Cloud Nine

3/5

It was interesting listening to a version of The Temptations that I wasn’t familiar with, I just don’t think it was the best version of the group. Best Track: Hey Girl

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

Classic 60s Motown sound mixed with a great group is a mix for a huge success. I love the temptations and this album proved my love for them even more. Throughly enjoyed this album. Fav track: I gotta find a way to get you back Least fav: I heard it through the grapevine (a cover we did not need)

This was a lot of fun. I'm more familiar with the Ruffin-era Temptations, although I had obviously heard the title track. Some of these songs were fairly standard crooners done by men with great voices, but some were far beyond that. I'm thinking in particular of the title track and especially "Runaway Child, Running Wild," which had some great vocal and instrumental flourishes. A very good listen.

Classic late 60s tunes.

Un peu chargé pour moi, mais j’aime comment ce type de groupe à plusieurs chanteurs utilisaient vraiment la voix comme un instrument à part entière

Incredible production. I like formulaic but the formula works!

good! easy

Great album. Broadens the horizons of the Motown sound beyond the classic pre-packaged pieces.i’ll play it again.

Nothing earth shattering

Not specifically aware of this album, but this is pretty great.

For an album titled cloud nine, these guys don’t seem overly happy about the recent break up…

The guitar burts on Love Is A Hurtin' Thing reminded me of Worried About You on Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones

A good classic Temptations sounds

It's got a mix of upbeat and sombre tracks. It's good, but there wasn't really a standout track here, nor were any too memorable. Favourite Track(s): Cloud Nine Least Favourite Track(s): Hey Girl, I Need Your Lovin'

Funkier brand of The T’s

Funk appreciated

The Temptations getting psychedelic is funny and awkward but mostly enjoyable. But Motown is really more of a singles operation and I would not have put this or any Temptations album on this list. They had some great material but there are no hidden gems on their albums. You already heard everything they did worth a close listen.

A nice contrast to some of the recent albums in my rotation (Steve Winwood, GZA, Aerosmith, M.I.A), and also nice to finally get the other Temptations album in this collection. I enjoyed the album, but not as much as their later "All Directions", probably because they were only dipping their toes into the Family-Stone-style sound with "Cloud Nine". I really enjoyed the title track and the epic "Run away child, running wild", but most of the rest was less engaging, even their slightly funkified version of "I heard it through the grapevine". This would have been a much stronger and more interesting album if they'd stuck with the style of Side A and ditched the more traditional fare on Side B, but I suspect that would have been a hard sell to either Motown Records or their diehard fans.

Always nice to hear Motown in the morning!

Mellow tunes, good vibe

Good stuff

Ok

awesome!

Not nearly as good as All Directions but still a good listen.

It was ok.

Runaway child, running wild is the standout so far. This is nice. Super wide stereo balance again, though. Not so nice in headphones.

That album art! Banger.

Easy Sunday morning listening

Cloud nine the song is good but the album tails off pretty quick i think.

Absolute bopperino

ok, no comment

Incredible vocal performances and an irresistable groove through the entire record. Cloud nine, i heard it through the grapevine, runaway child running wild are all bangers. What a pleasant suprise this is.

No está en mi agenda este tipo de música Funky, así que

Classic and timeless

The soul flows through me

Temp-ta-tion

I like a lot of this, particularly the funkier first half. But quite a few of the songs are pretty forgettable. I wasn't really into the Motown style ballads as much.

For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled a group I had been wanting to hear a full length project from but somehow never officially got around to. Today I am listening to The Temptations' Cloud Nine from 1969. The Temptations are a Soul group spanning from Detroit Michigan yet helped immensely in expanding and defining the Philadelphia Soul sound during their run in the 60s. Their greatest hits are easily some of the most underrated I have ever heard and I'd totally check that out if you ever get the chance, but that is not what I am here to talk about today, I am here to talk about one of their last 60s albums and see just why this is considered a "must hear" by some. As far as Soul, Funk, and even that small bit of Psychedelia the band mixes in goes this album doesn't really push any boundaries whatsoever and honestly just shows how much the group is able to adapt to the ever-changing sonic landscape of their respective genres. I have never heard a 9 minute song from The Temptations before but man do they pull it off with quite the swagger and style of a group with their elaborate resume. While I did enjoy this project, I don't think I'd say this is anything extraordinary or even all that memorable. It is good for what it tries to do, but is by no means a "gold standard" of any of the genres it is a part of. I am glad I finally got around to a Temptations' project but this one really wasn't all that I hoped it would be.

interesting

Highlight: Runaway Child, Running Wild

Good listen

Really enjoyed this one. Lots of funk and soul, easy to vibe to. Simple, yet varied.

I could have totally done without the odd version of Grapevine and the child screaming for their mom in another song.

Fav: Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing

Fantastic album

Amazing voices and great harmony, solid album. Best song: Runaway Child, Running Wild

Funky and groovy. Can’t say much else about this album, but it was a fine listen.

Everybody knows The Temptations, you know, My Girl, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, The Way You Do the Things You Do, but in 1968, radical changes were happening. First, David Ruffin, one of the main voices of the group, was fired for missing shows and regularly powdering his nose. He was replaced by Dennis Edwards. Another radical change was that Sly & the Family Stone was changing R&B/soul music, making it more psychedelic and funkier. Otis Williams, the de facto leader of the Temptations, talked Motown into letting them try a more psychedelic sound and spreading the vocals around a bit. The result was Cloud 9, which was a hit and won the singing group a Grammy. I like the Temptations, both the more pure Motown R&B pop sound, but I really liked the 70s psychedelic Temptations. Cloud 9 had examples of both sounds, with the songs Cloud 9 and Runaway Child, Running Wild being more psychedelic and the lyrics having more of a social bent and not just about wooing a pretty girl. I listened to this album three times and I really liked it, but did I think it was a great album that needed to be on the 1,001 list? Not really. Maybe it’s on the list more for history’s sake. But, as a preview of what the Temptations later became with a look back at what they were, it’s a fun listen. Maybe after All Things Pass, anything I listened to would fall flat. For R&B/soul fans, you’ll like this album, but it’s not one you have to hear before you die.

This was fine. Generic soul. It feels out of date for 1969.

The drums across the whole 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.

A stronger 3 than some but wasn't at that next level for me. Enjoyable album.

Great music to groove to, like you can play this shit when you get up early in the morning and you're cooking some breakfast in kitchen you know. You just start moving your body while making some coffee

It’s nice that the Temptations made it onto this list. I have seen them perform twice back in the early 1980s, so naturally they are one of my favorite groups. There are two covers on this record (Hey Girl, Heard it Through the Grapevine), which are the weakest tracks on the album in my opinion. Cloud Nine is the best song, and the remaining tracks are ok but nothing spectacular.

From one The XYZers band to another! This is also fine. Nothing really reaches the heights of 'My Girl', not that I particularly like 'My Girl'. The genre is "progressive soul". I probably like regressive soul better (is that what Elvis is?). In theory I like the idea of multiple singers with really different vocal ranges (i.e. unlike the Beatles I can tell them apart), but in practice the variability might be a net negative. I like most of Melvin Franklin's deal (including the name "Melvin Franklin"), Dennis Edwards and Paul Williams are good-to-OK, Otis Williams is okay, and Eddie Kendricks in falsetto mode is my nightmare. So, a mixed bag. In general the sound is pleasant and old-timey, but none of the songs stood out. A 2 feels too harsh, but this is a low 3 for me because it's sooo boring.

Smooth and Revolutionary. This album essentially created the Soul/Funk fusion that drove Motown into '70s. This is great round the house music if you are in the dancing while you get things done mode.

I was definitely not expecting this to be as good as it was. I'd add it to the collection if I found a copy.

Better than Coldplay

Not my personal taste

Better than I expected when I started playing it. Good background music.

sounds forced and phoned in

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

Awesome. Peak funky dance hall music

Very good music, but I won't be going back to it

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.

Funky at first, then looses a bit of puff and is straight motown. Good for a Sunday morning listen whilst doing the housework

Another one of those records I wouldn't have thought to put on. Some really catchy funky stuff on here I found myself grooving to. Clearly hear the 70's coming (so maybe this album was a bit ahead of its time?) Not generally into Motown, although I appreciate it. On whole, I'm giving it a 3, but I think there were some moments when I coulda gone 4 on this one. I'd definitely listen again, and it seems like a good record to put on in the background while doing stuff around the house to put you in a good mood.

Hey, George Harrison already took this album title. No fair. Heavily dated sound, almost resembling a 50s record. Other Temptations records (Psychedelic Shack, Sky's The Limit) would be a little more suited to a list of the 1000 most important albums of all time - but less so this one. Still, the keyboard-heavy semi-psychedelic feel definitely places the record solidly in the late 60s. There's a kind of divide between Motown and (proto?-)funk throughout the record, and both are done reasonably well. Points docked for the songs having relatively few streams, suggesting the present-day audience doesn't find this music as important or enduring as Robert Dimery et al. might. Points added back for some seriously cool cover art, and for the final track being the strongest on side 2 by a very wide margin. The lead vocal there is angelic. I Heard It Through The Grapevine is unremarkable, and inoffensive. I think I would enjoy it more if I hadn't heard dozens of more impressive/interesting covers previously. The version on CCR's Cosmo's Factory is simply better, featuring crisper instrumentation and a much more distinctive vocalist. (I disagree with the reviewers who are complimenting the production on Cloud Nine. It's not that good.) Marvin Gaye's cover is even stronger and probably the "definitive" one. The version here has some decent falsetto, but otherwise it kind of fades away as quickly as it began. (The following track, Runaway Child Running Wild, has much stronger vocals.) This brings up another slight issue with the record: the instrumentation and musicianship isn't *that* impressive for the year it was released. In 1969, Cloud Nine had competition like Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin I and II, King Crimson's debut, Let It Bleed, the Velvet Underground's self-titled... Cloud Nine's title track won the 1969 Grammy for "Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group", and while it's a great tune, I'm a little surprised given the heavy competition. 3/5 Key tracks: Cloud Nine, Runaway Child Running Wild, Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love

What a joy to drive my Boomer mom around on a sunny day, playing this pleasurable ‘60’s soul that she last heard in her 20s. Although there are no recognizable hits to me on this record, and their cover of Gladys Knight’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine” pales in comparison to the original, this is still some great Motown soul. Special points to the singer with the deepest baritone you’ve ever heard.

Funky soul. 4/5

Fun and groovy album

Ça sonne comme une bonne bière sur le bord du charcoal, il manque juste un peu plus de oumph pour pour un 5

A solid 3. I like it enough to listen, wouldn't seek it out or buy it. Wouldn't turn it off, or get pissed that it is on this list.

Good stuff, but then The Temptations are always worth listening to.

groove. heavy. soul.

Cool, but not my sound

Pretty good

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.

My ex liked this one. No thx

Great classic R & B

that’s type shi i fw

Cool and funky

It’s good it’s fine whatever we just had a Temptations album let’s move on

First R&B album i listened to. Getting used to it. i can see now why they were a cornerstone of Motown Records in the 1960s and had numerous #1 hits like “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “I Can’t Get Next to You.”

Very enjoyable album! There are some songs around the middle that felt like it didn't belong. It may just be how the first 3 songs set up the album. It may be added to my every day listen just because of how I felt during my initial listen.

Музыка: 7/10 Разнообразие: 5/10 Тематика и вайб: 8/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 3/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 8/10 Итог: 6.2

Interesting souly vibes. Good rhythms, good vocal performances. Got some nice energy to it and enough weird stuff to keep it interesting.

Classic album

Hyvät vibat!

7/10 - great funk music, nice to have playing in the background

very middle of the road for me, didn’t feel too special but i liked it

Can’t go wrong with the Temptations.

At first I didn't like this as much as what I'd consider the "classic" temptations. More motown, less funk, but this grew on me with a second listen. Standouts: "Hey Girl", "I gotta Find a Way". Was pumped for I heard it through the grapevine but i'm not digging this rendetion.

Unverzichtbar. 4/5

This was great. Nice tunes.

Legendary! Didn't know that I have already heard some of their songs.

Great production great arrangements and I love the intent and conviction that they sing with. Very enjoyable album

I much prefer side A of this record, especially the title track and "Run Away Child, Running Wild". The psychedelic soul leanings are a lot more interesting to me than a lot of the overblown string-heavy arrangements that dominate side B. I definitely like it more overall than All Directions, though, even if The Temptations (and 99% of artists in this genre) will likely always be a "songs" group for me in general. 3.5/5

One of the best classic records!

Pretty decent. Not really my vibe all that much. Very 70s even though its a year early I guess. Its not totally acapella but there are some fun parts where the vocals make up alot of the music if not the whole thing. I had some fun with this and saved a song or 2. Hearing not Marvin gayes hears it through the grape vine was a bit tripping. Good time

Not really my kind of music, but it was alright

What a sweet listening this was. Love it!

This is another one where the spatial stereo is just a little much. Interesting to hear two different kinds of drums in each ear. I have to imagine living when this is released and just blazed out of your mind on a shag carpet listening to the thing.

I heard that this is pretty decent, but where did I hear that? Somewhere involving fruit.

This was my birthday album. And this record was just fine. Nothing special. I’m happy these albums from this era are around the 30-40 minutes mark. Nice vocals. With the exception of the scat vocals which weren’t impressive. Music is nothing special. But the overall feel of the album worked.

I think my expectations. Wee a bit too high for this one

As with many Motown acts, it isn't the artist that makes the difference; it's the music. This album is pretty much standard stuff, except for the first few tracks.

It’s fine. Neither the best nor the worst. I like this version of Grapevine better than others.

51/1001 The Temptations - Cloud Nine Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ An album of two halves, in which the first is so much more interesting. The first half really delves into funk elements, whilst retaining the soul sound from previous work. The second half mines more of that classic motown soul, which I still enjoy, it's not as interesting.

Full of soul. Great album that had me dancing and singing along, not my usual taste, but still fantastic.

Super uneven, first and third tracks are great, funky listens (I even like the kid crying halfway through “Runaway Child, Running Wild”), but the “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” cover is atrocious. Last few songs are back to a more traditional early Temptations sound, but nothing really HITS. Probably makes for a good dinner party album. There’s no denying the vocals and production really are top notch.

nice

Classic soul Motown group! Not quite my style, but can’t deny the legends. I had no idea they did a “hi heard through the grapevine” cover. Interesting to see the evolution from Doo-Wop to soul music. They certainly set the foundation for classic/modern R&B.

The Temptations are a familiar artist and sound as part of Motown Records. I enjoyed the listen to explore beyond the hits I was already familiar with and appreciate the record’s significance as a turning point for the band - I definitely noted the different style. But again, middle of the road for me and not necessarily a band or album I’d seek out.

This is a great album. Temptations are always a good listen!

Cool, have some goods songs but overall not really my style

Short and fun album with an old school vibe. Intro was a banger and quality was solid throughout.

I needed some soul today! Went down smooth.

Not for me. Very much formula music 2 star

it was a really enjoyable experience to listen to it

A beginner introduction to a white Anglo Saxon person. Great band. Lasted longer than others, because of their style, soul, and band members who I believe still like each other. A very good start to an amazing group

It was fine. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. It was an easy listen.

Cloud 9 is almost like two totally different albums, which I guess is understandable considering how experimental the first few tracks were for the Temptations and Motown. The first few tracks are early examples of psychedelic soul, inspired by Sly and Family Stone’s song “Dance to the Music”. The Replacement’s answer has less of a dance vibe, with the guitar and precussion borrowing more heavily from psychedelic rock. Each of these early tracks is groovy, my favorite “Runaway Child, Running Wild” gaining the prestigious spot on my Favorites playlist. The later motown ballads on the album are good, for me they just not as fun and interesting as the earlier, experimental tunes. Though it is hard to not to enjoy the beautiful, soulful singing. Cloud 9 marked a turning point for the Temptations and many critics credit this experiment with saving Motown Records which was being left behind by the counter culture at the time. In fact, this album won Motown Records their first Grammy. This album is a great example of the continuity of music and the influence that musicians have on each other. It started from band members being inspired by a single song, progressed with their producer being forced out of his comfort zone, incorporating elements from several different genres. The result would take the TheTemptations in an entirely different direction, making them legends in the industry. It is also interesting to see how elements of psychedelic soul and psychedelic funk would ultimately help to establish disco and much of the pop music that followed. Listening to this record made me realize that I’ve never thoroughly explored the sounds of psychedelic soul, giving me a new project. Normally, this would be sufficient for me to give 5*, but the lack of internal consistency holds it back.

Runaway child, running wild is a special track. Some other highlights on the first half. Second half tailed off

This is potentially amazing, but in order to fully enjoy it, I'd probably need a lavish dinner party, ice clinging in drinks. I'd be standing on the terrace, looking at the sunset. As it is, I'm sitting at my desk, working and listening with headphones. It doesn't quite work.

Okay, not that interesting

Strong first song, but kinda a one-hit album. Maybe this just isn't me genre but it didn't hit. Soft 3 - Groovy! Optimistic - Lame cover of "Heard it Through the Grapevine", doesn't hold up to Marvin Gaye version (and this one came later) - Didn't really recover after first song

Un ritmo funky y muy buena energía en lo general, obviamente resalta la homónima Cloud Nine como un resumen excelente de lo que encontrarás a lo largo del disco. Definitivamente, The Temptations entró a mi radar de gustos musicales con tanto estilo como el mismo disco.

Great tunes.

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.

Everything is well made, well produced, and well preformed, it’s just not that much fun. It’s a transitional album but it is clear that there was older material and newer material. The album never really gels between its two halves. 3.5/ 5

My knowledge of The Temptations is very vague. I know they did 'My Girl' and that's pretty much it. This is an easy, if unexciting listen. It's pretty much just your standard Motown but the first few tracks are actually have a psychedelic soul sound and they're the best tracks! A whole album of that would have been much better than the pop soul that the majority of this ended up being. It's just not really my thing although I did resist the temptation to skip any track.

ICONIC, I think they set the bar for this genre. I have never taken the time to listen to them. I quite like the mixing, and they sound great together. 4/5 Great album, great vibes

This was great!

A classic, fun and retro. Oldies as oldies get

Just by looking through their profile and catalogue, I'm expecting a huge mood shidt from the last few albums. Not complaining though. Oh hell yeah, the title track is immediately a stand-out. Lots of fun. Same thing can be said for the second track. I swear if I wasn't bed-ridden I'd be tearing it uuuppp on the dancefloor. Runaway Child is a giant, it does not quit until you are dancing along with it! Next few songs are more soul than blues dance, but still a lot of fun. And that same kind of mood keeps going until the end. This is the kind of music that you just can't help but smile and tap your foot along to. Could never give it a bad rating, even if it does get repetitive after a while. While the first three tracks are by far my favourite, there isn't a single bad song here.

Never knew that I'd like progressive soul before.

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

Short but sweet. I liked it but didn’t love it!

It's fine, not my thing though

Pretty good, I’d listen to it again

Really well rounded and accomplished for this style of music. Perhaps not as catchy as some soul hits, but more substance too them.

I've had it for many years, good to hear it again, not their best album by any means.

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.

I'm not surprised this was a polarizing album. People probably expected more "My Girl" from the Temptations instead of psychedelic soul message songs, but those are definitely the best part of this album. When they segue into the love songs, it gets repetitious and tedious.

Cloud Nine marks a clear turning point for The Temptations, as they stepped away from the polished Motown sound they were known for and embraced a more psychedelic, socially aware direction. This was their first album with producer Norman Whitfield leading them into funkier, edgier territory, clearly inspired by Sly and the Family Stone. The title track, “Cloud Nine,” sets the tone immediately — gritty, rhythmic, and layered with group vocals that feel far more raw and urgent than their earlier hits. While the shift is bold and interesting, the album as a whole doesn’t always maintain that same energy. Some tracks, like “Run Away Child, Running Wild,” push the boundaries with long instrumental breaks and darker lyrical themes, but others fall back into more traditional soul territory, making the album feel a bit uneven. The experimentation is admirable and historically important, but not every risk pays off musically

Can't go wrong with the Temptations

Solid

Great album

The first song starts off super strong, but I feel like it drops off from there. I love a lot of the things that came after (and because) of this album, but the source material itself unfortunately isn’t my favorite. 3 stars.

A significant album in the discography of The Temptations, "Cloud Nine" also demonstrates a generally shift away from traditional Mo Town music into more psychedelic soul and funk, pioneered by Sly and the Family Stone. The first side is joyful, bold and free, celebrating a break from their previous formula that brought such hits as "My Girl". Unfortunately, the second side plays it too safe, sticking to their previous sound without much to really write home about. Despite that, the first side is incredible even if it's only 3 songs. The 9 minute "Runaway Child, Running Wild" is the easy highlight here, combining a radio friendly funk single with an extended jam outro that sounds great all the way through. Overall, this album marks the beginning of a new phase for a band that was at risk of running their course. It's a shame this era is less well known as they made some great songs here.

I can listen to older R&B any day of the week, and The Temptations are an amazing example of why. Not their best album, but it's like pizza...even the not best is still incredible. Title track on this album seems to be the favorite, and it was a wonderful example of triumphing over adversity. Need more Motown on my list stat!

Pretty much as it says on the tin. It's The Temptations. Good soul music. I don't know where the "psychedelic" comes on though, except Runaway Child drags on a bit. But all in all a pleasant listen.

An interesting and funky first half, but the second half gets really schmaltzy and I got bored.

Apparently this album marked the beginning of a new funkier direction for the Temptations. But it's not the most interesting funk direction. It's not bad...

Ok, varied. Easy listening. Maybe not in the mood 3.3 (Listened two times).

Not bad, enjoyed listening to these Motown legends

Sometimes it sounds like exactly what it is, the evolution of Motown to funk. But then it just doesn’t live up to that lofty reputation. Why is this the least soulful version of Grapevine I’ve heard?

Я точно слушал, но лучше всего я помню песню Марвина Гея. Лучшая песня - Cloud Nine.

Álbum interesante por los temas que toca.

Pleasant

Loved this. You seen the band shifting and adapting to the times. Classic Temptations, but with a sound reflective of the moment.

Cloud Nine is one of those discoveries that will last. At its funkiest the temptations straight up deserve a five star rating. The track Runaway Child, Runaway Wild is a heavenly masterpiece. Only issue is the second half of the album being not as poignant as the first.

Fantastic. Such memories. It back in my playlist

Svag motown. Var är hitsen?!?! Ok sound men trött och sång stundtals svajjig. Inte tillräckligt psykedeliskt heller om det var dit de ville. Tog sig lite på slutet Lyssna igen: nej Bästa spår: i gotta find a way Don’t let him take your love from me Betyg: d - 4 av 10 (2 av 5) Dw - 3 av 10 (2 av 5)

Digging the Motown sound

#656. I think maybe this is one of those things you would have had to be there to get it. It's probably better in context. Because I can see that it's good, but I just don't really care, if that makes any sense. 3/5: solid

Love the baritone Fun and funky

Good album, interesting to hear their shift in sound from the more mellow style of "My Girl" to a more funk sound with songs like I Gotta Find a Way and Cloud Nine. Thoroughly enjoyed Cloud Nine, I Gotta Find A Way, Runaway Child, Running Wild.

Enjoyed the variety and rhythm.

Deserves to be on the list. It was great/fantastic

Good. Groovy. Funky. Really no complaints.

this was not what I expected from a Temptations album-still have solid harmonies but the additional funk vibe was a welcome surprise

Gillade verkligen detta, funkigt, härligt, bra vibes, Cloud nine är en jättebra låt. Också kul att jag upptäckte att Håkan Hellströms låt Augusti i helvetet var från deras låt Dont let him take your love away

Bien. Est-ce que je vais réécouter ? Je ne pense pas.

okee

Banging - wall to wall jammer. Perfect friday album.

excellent album - easy listening with the excellent harmonies, soul, & raw vocal talent you’d expect from the temptations. struggled between giving this a 4 or a 5. i think i’ll come back to this album, but ultimately i feel like none of the tracks hooked themself into my brain a la “my girl”, etc. maybe that’s not the fairest comparison, but leaving this album without any tunes stuck in my head makes me want to give it a 4. maybe that will change on subsequent relistens.

Really fun album, always love Motown groups. It was nice getting more familiar with the Temptations. Not every song hit me the same way and can't say I'm a fan of listening to a child cry which was off-putting but a great album to put on in the background.

yaaaaaayyyyy

id' get nasty to this

Beautiful

You can definitely hear the Sly and tHe family stone influence and it gave this talented vocal group a new lease of life. There's some really cool floor fillers on this album

Cloud 10 hombre tunes.

Hard to not love the Temptations. I prefer the funkier stuff, and 'Heard it through the grapevine' somehow jarred a little but otherwise solid and reliable

First impression: Barrett Strong was a hell of a song writer. I love this slinky funky shit. Wikipedia says this was a response to the strength of power of Sly Stone's brand of psychedelic soul, and it does have a lot of that in it. It's a shame this is the music industry's response to copy a thing rather than someone making an expression of their own. Final impression: Maybe a bit sentimental, maybe cynical, but I still like the tunes.

I did not like their cover of Heard It Through The Grapevine. The rest of the album was decent mix of funk and soul.

Would you say you are on cloud 5 stars?

⭐︎3.5 モータウンの代表グループらしい。 サイケっぽさもある。一曲だけ気になる曲があった。気になる曲二曲かと思ったら、長尺の一曲だった。 子供が母親の声を呼ぶ声が印象的な曲だった。

upbeat af

It’s fine, don’t really have a lot to say about it. Standard Temptations fare.

Easy listening, not too exciting

This album was okay but certainly not the best of the Temptations in my opinion. 3 stars or C.

I liked soul in the 60s and 70s. Singles were good, great sometimes. But albums never worked.

Fun album. Not completely my style but enjoyable and upbeat

Hell yeah brother

A solid but very by-the-numbers soul album.

Cuando los eternos romanticones se politizan. Nueve álbumes tuvieron que pasar para que The Temptations se la empezaran a jugar. Después de estar cómodos con su fórmula de cantar canciones romanticonas como My Girl, trajeados y con coreografías aceitadísimas, el líder de facto Otis Williams enloquece con el sonido de Sly and the Family Stone, y Norman Whitfield lo segundea en cumplirle el caprichito. El resultado Cloud Nine. No se ilusionen demasiado con el carácter político: son apenas dos temas de los siete que tiene. Lo que sí proponen es romper con la figura tradicional del lead singer para empezar a “sortear” quién canta qué antes de entrar al estudio. Una guitarra wah-wah, un poco de gospel, y el llanto de un nene en medio de una epopeya de 9 minutos... y te sale el disco más transgresor de los muchachos tentadores. Se llevan su primer Grammy a casa, chochos, después de jugársela con todo en Run Away Child, Running Wild y Cloud Nine. ¿Cómo puede ser que estos mismos tipos canten sobre el consumo de drogas derivado de la pobreza, sobre ser negro en EE.UU., la alienación social y la presión urbana... y al mismo tiempo te tiren un I Need Your Loving? Y quizás eso sea lo más interesante del disco: hay veces que hay que romper con los espejitos de colores y dejarse tentar por politizar el amor.

Really good. 3/5

Motown sound. Another great genre. Some great songs by many well known groups such at The Temptations. A great rendition of I Heard it Through the Grapevine.

Classic Motown is always fun, and this was no exception. A good listen to boot.

Funky upbeat! 7/10

it was pretty good, but i wished it had more otis

OMFGGGGGGGG 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 i have a natural bias towards them cause my dad loves them

Pretty neat, but not too crazy. Well deserved 3/5 stars. I like this style of soul music. Favorite Track: Runaway Child, Running Wild

Some cool stuff going on here but don’t know that I really love these songs

3/6

Very good loved the vibe made me feel alive

This was 🔥

Hell yeah. Didn’t know the Temptations did grooves like that. Into it!

Yeah not really into kids screaming "I want my momma" in the middle of a MoTown song... Plus the Grapevine cover was real bad. The rest were fine.

Nice, but didn't grab me

I love The Temptations in their motown era, but this was fun and groovy.

My favorite Temptations songs aren’t on this Album. Good evening background music, but actively listening to it nothing stands out much.

so warm, so lovely, makes me want to do stuff just for the sake of it, amazing

Enjoyed this mix of sounds on this album!

Could I replace 70% of the Britslop on this list with soul music from Detroit? Just a little bit psychedelic (I genuinely wouldn't have noticed without a little research) and all the way soul. I'm not a Motown expert, but it has never, ever let me down. How do you run a male vocal group centred on five-part harmonies without devolving into cheese? I have no idea, but this is that. The Temptations were cool as hell, the vocal performances are excellent and the whole album cooks through its 35-minute length. After a week of 1001 Albums giving me self-indulgent tripe from dudes who thought they could fill more than an hour with their ideas, Cloud Nine was like diving into a pool on a hot day. The backing band -- which I'm fairly sure is Motown's legendary Funk Brothers -- could play anything and I'd listen to it. This is the drum sound that everything should be held up to. Put these guys on stage at a middle school talent show and they'd make anybody in front of them look stellar -- and in this case, The Temptations don't really need help. Notably, this record has several extended instrumental sections where they just let the Brothers cook and it's an absolute joy ('Runaway Child, Running Wild' is 9:36 in length, more that a quarter of the runtime of this LP, and you might not notice -- it's just a full-on groove). I don't give out many 5's, and that continues here. This is a 4/5 album; it doesn't change how I look at music. It does reinforce every positive notion I have about Motown and everyone involved. Absolutely worth listening to before you shuffle off this mortal coil.

Simply lovely! This was a fun surprise and I loved the groove.

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

1/2 Funky Soul Music + 1/2 Baby Making Music = Banger

Detta är mer min sylt, får kanske ett överbetyg men jag blir glad när jag lyssnar på det.

The tagline that this is the introduction of the psychedelic soul genre is stronger than the sound of this album being the birth of psychedelic soul. Three stars for the A-side.

I really loved this album. Even the songs on this album that have sad topics are really upbeat and positive to the point where they sound joyous. That’s actually the best way to describe this album, it’s really just trying to be a great time. This would be an ideal album to put on when people are over and wanna have a festive atmosphere. Honestly for that alone it should a be a classic. The only negative I can say is that the cover is pretty boring and that there’s not a dramatic amount of variety in sounds. But that’s a pretty great problem to have when the only issues an album has is the cover and alittle variety. People used to really revere bands that had a good established sound that you don’t deviate from (ie. Kiss is basically the greatest example of fans loving one particular sound). Seriously though super fun enjoyable album.

7/10 This feels like a big transition album looking back to the Motown of old on the second side, but working with the fresh new sounds that Sly Stone was introducing on the first side. The grit and funk on Cloud Nine and Runaway Child is just fantastic, and the grooves just drive. I think as an album, its beneficial to look at this one as a record with two sides as they are very different to one another, but it was perhaps a bold choice to order the sides the way they did, as old school Temptations fans may not have got on board with side one, but for me it really works. The second half is more trad Motown sound, and they are very good at it, despite the fact that it doesn’t really break new ground in the way that the first half did. I was toe tapping, finger clicking and head bobbing my way through it all and, although it lulled a little in the later tracks, really came together again for the closer. Cloud Nine - This is a great tune, really leans into the psychedelic funk side of things and makes me think of Funkadelic, Sly Stone and that type of music that was starting to emerge at the time, rather than the more traditional Motown sound. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - A Motown classic. Not my favourite version, but the doo-wop swing on the vocal is great. It definitely has its own feel and sounds like they’re having a lot of fun. Runaway Child, Running Wild - Back to the more dirty funk side of things, this is just great. There’s plenty going on and it evolves through its runtime into so many different areas and pushes and pulls so nicely without ever loosing the thread of the groove, whether through the half with vocals, or the instrumental half. Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing - This takes us back to some more traditional Temptations fare. It’s still great, of course, just not quite as energetic and exciting as side one. Hey Girl - This is smooth. I love the way they’re able to rotate lead vocal duties between songs to give a different flavour across an album. Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go) - This swings so nicely and is a proper finger clicker. The lead vocal on this is SO good. Love it. I Need Your Lovin’ - Another great track. A bit more low-key, but it just grooves. Great harmonies and the way the backing vocals intermingle with the lead is just lovely. Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me - There’s something very James Brown about this vocal. It’s perhaps one of the weaker songs on the album as it doesn’t do anything too interesting, but it’s by no means bad, just not as good as what came before. I Gotta Find A Way To Get You Back - Lovely grit to the vocal here, and it’s got a nice drive to it. It’s another good track, but not one of the top rankers. Gonna Keep On Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love - Closing the album in style. This is great. That strolling bass line is fantastic, the horns do some lovely little things and the vocals are just excellent, both lead and backing.

Quite the sound. And so many bops.

Vibes vibes vibes vibes VIBES VIBES VIBES VIBES VIBES VIBESVIBESVIBESVIBESVIBES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

groovy and fine

Loved the funkier aspects, but didn’t make waves throughout. Stronger first half. Faves: Cloud Nine; Runaway Child, Running Wild; Hey Girl. Pop/Soul/Funk. February 17, 1969. American/English. 10 tracks. 34:35 runtime.

Side 1 is great. I'm really not sure if I like Funk, or if I just like The Temptations doing it. It was also nice hearing a cover of I Heard it Through the Grapevine that wasn't trying to sound like Marvin Gaye. 5/5 Side 2 is standard Motown soul. Nothing wrong with it, and The Temptations are definitely near or at the top of my list of favorite Motown acts, but as a genre, it's not something I listen to often. 3.5/5.

Phew

This was awesome to listen to, the mix is actually quite impressive given the year.

Barry Gordy was so lazy. All these Motown groups and artists just ran through the same songs over and over again. Marvin Gaye killed I Heard It Through the Grapevine...this version pales in comparison. This album is better than I anticipated. Eddie Kendricks' voice is annoying as hell, he's the Soul Music Frankie Valli. I think I'm just not a fan of Motown soul. It feels over produced or too formulaic or something.

2/3

absolute banger

Starts strong then slowly becomes kind of unremarkable. Favourite Song: Runaway Child, Running Wild

Nothing is really standing out to me on this one other than the first song.

I didn’t know a single song on this album but it still cooks.

A truly soulful and funky album

Solid record. As always The Tempations are a class act. Cloud Nine the track is a belter. Feel the record takes its foot off the gas towards the end

The funk and psychedelic-leaning tracks are stronger than the straight-Motown tracks. Their voices are consistently lovely. The sound of a group moving forward.

No es mi estilo pero no estuvo mal

So smooth and gracious. Great Motown sounds. 4/5

Classic soul.

Yeah it was good. Funky and soulful. Clearly quite an influential release by the band and I can hear why.

Favorite: Runaway Child, Running Wild

3.5

Cool

Not a genre I desire to listen to, but its a very good album.

Yessirrrrr. Nothing too standout but harmonies rule

A little underwhelming tbh! I love me some soul but this felt less interesting than the CD I bought in San Fran in terms of soul music…

Started off great with the first three songs being very different from the typical. Rest of the album was more like the usual Temptations fare but also really good.

3 estrelas

When you can listen to music written a lifetime ago and the power and validity of the music and lyrics are still in full force there you know you have a classic. That said, not every track hits.

Good!

I'm pretty neutral on this one. I love the style and the temptations in general, but it started grating on me after a while.

There is no doubt you’re listening to the Temptations. But make no mistake, this is not your parents Temptations. It is 1969, the Summer of Love after all. These Temptations are heading down a harder, funkier path. A few of the songs, in the title track, sound like they could be from a mid 70’s blaxploitation film. Don’t worry, there are enough classic Temptation's songs in there too.

Slayed chris is here so no long review

and i was tempted

A wonderful classic album. Feel good for any time

Aikas groovy intro. Vähä liian öäh mikäköhän tää genre nyt sit onkaan mulle. Mut jos tykkäsin tästä genrestä ni tykkäisin :D ehkä lämpenen tälle. Kyl tää menee mut not my favourite

Interesting album. Weird version of a Motown classic

Very easy listening. Pretty outstanding album.

The Temptations classic soul meets Sly & the family stone type of groove. I enjoyed it. Probably 3,5 star album, but maybe more leaning towards 3 than 4.

I was relatively sure that I would fancy this album, but I was partly wrong. I did like this but in the same time this didn't rise to level I expected, not even close.

I love soul, old school r'n'b and Motown/Stax sound, but was very surprised how unpolished this album sounded. I'm probably more familiar with Temptations latter sound or something, because these felt stripped down and basic.

finally a record that i was hoping to pull. Isley Brothers are my favorite, but Temptations are one of the most important Motown groups to ever exist. album 9 in 1969 shows just how much material and experience these guys have at that moment. breaking the crest of the 60's with a bold title of Cloud Nine. it starts with power and energy and never lets up. giving a great cross section of this time in America. this record is them on top of their game. i had more but it got erased. essentially this is a short but concise record that has a huge impact for what a drastic direction change this group was making. 4/5

Luistert lekker weg

Goes hard.

Um lindo presente em uma manhã chuvosa de segunda feira. Extremamente agradável e cativante. Acho que sou a minoria quando digo que prefiro as faixas mais tradicionais do som Motown nesse álbum do que as faixas mais infusas com o toque Funk. Pelo menos é a impressão que tenho lendo as reviews! Um ótimo disco, mas não me vejo colocando ele pra rodar com alguma frequência. As faixas nele? Claro, adicionei grande parte delas na minha playlist. Mas o álbum em si, como um todo, não tem tanto valor de replay assim. 3/5

Does a lot of interesting things, but the sound isn’t for me.

Beautiful voices but this was bland The equivalent to having soggy biscuits in your tea 3 ⭐️

Smooth all the way through. But nothing made me hit repeat so a solid 3 star.

we grew up listening to the Temptations, I feel kind of bad saying I wasn't blown away by this record but what do I know - they are fundamental and essential listening for sure, just not my favorite album

Some classics, but this one doesn’t speak to me as much as others in this genre.

A tale of two sides of a band. The three songs that lead off the album - especially the title track and Runaway Child - break the mold. There's a real charge to start thing off before the album settles I to pedestrian fare that they and other have done better. But the first three tracks warrant it's inclusio on this list if they fall short of elevating the album yo truly classic status. And the house band is smoking throughout.

Een gezellig potje klassieke soul uit de stal van Motown. Altijd leuk natuurlijk. De verleiding is groot om hier de volle punten aan te geven, maar daarvoor moet er eigenlijk wel iets op staan waarvan je echt uit je stoel opveert. En tja, dit album biedt constante kwaliteit, maar meer ook niet. En die cover van I heard it through the grapevine mist de energie die we van andere versies kennen.

Eerder kregen we All directions met Papa was a rollin' stone. Hier veroorzaakte met name de hit een dikke 4. Nu een album zonder zo'n hit. (Of heeft Cloud 9, met ook zo'n aanstekelijke baslijn, hogere ogen gegooid dan in mijn beleving?) Ik merk al snel dat ik die hit nodig heb. Ook omdat Papa was a rollin' prachtig is opgebouwd. Het lijkt er op dat Runaway Child bedoeld was als de troef met de langere uitgewerkte compositie. Maar dat nummer doet mij weinig. En dat huilende kind helpt mij niet om er wel in te komen. Dit album biedt verder weinig wat mij bij zou blijven. Het voelt soms zelfs saai en ouderwets. Maar dit album is ook een paar jaar eerder gemaakt dan All Directions. Dus wellicht waren ze, met dit negende album, gewoon nog niet zo ver? Of hebben ze gewoon te veel albums gemaakt? Want als je meer dan 40 albums aflevert, dan heb je waarschijnlijk geen selectie gemaakt...

We kregen al eerder het album met Papa was een Rollende Steen en dit biedt wederom een verzameling funky soulnummers. Lekker uptempo, het swingt, je wordt er vrolijk van. Toen twijfelde ik door wat langzamere meuk en het eigenlijk iets te lang uitgesponnen Papa aan de 4, die ik wel gaf. Nu heb ik er minder moeite mee. Lekker weer een vrolijke 4. Prima plaatje, dat ik best nog een keer op kan zetten (ook al doe ik dat waarschijnlijk niet, omdat het wel iets aan de gedateerde kant is).

Really solid album, always loved this genre of music. Anyways excited to hear more of this kind of music, heard a few hits that were fun. Love if this came on at some point on.

Ate my review, but this is fine. The Temptations are obviously great, and every song is above par, but nothing makes this explode. It's a neat mix of funk and motown, but ultimately kind of forgettable? Never mad to put it on, will almost never feel the need to.

Half of this felt like a 60-70s Blacksplotation soundtrack. It was good, just...funky

This feels really reminiscent of Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul. Ironically both released in the same year, I wouldn't be surprised if they were recorded in the same studio. The guitarwork, drums, and general instrumentals sound near identical. The guitar distortion sounds EXACTLY the same. That is not a bad thing, I love Hot Buttered Soul - and I like this too. Nothing here particularly stood out to me that is worthy of a mention, but I really enjoyed listening to this start to finish. The easy listening length time didn't hurt either. I feel like this record would be best enjoyed on vinyl, outside on a Sunday afternoon with a glass of wine, roast in the oven, and some friends. Favourite: Why Did She Have To Leave Me

Perhaps due to some really strong competition in the soul genre on this list, I just didn’t find myself getting as engrossed in this one as I have with others. I wanted to find something that I really engaged with here and was gutted when I got to a track that I was enjoying more than the rest only to find that the album had actually finished this album and Spotify had moved me on to different songs from the band

Incredible vocals throughout this album, bass singers like this fella are always a treat. Instrumentals never missed the mark. Wasn't a great deal of variety in sound and styles. Pretty wild to have an almost 10-minute track, in an album of otherwise exclusively 2:30 to 3:30 minute songs. Favourites: Cloud Nine, Hey Girl, Runaway Child Running Wild

An interesting genre of black music, presumably made for a contemporary black audience, which is now probably only listened to by extremely elderly black people and white dorks (me).

Look i I've listened to this album like 3 times now and each time I've taken notes by hand and then lost them so this is what you get. 7/10

This feels like two albums. Side A is well crafted: Cloud Nine is a great opener and a fantastic track (albeit with some weird production value, the vocalist sounds like he is moving away from the mic at times), I Heard It Through the Grapevine is fine but Marvin did it best sorry fellas. Run Away Child, Running Wild is a cool jam until they got a crying child which really threw me off, but that doesn't stop this from being a really solid track. Side B is filled with shorter songs that are definitely here as a backup in case the band's venture into psychedelia didn't pay off. I'm sure this side would have hit hard in 1969 (or maybe not idk) but to me, these are very serviceable pop songs that I am struggling to recall to memory after three listens. One great side, one side of background music and tastefully short. Highlights: Cloud Nine, Run Away Child, Running Wild

funk just rocks

Enjoyed the first 4 songs more than the second four. I can appreciate this album for what it is and the era it reflects but not really something I’d listen to ever again.

3.5

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

I mean, it's alright. Worth a relisten but not something I'd go back to readily.

First listen

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.

Decent soul album. Has its highs and lows. “Runaway Child” was an upsetting listen, but I loved “Why did she have to leave me.” The falsetto lead songs were a little grating and out of key at times. Not bad, not amazing.

Dig the jam at the end of Runaway Child. Guitar tone on Gotta Find A Way is nice. The album was 35 minutes long and I was glad that it wasn’t any longer. Obviously solid tones and music but in general I only really enjoyed parts of each song. Great tones and musicianship.