grandma would use to describe things, but that’s exactly what I thought of from the first song on this. Old gold. The original “heard it through the grapevine” is on here and is a banger as ever. Not much to say really, just a good ol soul album. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sneaky RPZ !!!

I definitely prefer the funkier Temptations, the more Motown stuff verges on the bland. Norman Whitfield was on to something. But then according to the generator funk is my favourite genre so I would say that. 3.5 rounding up because of the first side

its a good album its just not really my genre of music

bro warum so viele reine Männergruppen aus den 70ern? Finds langweilig sorry

The late-60s radicalization of the corny old Temptations is a satisfying one. I like to picture them synchronized in matching suits, swaying in an acid fog, wondering what they've signed up for. It's really only side one of this record that bears the new direction, but the nine-minute epic about a runaway is quite a move. The rest is all strings and backbeat, trading the harmonies their potential new audience's square parents loved them for.

Definitely a tale of two album sides. Things start incredibly strong: “Runaway Child” is phenomenal, right up there with Isaac Hayes’ “Walk On” for all-time extended funk-jam classics. Then things revert to form. Which isn’t a bad thing — it’s still peak Motown, with the capable backing of the Funk Brothers (including new session guitarist Dennis Coffey and his wah-wah peddle). But it feels a little disjointed, like one step forward into an exciting future, and another back to the familiar. Love the bongos peppered here and there.

i want to cook a meal while listening to this. there's something i really enjoy about the temptations and i can't quite place it, maybe its that it reminds me of sitting in the back of my dad's car growing up. either way, i liked it, my favorite songs were the funkier ones and my favorite track was the title track. fun listen.

It’s alright

Hearty, soulful, joyous

A solid collection of songs, worth returning to. But on first listen there were no standout tracks, and the record as a whole is not the most memorable.

Purists revolt and I revel anytime an artist or group shifts to Psychedelia. What a great listen. The overdriven phaser, the deep and well timed base, the 9 minute story turned psychedelic jam. It's obvious that Sly & The Family Stone hold great influence here, but nonetheless The Temptations do a great job of soaking doo-wop R&B in some acid to shift focus for a new era.

Even their weaker albums are stronger than some groups’ entire catalog.

🎶 K-EARTH 101 LOS ANGELES 🎶

Would have preferred The California Raisins

A Cool one

4.5

- Mulla vähän jännittää alkaa kuuntelemaan tätä, kun ennakko-oletus on, että tää on varmasti ihan huippu kokonaisuus. Laulu iskee heti ja soitto groovaa. Tarinankerrontaa ekassa biisissä. Cloud Ninesta tulee mieleen Papa Was A Rolling Stone, mutta mikäs siinä, jos löytää hyvän kaavan, niin voihan niitä tehdä enemmänkin samanlaisia biisejä. Heard It Through The Grapevine ou nou, odotin tästä vähän eri versiota ja tää ei nyt tietenkään osunut. Runaway Child Running Wild tässä mielenkiintoinen tuo lauluarraus ”hoo-ho-pa-hoo-ho-pa” kahden laulajan välillä. Saman biisin vähän liian pitkässä ja junnaavassa intruosassa jännä, kun tulee kitarafillailut mollitonaliteetin päälle duurissa. Lyriikat ei parin ekan laulun jälkeen kuitenkaan sitten aivan niin hienoja – aika sokerisia ja ”baby, baby, baby, baby”. I Gotta Find A Wayssa pieni barskasoolo! Haha, yhdessä biisissä lauletaan, että älä vain mene sen toisen mukaan ja melkein seuraavassa sitten, että olet toisen, mutta en halua olla vain ystävä ja yritän niin kauan kunnes jätät sen jonka kanssa olet. Kohokohta oli Cloud Nine. Kauttaaltaan hienoja luluarreja ja hienoa laulamista, mutta silti jäi vähän pinnallisiksi lyriikoiltaan. En tykännyt niin paljon, mitä luulin tykkääväni.

Solid, happy music. The songs are a bit samey but they feel nice

Ei hyvä eikä huono, ei myöskään oikein mun tyylinen. Biisit kuulosti kaikki vähän samalta ja toistavilta. Miksaus tyypillistä 60-lukua. Isä vois tykätä tästä tho!

Fun.

Classic

The Temptations at their Motown best, but now also with a sharper, edgier sound bringing them into the realms of funk. It starts with the excellent title track, then follows up with a version of I Heard it Through the Grapevine the likes of which you've never heard before (unless of course, you've heard it before). It's the classic template: fall in love, have love, lose love, try to win love back, but it's done so well you won't mind any cliches you encounter. Fine work, gentlemen.

Nice, kinda samey but I like it

Second album proposé après 'All Directions' que je n'avais pas vraiment apprécié (noté 2/5 - bon grooves funk, mais ... pas assez de funk). Ce 2eme album me semble contenir plus de soul et encore moins de funk. Je n'ai pas accroché, sauf peut être sur la partie instrumentale de ' Runaway Child, Running Wild' (+1). Pas de seconde écoute envisagée. =>2/5

Enjoyed it, not very long , the different singers all add their own touch to the music, but in this day and age i feel like i have heard similar sounds. Lyrically, it made me want to fall in love with someone. I listened to the second half while doing chores though so I didnt grasp it fully.

hate the mama sound effect, would be a 2 otherwise

sympa

ok!

Heard they the grapevine was only radio hit on album and a slower melodic pace

Fantastic tracks but they go on a bit.

I’ve heard this before. I love the Temptations and this is a great mix of their earlier Motown sound with the later psychedelic soul and funk. It’s been a while since I’ve heard this album so I forgot that Run Away Child Running Wild is ten minutes long with an extended instrumental psych jam which is extremely my thing. Classic album.

Good but sounds dated to me

Psychedelic soul oli uusi tuttavuus terminä. Ei ollu niin psykedeelistä kun ois voinu musta! Mutta aivan menevä ja passeli. Ei jääny mitään ihmeemmin mieleen mutta ei vaivannu myöskään. Huomaan olevani jotenki tosi toisesta korvasta sisään ja toisesta ulos näiden kaa monesti!

Groovaa niin maan perkeleesti. Tämmönen protodiskosetti on aina tosi ihanaa kuunneltavaa, mutta levyllisen aikana käy vähän tylsäksi.

No nyt!! 🔥🔥🔥 Just pohdin ääneen edellisen jälkeen kun eksyin kuuntelee pikku Michael Jacksonin versioo You’ve Got A Friend et ”ei meil mittää motownia oo ollu listal?” ni heti albumilistan henget vastas 🙇🏼

Ihan kivaa ja tykkään tällasesta musasta, mut pidemmän päälle vähän tasapaksua rallattelua. Jäi taustamusaksi reippaan alun jälkeen.

Not really feeling this, didn't have any songs that particularly stood out

Great album

Heard of them, not this album though. Psychedelic soul, something flat and boring about the whole thing. Side 2 is bit better, more what I expected of the temptations. 3 Heard before? No Owned: No, 92/346 (26%) Will I get: No

Pleasant listen while walking the dog. Randomly heard one of the songs hours later in the airport

I expected to like this more than I did. Even the version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine wasn't as good as I wanted it to be.

2.5 - Eh, it's fine.

this is good but not my vibe

good, groovy

Cranking out bangers 5/5

It was OK but nothing special stood out

Not too bad but not quite as good as some of their albums.

Soem of the songs I rlly liked, and I like the groovy vibes of the album, but some songs didn't grab my attention. 3.5

This album was pretty mid. Not really much to enjoy about it

I was quite bored by this but it's a pleasant listen

Good soul

Surprised by how funky the front half of the album was. Don't really associate the temptations with the genre, but it works really well. The back half is more traditional Motown, which is fine, but not as good as the beginning.

𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘦 captures The Temptations at a fascinating turning point, as they move beyond their classic soul sound and embrace psychedelic influences. The album is ambitious, adventurous, and clearly willing to take risks. While I can appreciate that ambition, the album never fully comes together for me. There are plenty of inventive arrangements and strong performances, but it often feels too scattered to leave a lasting impression. By the time it’s over, very little has stayed with me. I understand why 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘦 is regarded as a landmark of psychedelic soul, but I admire it more than I actually enjoy listening to it.

Love listening to this album as a story about pursuing a relationship. Lovely jazzy chill vibe

Good, classic, fun temptations.

Fun listen overall. Obviously influential.

The kind of music that's fun for the whole family and won't upset grandma!

spoko

2/5. It had no standouts for me. I did listen through the end though.

A very top-heavy album. Really enjoyed the first few tracks, felt a big drop-off as far as energy is concerned in the remainder of the album. Some moments here and there but I'm not big on Soul music to begin with so it's likely just not for me. Runaway Child is fantastic though the crying kid noise in the middle were not necessary. 3 stars

Pretty good album. I just think I had really high expectations for this one so it didn't really live up to them. Still quite decent. 3.5/5

I prefer George Harrison cloud nine.

I like the album cover

Lush

I'm a big Temptations fan. I find the 2 album choices on this list for the group interesting; I would have though it would feature one of their earlier records. This one's pretty good. I've never heard that version of Grapevine before.

Album was fine, nothing crazy and no takeaways, but definitely not bad!

It was better than the one before, but nahhh Also boring bro If it gives me some ahh album like that again from 19th century imma jump out the window

Wonderful melodies and harmonies mixed with funky bass and beats mashes for a wonderful album. Though, every song was either about lost love, loving a cheater, and/or winning back said cheater. Seems like they really struggled to get over whomever they’re singing about.

Kanske inte jättespännande, men Motown är ju typ alltid bra ändå

Börjar som en riktig funkrökare men tappar lite edge mot slutet. En kraftig 4a är det likväl.

Mycket hesa, slitna röster!

It's a nice album, although I didn't find it memorable.

I'm not so big on the psychedelic soul portions of the album. The back half of solid Motown soul is what you expect from the band. Having the kid crying for his mom in the middle of "Runaway Child, Running Wild" was a decision, and made me just wanna scoop him up and hold him. The cover of "Heard It Through the Grapevine" lent a gravity that took it away from the fun Marvin Gaye tune into the department of "why you wanna do that to me?". Not a bad album, but I won't be back. My Rating: 3/5

Spun it twice for kicks, familiar with a few tunes. Some good playing.

Pensé que me iba a flipar y solo me ha gustado

Cloud 9? What about “5 Stars”

I don't NOT like it, but it didn't hit for me like I expected it to

2000s department store commercials has left an irreversible impression that music like this is essential for people dancing in a NYC loft. It's a good album, I just wish I could imagine more beyond the Macy's.

It’s not one of my favorite temptations albums, I’m sorry to say. And I really hate the title track

This was way more fun than I thought it was going to be. Shoutout

Love me some Temptations

I have always loved the Temptations and the Motown sound in general. "Run Away Child..." and "I Gotta Find a Way" are highlights. I have never been a fan of their version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." The algorithm has been pulling some incredible album art for us the past few picks!

I thought this was enjoyable but I don't feel compelled to go back to it any time soon. I don’t know what it is with “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and covers that are 6 minutes too long.

I liked hearing the growth and tone shift from Grapevine’s older doo-wop/soul sounds to grittier funk odyssey on Runaway Child. The rest felt like generic love songs

Ну по сути красиво, ну ладно

A band with the odd good track but a whole album's worth

Surprisingly disappointed

Not my favourite album ever! But Runaway child, Running Wild was a fantastic Mo-Town leaning less traditional and more into socially conscious psychedelic soul. Cautionary tale about the danger of running away from home - inspired by real life articles of child runaways.

Amazing classic i loved the instrumental sound stage and the isolation from the others throughout the album. Extremely upbeat and expressive.

Frankly, Motown alumni and their work are starting to get tiresome. Soul, soul, and more soul. Northern, Southern, Detroit, New Orleans... Basically, that's the studio's bread and butter, the problem is that it all sounds the same to me. Even the songs on different albums can be the same — the band takes a standard and reworks it in its own way, and does this several times. This album by The Temptations attempted to stand out from the crowd a bit — for example, the first side is clearly inspired by Sly & The Family Stone, and the band ventures into psychedelic funk territory (just look at the long "Run Away Child, Running Wild"). However, while they wanted to attract new fans, they were afraid to alienate the old ones, so the second side... Yeah, it's the same old three-minute soul songs, a sure bet. In short, it's a three stars for the effort, but a light one.

felt kinda bland at the begining but then it finished strong

Buena banda, muy buen álbum, simplemente eso. Siento que este es el tipo de disco promedio que esperaba de esta lista, lástima que empezamos con tantos meh, pero espero que sigan siendo todos con este nivel.

Digg. Bortsett fra stereo-mixen på tittelsporet, den var helt jævlig.

Mye kult her, særlig i starten og særlig "Runaway Child, Running Wild". Ellers ispedd litt svisker jeg kunne klart meg uten. Men for all del smooth.

Pretty good. Nice short album, and I really love how balanced all of their voices are. No huge standouts from the songs specifically, was not expecting a 9 min adventure in the middle of it but that was fine.

Enjoyable, but not my thing really

Some strong songs in here, with an overall easy going vibe that makes you feel happy and energised

I had a little trouble rating this one, as I preferred the end to the beginning. But on the balance, I suppose it is a 4!

Fantastic

Nothing like a little Motown to get the day started

enjoying this a lot so far, great vibes.

while other men my age fully move towards yacht rock I am firmly entrenched in mid life Motown, and it's not a phase. It's a lifestyle. Cue Psychedelic Psoul for the win... bet. (My cowboy shirt has guitars on the shoulders)

Decent psychedelic-ish soul stuff. I liked the first three songs but the rest is also pretty good

From start to finish just trash.

1/2

It is fucking absurd how much generational talent was on the Motown label, this is the first album of theirs to show up on this list so far, BUT I'm expecting to listen to a double digit quantity of them. okay, that aside, GOD I WISH MEN WOULD HARMONIZE WITH EACH OTHER AGAIN. Bring back belting beautifully with your boys. But seriously, their voices make me feel joy again, im soaring, the day is suddenly idyllic. I should be peddling on my bike alongside me new dad Dennis Edwards without a worry in my heart. OKAY, vocals aside, the instrumentals are top notch. ESPECIALLY the drum and bass, they're sitting in a tree k i s s i n g fr fr. The first leg of this album is probably perfect, "Runaway Child, Running Wild" being the standout. The last minutes of that song where the funk the fuck out is divine, chills man, chills. mmmm 4/5

Technically, Cloud Nine sounds like a 50s group trying to pivot to the 60s while the 70s is nipping at their heels. But I bet that's not the primary vibe you'll get from it if you're not thinking about it. Sure, the reimagining of Heard It Through the Grapevine makes it a bit hard to avoid, but generally it's hard to hear past this group's skill as a vocal combo. So while sure, this feels a little on the edges of psych and definitely on the edges of funk, this doesn't feel exactly like classic Temptations, it does not feel forced or phoned in or like old people trying to do the youth thing. It sounds like the Temptations. And that's a good thing to sound like. The Temptationy stuff is good here… can't mess with a good formula… but the key track feels like “Runaway Child, Running Wild,” which builds into what could be a defining statement of what the guys were trying to do here. It's long and epic sounding, and you don't quite realize it until you get to about minute 7 and think “huh, this feels a little longer than the average motown song.” The Grapevine Experiment comes closest to a falter here… the arrangement is simply not as strong as the classic ones… but this gives a slate of songs up to par with the classic era, right alongside some more interesting sides of the band. I think it's probably just under a 4*, but no reason to round down.

Funky

First couple tracks are pretty good, the rest was fine. 7/10.

7/10

fun album! cloud nine is a banger some iconic love songs

#relisten

The Temptations sing about love for 10 tracks straight but that's pretty much par for the course of the 60's. Thankfully the music is groovy and enjoyable for the most part.

moy boeno, me hace sentir poderosa y vulnerable de la manera mas amorosa posible y eso me gusta mucho 7/10 le doy un 7 pq inicia muy fuerte pero termina maso

fire

This version of Heard It Through the Grapevine' was disappointing

The title track is dynamite and the rest offer diminishing returns, but I still enjoyed this. Good vibes and great vocals all round.

Too late to appear on this album but "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" and other singles they did - especially when they teamed up with the Supremes - were good to hear on the radio at the time. Never interested me enough to buy any though and this album would have not persuaded me either. Interesting to hear but plenty of other Motown releases were much better. What would have been side 2 was nearer the mark.

I could have done without the nearly 10 min Runaway Child, Running Wild especially with the creepy child voice midway through. The Heard it through the Grapevine cover was also pretty terrible. The album improved dramatically when they get back to the classic Temptations vibes

Strange record. The title track is good, and the doo-wop vocals over a more '70s soul sound is funny, but I guess kinda works. 'Runaway Child, Running Wild' is incredibly bizarre. The second side is much better, probably because it sounds more like you'd expect a Temptations record to sound.

Meh. 2/5

Dog

Sunny day ripping my heart out music, generic sounding for my naive pleb palette but not because of the wonderful music compositions or the singer's voices.

music is love

Another smooth soul gem.

is the Curtis Mayfield song referencing this? "little chiiiiild, running wiiiiild". love the interlude on this song ok the music is good, and the songs are classics, but the post-doowop a cappella(-ish, obv there are instruments here) just isn't my favorite style. i'd rather listen to the Supremes covering the Temptations. next on my queue is their collab album. the front vocals are impeccable, it's the background that i'm not a fan of. i dunno, we're sitting in a 3.5 range here. i'll decide tomorrow how to round it.

Fine.

Might relisten to figure out why I liked it so much.

A fantastic opening to the album but they didn't seem to be able to keep it at that level. Still, a remarkable group and overall a solid album.

fun, there must be better Temptations records ahead in this list

Not my favorite of their albums but very good. The cover of I heard it through the grapevine is so subdued. Weird.

Lovely little album.

Psychedelic soul. Hard to go wrong in a way. Very solid and groovy instruments. Well actually I do like this it just isn't really doing anything for me. It's just music kinda. Nothing special. Ok I kind've don't like this. It's just kinda a little annoying. What are you whining so much about. Get up. Favourite: I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) Least favourite: Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me

I love this bridge to Disco. Very funky but interesting subject matter. And I would love to do the bass parts.

This is enjoyable enough, though not really something I’d ever go out of my way for. 7.5/10

I listened it fully like once or twice only ? Couldn't pick up a track I enjoyed 💔 I identified that it wasn't bad, but I didn't really vibe w it.

Lovely album

Solid enough :)

Another wonderful Motown soul record. I think all of these are pretty amazing. This one was meant to be revolutionary, trying to copy Sly Stone and them.

Una canción buena en todo el album. Aunque muy buena eso sí. Single material, like mi ex.

I didnt think would be good