Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Not the best temptations albums
Ik was op de hoogte van The Temptations' transformatie van een classic soul ensemble naar psychedelische contreien. Wat ik niet wist - maar wat me totaal niets verbaasd - is dat dit vooral kwam doordat ze hoorden en zagen dat opperbaas Sly met zijn revolutionaire, progressieve sound het volk voor zich won. Dit schijnt het eerste album te zijn die echt een andere weg in slaat, al is later werk van ze in dit straatje bekender bij mij. Met het hele verhaal erbij, en de staat van dienst van de groep, had ik er toch eerlijk gezegd iets meer van verwacht. Het is funky, de dynamiek is als van ouds, maar echt heel veel experimentele vernuftigheden hoor ik nou ook weer niet. Gewoon een prima soul plaat, maar overstijgt het genre niet, zoals ik dat wel enigszins had gehoopt. 6,5/10 Highlights: Cloud Nine Runaway Child, Running Wild
Temptations staan altijd hoog op mijn lijstje van favoriete soul-artiesten. Cloud Nine stelt dan ook niet teleur. Het is funky en houd van de variatie in zang en zangers. Gewoon goed. 7/10 Highlights Why Did She Have To Leave Me
Nice album by a great band.
Great record
hideous cover
It is said this was the Temptation’s first foray into psychedelic soul. I am very happy they did. I loved this album and enjoyed all the music, harmonies, and lyrics. Well worth many more listens!
I've always been a fan of 60s and 70s soul music. Particularly the Motown and Stax catalogues. I hadn't heard this one all the way through, but knew several of the individual songs. A solid album - the first after the departure of the legendary David Ruffin, and the first to venture into psychedelic soul. Enjoyed the whole album, but I'm hoping we get another one at some point, as I really like both their earlier "classic 5" era, and their later, more psychedelic era. This one was more of a bridge between the two.
This was fun, started off strong then started to fade a bit. But do we really need another version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"?
Started out strong with the funk vibe I wasn’t expecting, but then got a little samey for the last 2/3.
Very danceable. I enjoyed listening to this a lot but wouldn't reach for this to listen to again, just because I'm not so into the genre
Standouts Cloud Nine
Me gusto, algunas canciones las noto algo monótonas o muy parecidas a las demás, pero esta bien
4/5 Unbeatable vocals, beautiful songs. Nothing more uplifting than the temps. Top 3 Songs: Love is a hurtin’ thing Runaway Child, Running Wild I heard it through the grapevine
Highlight Song/s: Why Did She Have To Leave and I Need Your Lovin' I am relatively new to Motown music, so it's been a little hard to get into. But It gets better and better every time I listen to a new Motown album. The second half is definitely a lot better than the first and it really does redeem the album. So soothing, Amazing vocals, Great basslines, good horn sections and really melodic. Good Album.
An easy four stars. This kind of music is a balm after some rough albums. How anyone could prefer The Beach Boys *Surf's Up* to this is beyond me, but diff strokes diff folks, as Sly says. Not five stars b'c it's not that peak early Temptations that we all adore - we ALL, damnit. But they're trying something new here, and it mostly works. In fact, listening adjacent to *Surf's Up* is appropriate, as in both cases you're seeing an established (and more musically conservative) group try new things, both musically and politically. The Temptations land it beautifully. By comparison, The Beach Boys are lost at sea.
Knew almost all the songs, but never listened to this album. This is why I'm part of this service. Thank you.
6/10 Nice tight album. Maybe missing some big tracks that really grabbed me, but I loved the second half of really solid Motown. Not the biggest fan of their cover of Heard it through the Grapevine. And not happy about the track with a baby crying. Don't do it! It's horrible. Lost a mark for that.
Let me start by saying the child-like voice exclaiming “I want my mama” on Runaway Child, Running Wild scared the crap out of me as I sat alone in my house with this on in the background. I guess I did not realize The Temptations recorded music after dosing. There are some very psychedelic sounding songs on here. Those actually make this album sound like many others of the day. They threw in some soul music too, but the trippy songs took away from the overall listening experience.
Not a fan. Heard It Through the Grapevine, not a personal favorite, was brisk and forgettable. Hey Girl is a pale imitation of recordings by Billy Joel and Freddie Scott. I found the second have to be standard Motown faire with little innovation or spark. I don’t find this album to be revolutionary.
good
Listening on headset, and it's super annoying to have the drums hard panned to the right. What a dumb choice. The music is fun, but the panning ruins it
Quality songs, very cool.
Not great but still good funk (is there bad funk?). There are better versions of I Heard It Through The Grape Vine, but I feel like this is the original
Cloud nine was a great song. Good lyrics but it was a bit slow for me. I like the faster, upbeat soul/funk
Not really my thing. Not horrible though.
All the Temptations albums sound pretty much the same, but they declined over time.
Our psych record has precisely on psych song
i really liked this! since i’m catching up i’m not spending too much time reviewing/taking notes on my albums. however, i knew after the opener that this would be a great set of tracks. super groovy and funky. peak for sure. 5/5.
Classic, just not mine
Great! Didnt expect it to be as funky and finger snappy as it was
Some funk early on, some motown soul later, something for everyone. Their version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" lags far behind Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & The Pips and even Creedence Clearwater Revivals versions though.
S'ok, but not really my thing
How have I never heard of this. Funky AF for the first three then drops down to traditional Motown. Good anyhow.
good
Them streets are rough, no doubt … all seems like a grind. So yeah, where is Cloud Nine?
These fellas have a lot of trouble in their relationships.
I love oldies like this. Great album, lots of meaning and feelings are in this.
nice funky songs. nice orchestrations and vocal harmonies. Just sad that the songs are really repetitive in the themes and rhythms. 6,5/10 fav songs : Don't Let him take your love from me & I heard it through the grapevine
Nothing great
First three songs - funky, dancing around the house doing chores. This is great! The rest of the album didn't maintain the funk - nice, but more lovey-dovey Motown grooves that felt more dated.
I enjoyed some of these, but as the album went on, I enjoyed the totality less.
Just ok.
Würde ich wahrscheinlich nicht in meiner Freizeit anhören, aber sehr funkig über 50 Jahre alt, man merkt es am Sound, aber musikalische Ideen sind viel moderner einmal hören reicht nicht, aber ich will irgendwie kein zweites mal hören ich bin jetzt irgendwie mehr drin in der musik gefällt mir doch irgendwie sehr schöne stimmen wow
Whoever wrote these songs had some relationship issues.
Kind of went in one ear and out the other
3/5 best song cloud nine
Absolutely fantastic. Surprised I haven't heard it before. A joy the whole way through. Best: Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me Worst: Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)
Quite unremarkable, no really standout tracks. Forgotten almost all of them instantly. It's groovey and consistent, but lack any tight hooks. Best song: Cloud Nine Worst song: Love Is a Hurtin' Thing Cover check: Trippy and cool, fits the vibe very well
Cloud Nine" is the ninth studio album by American musical group the Temptations. Progressive soul and pyschedelic soul are the Wiki-listed genres. Yeah and this album is nearly split in half with those two genres. They recorded this album for the Gordy (Motown) label. The album marked a turning point in the group's career as it's to first to feature vocalist Dennis Edward's as a replacement for David Ruffin who was fired for drug use and it began their delve into psychedelic soul under the direction of producer Norman Whitfield who was convinced by member Otis Wilson they should follow the style of Sly & the Family Stone. The bandmembers, all vocalists, included Edwards (tenor/baritone), Wilson (2nd tenor), Eddie Kendricks (tenor/falsetto), Paul Williams (baritone) and Melvin Franklin (bass). The album polarized fans but proved successful reaching #4 in the US and #32 in the UK. Drums and a wah-wah guitar open "Cloud Nine." Forceful vocals with Edwards, Kendricks and Williams taking lead vocals. Driving guitar and beats. Mostly interpreted as a song about the best way to deal with the problems of being poor and Black was to ride Cloud Nine (do drugs). They're pretty good at this pyschedelic soul thing. An organ. More wah-wah guitars and hard-hitting drums with hi-hat are the instruments of choice in the first half of "Run Away Child, Running Wild." Doo-wop backing vocals in a song about a lost runaway. Midway through the song, it goes straight pyschedelic instrumental jam highlighted by a droning organ fade out. On side two, the group takes an about face and returns to their earlier soulful roots. "Love is a Hurtin' Thing is a short soulful ballad. Horns and an added flute. Congas are added to "I Need Your Lovin.'" Kendricks using his falsetto and great backing vocals. The band picks up the tempo in "I Got to Find a Way (To Get You Back)." A horn and string intro. Edward's on lead vocals. This is an album split into two parts with the first side their pyschedelic soul exploration with harder edge guitars and drums, longer jams and more serious lyrics and the second side staying the course with soulful and romantic ballads. Each great in their own respect. The backing band and instrumentation was excellent. And, of course, the vocals were outstanding. They would continue on the pyschedelic soul track. This album marks their transition into that realm and contrasts it with their straight soulful side. An very good album.
Not for me
I was curious about the Temptations move to psychedelic soul, but ended up being a little underwhelmed. I don't think the Band wrote any/many of the songs so it doesn't really come across as a natural progression, more like a Whitfield producer project. Also the mix of older Motown and the newer material as they transitioned on this album was a bit odd.
Well that was fun. Had no idea that this era of their work was so funky. Almost Clintonesque in parts
Ground-breaking psychedelic soul, joy and darkness combined
not a genre of music I personally enjoy. I can see how it is an influential album, but there were no songs that stood out to me.
Motown was amazing. Really, no notes. Just not enough of the hits.
Breezy listening
Different than what I was expecting from The Temptations, but I like it.
Thought I'd enjoy this far more than I actually did :(
The Temptations are one of the pillars of Motown and one of my favorite groups from the that classic Motown era. They put out so many great songs and this album is absolutely stunning. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-cloud-nine-by-the-temptations?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
The Temptations - Cloud Nine (A8, V7.5)
Not bad
Nice motown sound 3/5
A beautiful album that bridges Motown and funk. I much prefer the A-side but solid all-around.
A style of music very much of its time. I can totally understand why they were a big band, as they did what they do extremely well. It's really my sort of thing, but I'd be happy enough to have any track appear on a various album. Got to be a 3
Very enjoyable listen. Are these as good as anything in this genre? I reckon they might be!
If stuff like this comes up I enjoy it at the time, then I instantly forget about it. It's very good for what it is, but just not my everyday listen.
4,5 O álbum começa com uma pedrada e depois dela se rola ladeira ACIMA! Amei!
Bueno
Listened Before? N Interesting sound from the Temptations and a piece of their history I was unaware of. Not really my style of music but still interesting. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Cloud Nine
Solid album. Listening with headphones was a little harder because of the panning of instruments to a single ear (drums exclusively on the right, guitar exclusively on the left, etc.) but on speakers it won't be an issue. It is a good recording detail to seat you in the middle of the whole group, but it is jarring for the whole album to be set that way. Song standout for me was Runaway Child, Running Wild. A nine minute and thirty seven second track, pretty long in an era of singles and hit chases, while being a striking warning to not take what you have for granted by illustrating runaway regret. The usage of wailing was chilling and impactful, it'll leave a stronger impression than the majority of love songs on the album.
Groovy, enjoyed it quite a bit. We'll conveniently ignore the fact that it has one of the worst versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" I've come across.
Boring
The Temptations are solid. Cloud Nine is a great funky soul album. It starts off upbeat and really gets you going. This album has a lot: up-tempo beats, some slower ballads, etc. so some good variation. I appreciate The Temptations for putting their 9.5 minute long "Runaway Child, Running Wild" track, which is largely instrumental, up at the front of the track listing. Many bands put their "freeform" solo stuff towards the end of an album when the vibe is running thin, so I enjoyed it hitting earlier in the experience and I liked it better for that. All the other songs are pretty short and keep the album moving so the pacing was good, although I think it suffers from some "samey" songs in the back half (I will say this about a lot of albums). Standouts were "Cloud Nine," and "I Need Your Lovin'." Overall, the album is good. I had some issues with the mixing at points and some of the lyrics weren't coming through very well. It's light and easy to listen to. A solid effort, though nothing earth shattering for me. I've been trying to find that funk/soul album that really makes me go "Oh yeah, I get it now" and I had high hopes for this one, but it didn't quite get there. I'd still call this a pretty strong average 3/5 on my scale.
Obviously very influential. A classic that makes me move my head. Don’t know that I would put it on repeat though. Solid 3, would go 3.5
Very solid but no major standouts. Feel like I can't put less than a 4 though.
good stuff
There’s no doubt some fantastic Motown songs but scattered across several artists. This album was a bit of a departure from the usual sound and sometimes benefitted from that. Would I listen again , perhaps after lots of others first
Quite enjoyable listen.
An example of a temptation would have been to support Man City in the FA Cup final so that extra EUROPA space was available via the league. I resisted that temptation and kept my soul in place! This album has funk and seems to me a good example of the genre. I got bored as the album went on but resisted the temptation to skip tracks.
Much like the other album of theirs on here. Starts off funky as hell and you think you’re onto a winner (loved Runnaway child, the drum recording was incredible), and then it descends into average soul and Motown standards about (delete as appropriate) losing/missing/regaining your girl. More funk lads, that’s the good stuff!
The Temptations aren't really an album artist but they're still classic. Favorite track: Cloud Nine
7/10…motown / 60 soul
Love the sound here, true soul. Inspired so many other legendary acts. 7.2/10
Not my favorite Temptations album but it's still the Temps
It's difficult to give Motown, let alone The Temptations, below a 4 or 5. They all interwove their huge range of voices so seamlessly. This is after they removed the talented but very abusive and troubled David Ruffin (he is mostly responsible for Tami Terrell's death, the young duet partner and friend to Marvin Gaye). 1969 was a huge transition year in many different ways, and it was musically for The Temptations as well. They start sprinkling in the funk/rock in this album and began to really think about what kind of message and music they want to put out there. I'm not super fond of the long "Runaway Child" but I can hear the seeds planted for some of my favorite Temptations, like "Ball of Confusion" and the masterpiece "Papa was a Rollin' Stone", so I appreciate the album as a stepping stone to those.
Without listening to them too much, it seems like the Temptations dabble in a few different subgenres, and all of them are enjoyable to listen. I can't pick any specific standout songs on the album but I just bopped back in forth in my office chair throughout. Easy 3.5/5, will say 4 because I never wondered how much time was left.
This was a bop. Cloud 9 was especially good but all of these jams were fun and made me want to dance.
Look, you can't have a Motown record with the classic, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and give it a bad rating. I'd round up from a 4.5 to a 5 for this one because it's a great record, but unfortunately there is that weird child having a break down in "Runaway Child, Running Wild". So I'm rounding down to account for that.
Very enjoyable. Nice tone and vocal techniques! He effortlessly hits G5 in “I gotta find a way”. From how the vocalists sing, I won’t be able to guess it was released in 1969 at all. Music wise, it has some variety around a theme. Love some layered percussion too. And I truly appreciate shorter albums now. If I skip the 8.5 minute song, it will hit differently.
Love this era and band and sound and style. It grows on you the more you listen and there’s depth and emotion and a passion for the musicality of it throughout. Going with a 4 because while it’s a very solid album I try to save 5’s for something that blew me away or is so stacked with hits you can’t ignore them.
the temptations are chill. easy listening album, enjoyed this while taking a lunch time walk on Friday. Coming back after the weekend, I don't really recall much of the album, but it was fine.
Kinda agree with the haters from back in 68 on this one. Found it pretty boring with not many memorable melodies. Especially considering the previous temptations album we had.
Tough to rate this one because while it is good, I know it’s not as good as The Temptations’ other work. On top of that, having one track take up a third of the album adds an extra level of difficulty. I could hear arguments for a four, but I think a three is where this one is for me.
The temptations have such a weird history. They have had so many members and so many hits, but it's been going on for so long that the great ones are scattered few and far between. Their lows are never really that low, but I was expecting some bigger highs on this album. Decent sound, but it's not a greatest hits that I was hoping for.
17/05/2025 Yeah it was a decent album.
I Liked this album. The vibe felt light, although there were a few hard time songs, and a lot of the subject matter is about lost/leaving love. I liked the interplay of the different vocal ranges and found myself doing the little temptation shuffle a few too many times. I got the sense that it's not their best work as it didn't feel like a cohesive album from them, but overall a worthwhile listen. 3.25
Good fun , very Friday vibes
I like the song about the guy pleading with the woman that he has feelings for dang they got a 10 minute song on this, i didn't know their game as someone who often listens with one headphone off, this mixing fucks me up BUT THATS MY FAULT I KNOW
Awesome
Other than the generic love lyrics in like all of the songs, this was really good vocally and musically, bass was really nice throughout as well as the drums and the psychedelically aspect of the guitar on runaway child (despite it being one of the weaker songs on here for me). I wasn’t a fan of their rendition of grapevine as well, much worse than Marvin Gaye’s one but I think that mostly comes down to it being a much shorter version with less care put into it. Other than that I like all of the songs but my favourite was the first one by far. Overall 7/10.
R & B
Classic Temptations
Really nice upbeat album. High quality and only 35 mins, can’t go wrong
This bangs so hard.
Feels like a Saturday afternoon drive with the windows down. Very fun, warm vibe. Easy listening.
Good rock n roll
True pioneers and a strong sample of genius
Had no idea The Temptations were doing Superfly / Shaft type soul music , predating the stuff I knew. Half is more straight forward pop vocal stuff but great production all around and a breeze to listen to
Enjoyable listen. Good stuff.
# Album Name: The temptations # Artist: Cloud Nine # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Great vocals and bass lines. Pretty good listen overall. First half of the album is quite strong. The 2nd half dragged. Probably dropped in quality a tad. Id give this a low 4. # Top Tunes: Cloud 9 / runaway child # Would I listen to it again? Only parts
schon ein paar feine Sachen dabei
Listened to a few songs, but the genre is not really for me.
Niet voor mij
A lovely album. I liked every single track - though some more than others. It's certainly going into my regular rotation. I particularly enjoyed Runaway Child, Running Wild.
Man, I'm actually on a roll of good, classic albums. I don't even know if I have notes on this. It's just good.
It’s a really good album, but unfortunately the lead singer’s voice is a bit grating to my ears. I am sure I am alone in that opinion, but still.
Foruten I Heard It Through the Grapevine var det ingen låter på albumet jeg har hørt før, noe som avslører mitt fravær av kunnskap om The Temptations. Litt masete album som vil veldig mye egentlig, ikke engang versjonen av I Heard It Through the Grapevine kjente jeg igjen umiddelbart. Gøy møte, selv om dette ikke er musikk jeg kommer til å oppsøke igjen.
Awesome! Why can't things sound like this anymore? The ambience and room sound are so good. Classic mix of love songs and some relevant and topical lyrics.
A fun, if maybe a bit unremarkable, soul album. Great for putting on in the background when working, cooking, etc. for a mood boost.
omit the crying kid from track 3 and we'd be at a solid 4
Aight
It’s pretty good and enjoyable.
funky
I like the original Motown Temps more than the funkier stuff.
Fantastic album, mix of well known songs and smooth grooves
Pretty good 3.4
absolutely glorious
Most of it sounds the same. It is good for its time, but isn't a repeat in my view.
Wasn’t really into this, but it was by no means bad. It just feels like paint by numbers via ChatGPT of an exploitation movie soundtrack.
I had fun listening to this one. Great voices and cool energy.
It was fine. I get that you can point back to this one and say this inspired a lot of shit, but really, it was just pretty boring .
Cool sounds, motown + early funk, The Temptations branching out
2.5 Idk it’s the Temptations. It’s fine, but kinda in one ear and out the other. Didn’t hit me deeply at all.
I prefer their other album on the list, but this is still good
Oli tylsä.
Täsäkin genressä on hienoja lauluja mu niit ei ollu nyt tässä
Tasapaksu ja aika mitäänsanomaton levy. Ei hirveästi herättänyt tunteita suuntaan tai toiseen.
custom_rating:7
The lyrics to a lot of these songs are weirdly depressing! Wonderful, I like it a lot! 4.5/5 (or 4/5) because I didn't like all of it and it feels a bit disjointed as a whole album.
Decent funk. I can get behind this.
I love Motown!!!
It's a nice album. Nothing too special to note. The longest track, "Runaway Child, Running Wild", is arguably the best song on the album. The rest of the album is good but not great. When it gets to the 6th track, it loses steam. 3 stars for "Cloud Nine".
bery bery nice. paar woni gspeicheret han aber au die woni ned han ez gsi. so als album experience und vibe esch sehr sehr nice gsi. perfekt gsi för en sunntig obe zum lose während em choche
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
First listen. Interesting in that it is the transitional album between the old Temptations sound and the psychedelic new Temptations sound. It has elements of both. However, the new sound songs don't do it for me. I'm sure my dad has this album.
Tempted, seduced, at times spaced out. Will tap in again.
Incredible vocal talent, love the guy singing in the lowest register possible. The dynamic of funk and Motown soul is refreshing. The songs are all about love, but still remain fresh. 4 by the skin of its teeth, and for its crowd pleasing tendencies.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 33 Tempting me on Cloud Nine! Well this was quite an enjoyable introduction to a complete album by The Temptations, having only been familiar with their big hits (My Girl, Get Ready, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg) and I can say I wasn’t expecting the potent fusion between funk and Motown soul. Apparently this record marked a significant change in sound direction for the group (psychedelic soul), along with a new line-up, earning them their first Grammy after 8 previous releases. To my ears it is a very good album, however I would hesitate to say great, not that it was undeserving of its accolades for the time given what came after it in the 70’s funk scene. 🎧 Classic Track: Cloud Nine 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Hey Girl 🚫 Skip Track: I Heard It Through The Grapevine Their rendition of ‘Grapevine is quite underwhelming and if you’ve read any of my other reviews you know how I feel about covers in general… This was a pleasant change of pace from the string of electronic and rock albums I have received from the list as of late, which had my fingers snapping and head noddin’ along to the excellent vocal harmonies. Hit the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
Solid. Saved one song (Hey Girl) - hit an itch. Some of the songs had a generic Motown sound with meh vocals. Didn't save the title track, but I like the opening with the funk groove.
Rock solid. Love teetering the line of Funk and Psychodelic. A long way from MoTown(which also rips). Not many groups can venture into such varying genres and crush - but here they are. Under appreciated on many fronts
Clean, slick, smooth.
Good album that apparently marked a change for the group into funkier territory. And of course, I’m all for that. This was really good, not great, but definitely the top end of very good.
Very much enjoyed the first half but trailled a little. Loved y fact that a 35 minute album has 10 songs and one is 9 minutes.
Funky, soulful, fun! Motown harmonies! Enjoyable listen!
liked it but didn’t love
It’s a nice album that is great music for having on in the house while doing chores or hosting friends. It’s not something I would pig on to listen to just by myself typically. The Temptations are a icon of the Motown scene and they don’t disappoint here.
Started off well, enjoyed the title track. 'Grapevine' not a patch on Marvin Gaye's version. Thereafter petered out into generic cheesy soul. Didn't do much for me.
Interesting album. More popish than their earlier work. But again, you can groove to it
Real problems and real emotions
Coming off a string of 1 star albums, I'm feeling generous to this today.
Lots of layered vocals, pretty fun
Pretty cool. Didn't know the sly and family influence til I read the wiki, but its obvious. The motown house band's psychedelia goes well with their rock solid funk, and the percussion works either way. Billy Joel was right about it all being rock and roll in the end if nothing else. Love the traded vocals, especially with really good tenor and bass to do silly parts. The guy who replaced ruffin does good with the raspy lead stuff. Socially conscious and all, but pretty dark about it, title track feels just like Nas almost 30 years later - life's a bitch and then you die, thats why we get high - on cloud 9.
This was sweet and catchy.
Heard a different album from them before (also from the generator). It's a charming album but ultimately nothing special 2/5
Nice Motown Funk
couldn't get into it
Didn’t hit for me
It was enjoyable to listen and would listen again. a few notable tracks. not necessarily my jam by still good. 3.5 stars
Good listen again but will not go back to it
Not my cup of tea
No one did R&B any funkier!
eu gosto dos álbuns produzidos pela motown e esse daqui parece ser uma das primeiras idas psicodélicas de soul. "runaway child, running wild" é uma música que toma um espaço muito central num álbum que é muito leve, divertido, mas pouco engajante. a capa é linda pqp.
The combination of elements from traditional soul and psychedelic rock make for an album that sounds very stereotypically 1960s. Who doesn’t love the combination of fuzzy organ and guitar?
Enjoyable, but nothing stood out as notable or remarkable. I'd definitely listen again, but probably not on purpose
Cool album that is split between funky psychedelic soul and standard Motown fare. First half has 2 excellent psychedelic soul songs: the single (Cloud Nine) and the lengthy excursion (Runaway Child) - both awesome in their own right and demonstrating the group’s range of possibilities. The rest of the album is just solid Motown soul with quality singing and instrumentals, particularly bass. I would have preferred more of the first half.
Very good LP. A bit of a transitional record, with the psychedelic leanings. Great vocals, as ever. Solid, with some superb songs, including the title track.
Psychedelic soul. Still wonderful to listen to.
It's kinda alright, didn't blow my mind nor did I find it particularly interesting. I feel like most of the songs featured in the album may have far better covers of them made by other bands or artist.
Songs added to likes song playlist: Love Is A Hurtin' Thing I Gotta Find A Way Hey Girl Why Did She Have To Leave ME
Questi sanno suonare
Solid in every way, but not groundbreaking
- Jazz-rock-soul? - Litt kjedelig og formløst. - Flinke vokalister. God harmonisering. - Love is a Hurting Thing og Hey Girl var bra, men litt kjedelige.
Actually really enjoyed this album
The Temptations have such a cool unique sound. I really dug this and I'd play it again for sure. 4/5
I enjoyed but not my genre. I'm not sure if I'd revisit it. 2.5/5
An album by the Temptations is not gonna be bad, that’s kind of a rule. I listened to this one cooking dinner for my love and it fit. I think I liked this one more than the other one I listened to.
not my fave gorillaz album
p177. 1969. 3 stars. Fine example of late 60s Motown production line soul. Unfortunately Motown was focused on singles, so there is a lot of filler here - and how many covers of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" does anyone need?
Gotta be in the mood.
Sounded like originals of classic dew wop songs. I prefer the more polished versions.
Had a fun dance party
Good start to an album but it trailed off. Clearly can hear how their influence permeated funk and then got into other genres in the 80s and 90s
This album slaps! Also, I heard they have better ones!
I was kind of disappointed by this album's recording of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine."
I WANT MUH MOMMMAAAAA Heard Through the Grapevine is classic Hey Girl=My Girl 2.0? Old School Motown Funk, Gotta love how it gets ya dancin'!
It’s not bad, but nothing is really speaking to me.
3.5 Good sound but it all kinda blurred together.
Way more jazz infused than I thought, some very loving and painful songs in a groovy way
it's groovy.
eNJOYED
I really love the funk sound and the pioneering sound of the record, but I didn’t truly connect with a lot of the tracks. I barely know anything about The Temptations, but I’d love to dive into more of their catalog.
Shite
Have I not listened to the temptations before? This was good. Fun hearing a 3 minute Grapevine after CCR.
Psychedelic, funky soul/R&B. A unique sound combination that rocks and has great harmonies. Not their most famous songs, but well worth listening to. A very high 4 for me.
This was awesome. The only aspect I didn't like was the strange phrasing used in "heard it through the grapevine". I liked the longer psychedelic tracks as well as the more classic motown sound towards the end of the album. It would have been cool to hear this when it first dropped since it contains such a departure from their previous sound
I think I just don’t love this era of music, not terrible, just not particularly interesting.
Lekker!
Bardzo podobna do poprzedniej płyty tego zespołu. Melodyjne, spokojne, ale jakoś nie zostaje na dłużej w głowie. Każda piosenka jest zbyt podobna do poprzednich, abym była w stanie je rozróżnić. Przez jakiś czas myślałam że to ciągle ten sam kawałek. 6/10
Good stuff, I liked it more than I expected, having no idea that psychedelic soul was a thing. High 3 to low 4.
OVERALL: I never looked at the lyrics or even paid much attention to them, because that's not the point of the album. It's supposed to be fun and nice to listen to. Pretty standard for a soul album, but the production is usually pretty good, especially on the last few tracks. It's also surprisingly short, only taking 30-40 minutes, and around 1/4 of that is spent on Runaway Child, Running Wild. It's barely a 4, but some songs like I Gotta Find A Way and Why Did She Have To Leave Me bring it up from a 7/10 to a 7.25/10. Pretty solid, despite being kinda generic. If you're enjoyment is centered around lyrics, you probably won't like it, but if you're focused on sound than you'll probably love this. Good example of an above average / "I guess it's pretty good" album. SONG AVG: 8.01 PERSONAL RATING: 7.25/10 Cloud Nine: Pretty nice, but the vocals sound a bit awkward. Really nice intrumental. I feel like every thing I like about the vocals are instantly cancelled out by the vocals five seconds later. The production is really good, though. 7/10 I Heard It Through The Grapevine: This isn't Marvin Gaye, and it's considerably worse. Still pretty good, great vocals, but I simply prefer the production of the Gaye version more. The production is pretty mid tbh. Also uses a fade out outro. 5/10 Runaway Child, Running Wild: I feel like the Curtis Mayfield song was inspired by this. Pretty good overall, the only complaint I have is that it goes on for way too long (almost 10 minutes). Very nice and funky instrumental, and the vocals are pretty nice as well. The child screaming is weird though. I don't really like the thing that happens at 5:42 and at other parts, but it works well when other stuff is happening. The intro has weird backing vocals and the loud noise thing, but is fine otherwise. There isn't enough stuff happening to justify it being over 10 minutes, but when stuff is happening it's usually really good. 8.75/10 Love Is A Hurtin' Thing: Basically perfect production and absolutely incredible vocals. Way too short. I guess the lyrics are not impressive at all, but it sounds way too good for that to matter. This should be way longer than two and a half minutes, very good. Also uses a fade out outro. 9.5/10 Hey Girl: The intro sounds like a commercial. Kinda like the last song but a bit worse. The outro is pretty good, and the production is very good, but it feels too much like a background song in a restaurant. 8/10 Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go): This feels like peak soul. Great vocals, incredible instrumental, but the most stereotypical soul lyrics of all time. Pretty much perfect is every way other than the lyrics, my only complaint is that the piano is out of place and it uses a fade out outro. 9.84/10 I Need Your Lovin': Pretty good. Hey Girl but slightly better. 8.15/10 Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me: Really good production, mid vocals. The production is way too good for this song, carries so incredibly hard. 7.25/10 I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back): Wait, this is the second to last song? Perfect production and really nice vocals, very energetic. Incredibly fun and enjoyable to listen to. I'm probably being too lenient with this rating but who cares. 10/10 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love: Kinda mid. The instrumental can be pretty good, but it's usually nothing special. Still sounds good. The vocals are pretty standard. 7/10
Had higher hopes for this one
Classic but no Jimmy
Started great and they’re amazing vocally but outside of 3 songs it becomes essentially the same song over and over again. It gets repetitive and mundane. Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing Cloud Nine Runaway Child, Running Wild I Need Your Lovin’ Gonna Keep On Trying’ Why’d she have to Leave Don’t let him take your love from me Hey Girl Gotta Find A Way Heard it through the grapevine(it’s honestly the third or 4th best version)
Great psychedelic soul album! Soulful and funky. It was a ground breaking album and paved the way for a variety of future Motown artists. Wasn’t a fan of their version of “Heard It Through The Grapevine”. “Hey Girl” is a nice one.
Not quite a Motown record, not quite a funk record, and not quite a soul record. Not quite obvious why it's on the list.
What a weird inclusion. It doesn’t feel ambitious enough for it to be the factor and the arrangements are rarely more than fine. Feels a lot longer than what it actually is.
Lekkere soul en funk plaat! Sowieso kende ik The Temptations wel en ik vind hun stemmen al echt fantastisch, maar ik kende dit album niet! Maar ff he, wat is deze versie van Heard it through the grapevine?? Dit is echt vrij dramatisch zeg.. Kan natuurlijk niet tippen aan de Gaye versie die we allemaal kennen. Het is wel echt anders dan de Gaye versie, veel funkier. Sowieso is dit hele album echt een funk blauwdruk. Komt uit 1969 he? Besef dat even! Dat er toen al zo hard gefunkt kon worden! Eerste helft van het album is iets sterker dan de 2e helft, maar het album luistert heerlijk weg en is eigenlijk precies lang genoeg dat ik me niet ga irriteren ofzo. Ik heb hier echt van genoten, sowieso een lekker soul of funk album dan heb je me al bijna! FAVO: Cloud nine, Run away child, running wild, Hey Girl, Gonna keep on trying till I win your love
Not bad by any means, but doesn’t resonate as strongly as I expected it would. Slight disappointment. It’s a shoulder bopper in most places that loses its effect by the end. Doesn’t have the hits I’m familiar with so maybe that’s a factor. Kind of found myself disassociating waiting for it to end after awhile. Again, not bad, but surprisingly forgettable. Not spectacular by Temptations standards to me, it’s decent but that’s me being nice because I have a soft spot for the group.
Solid as heck.
Overall: 6/10 I've realized by doing this project that I don't enjoy soul as much as I thought I did and that's honestly a bit dissapointing. The vocals are great and I enjoyed the funkiness of the early tracks. It's also a very easy listen at just 35 minutes. I think it's the constant strings that started to get grating to my ears. Maybe I just need to listen to more of this type of music outside of the project cause I'd like to enjoy these albums more than I have. Fav Song: Cloud Nine Least Fav Aong: Love is a Hurtin' Thing
It was good
I think I'm in a bit of a minority as I actually prefer this style of 'The Temptations', as it has moved to a raw, harder sound - really picking up on the funk explosion that was really taking off about this time. Don't get me wrong, the early Temptations stuff (e.g. My Girl) was still good and I am a big admirer.
Soulful and funky but also forgetful
I don't like this type of music it is good but not for me. 2/10
late 60s groovy dance music. perfect for late-night clubbing and romantic get-togethers. with a new producer, the band departed from classic soul to something more colorful and crazy. songs of love and social awareness. the album is very nice to listen to, but i feel like some songs sound samey. even as the self-proclaimed funk addict, sometimes these songs just feel too similar or go for much longer than i'd like. there's plenty of gold in here though, especially with those wah-wah guitar solos and bongo drums.
I liked the music, but some of the songs were actually pretty bad. Great vibe over all though
Honestly, it was fine but I wasn't in the mood for 60s bopping. I feel like a lot of other bands can and have done these songs better
I did enjoy this, but I think I was expecting to recognise a track or two and didn't. I may have to give it another listen without that thought in my head. I like the sound of it though.
Neither the funk grooves nor the vocal hooks fully stand out, but it's a nice listen
Faniliar with the Temptations for their Motown hits- this was more funky than I was used to hearing them. Im actually surprised that I didnt enjoy this more- there were some parts I liked and some I thought felt forced. Overall- decent album, but didnt capture me.
Funky
Like how the drums are recorded. Not every song captures but magically talented group
Good soul/funk album.
This was fine. This was a pretty weak version of "I heard it through the grapevine", though.
Soul legends
Strong side A, weaker side B. Solid all around.
-more 60s-70s Motown soul stuff… not bad at all but feels comparatively, well, soulless compared to like What’s Goin’ On I guess -idk it didn’t really stand out to me that much. he (they?) has (have?) a very nice voice though… Gonna Keep On Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love is a banger -Favorites are Cloud Nine and Gonna Keep Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love
First half was funky dynamite. Second half unfortunately dragged it down a bit with subpar motion soul.
Pleasant enough, but not a lot to catch my attention. Standouts Cloud Nine I Heard It Through the Grapevine 3/5
So schön - das erinnered mi a mini früeh Chindheit und macht mich glücklich.
He es isch scho guet gspielt aber mir chli zu jammy. Und de guy mit de tüfe stimm nervt mi. Cha mer richtig vorstelle d lüüt hend da de lustigsti scheiss ever gfunde
ui dasch glaub geeeeile scheiss. oyeah mega früene funk time. jo cloud nine seeehr geil. wiso hend alli grapevine auno ufgnoh? marvin version unschöagbar. die isch cool aber najaaa. jo nai höred uf nai marv untouchable running child running wild isch seeehr geil. sehr papa was a rolling stone. sehr lang aber s groovt. harmonisch irgendwenn chli eisiitig sie hämmeder de eint akkord. bass cool. hasses dass d funk brothers amel nöd einzeln gnennt werded. de bass isch sooo geil. glaaub ehner nöd jamerson? love is a hurtin thing tönt mega noch jamerson noch dem wo gspielt wird. und de bass tönt identisch wie im letste track. vo dem her vlt doch er. oh mein gott ich lieb de bass. string arrangement super. hey görl au wieder guete song. aber seehr schmalzig etz die letste zwei. jo etz nöd hammer findi. tönt schön noch motown und so aber jäöö.
hmm also d produktion selber natürlich nöd aber d lieder töned uf mich moderner als 69, coolio heard it through grapevine hend sie sicher ihres eigete ding drus gmacht, s het aber chli d magie verlore bim prozess hahaha sini chrazig stimm isch insaaane s hetmi aber trz chli verlore gad bi run away child HAHHAHA wie höch er singt love is a hurtin thing recht cool, dasmal jz aber fast z churz? hahaha jap di 2. hälfti scho sehr love-zentriert, aber finds sehr schön hobbla ehm teilwiis sehr schön, mit paar coole element aber leider doch für mich chli flach
come for the funky title track, mostly stay for the funky title track
Było ok. Pierwszy utwór mnie zachęcił i myślałem, że to materiał na czwórkę, ale dalsze utwory mnie trochę uśpiły. Były ok, ale nic specjalnego. Runaway Child strasznie się ciągnie, wynudziłem się przy tym. A potem to już tak tylko grało w tle. Ok, może kiedyś spróbuję sobie przypomnieć, ale tęsknił nie będę.
Oh my god I listened to this 2 times and I barely remember anything. I know it's a me problem but I just don't want to try third time. In few days i will see if I was wrong and there was something sensational on this album. But I didn't suffer listeining to it.
This is why I am doing this project. I was aware of the Temptations, but had never considered listening to a full album of there's, but now I don't see me listening to anything else but Temptations records for the foreseeable future.
Some interesting tracks, side one in particular but a lot of standard soul ballads, whist a minor step into psychedelic soul the balance of the album sounds pretty run of the mill.
Decent Soul
I like it, but it doesn't stick. I had to play it twice to pick a favorite song. Favorite song: don't let him take your love from me
Sounds like these guys have a hell of a great time singing at a random bar near the sea. I would like to be at that bar. Stand-out: Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me
Pretty nice, just doesn't hit much.
This album feels very like the 70s (came out in '69...nice) - funky bass lines, crunchy guitar, soulful singing - lots of songs that are fun to vibe to. Unfortunately other than that, this album doesn't do a whole lot for me. I enjoyed it. But it felt...fine. Actually 2.75 out of 5 Liked songs: "Cloud Nine" , "Runaway Child, Running Wild" , "Hey Girl" , "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me" , "I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back)"
liked songs: Cloud Nine, Runaway Child, Running Wild, I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) I liked several of these songs, especially the ones that pushed the boundaries of 60s music. I really disliked the drums being panned hard to the right; I don't know how anyone ever thought that was a good idea. 3.25
Very soulful and very cool. Really enjoyed the listen. Nothing really super special sticks out for me though. This is a 3 from me but bordering on a 4.
This was fine, but felt really dated too.
Groovy, funky, ideaal voor dit lenteweer! Kende geen enkel nummer (behalve de covers), maar wijs album! 3.5
I jammed into this, and I am not ashamed
Fun listen but nothing really stood out or captured my attention
Der Sound, den ich mit den Temptations in Verbindung bringen. Keine bekannten Songs. Lässt sich gut hören. 3/5
man. fine.
Really solid motown and funk record but missing a few standout songs.
Such a great first half! The rest are good, although a bit by the numbers. 3.5
Great album, plenty of beautiful harmony and vocal runs but a real grit to it too. The only thing I really dislike is runaway child, running wild, as it turns into almost a parody of the genre.
Absolutely love the soul/funk sound from this time. The Temptations in any of their classic lineups are, well classic. Put the 2 together and you have just excellent music. If this don’t make you just feel good then I feel sorry for you. 5 Star.
me gustó, gran banda aunque tienen mejores
Too bad. I had expected a bit more from the album. The music was funky and good. But it didn't carry me away as much as I expected. 3/5
V easy listening although it didn't really do too much to capture my attention
The opening title track honestly blew me away and I was sat for a whole album of the same. So I was a little disappointed after one listen, but a second listen with fresh ears and tempered expectations helped. How could you not be in a good mood after listening to The Temptations?
It is closer to a 3.5, but it sounds so cool for Motown, having that psychedelic swirl. So I will go 4 stars
very cool aound. they don’t produce albums like this anymore. Rich bass lines and well crafted songs.
The Temptations is a group I primarily know through their hits. I expect this to be full of love songs exploring different aspects of it and what it does to people. There's probably going to be some consistently squeaky clean performances with great harmonies, though lacking in any edge or grit what so ever. I expect to enjoy it on a surface level, but it will probably not have much staying power. Could still be surprising. Cloud Nine I like the bassline. Starting off with a song about their journey from their humble roots to a successful time in their life seems a solid way to open it. Unsure about the mixing. Great delivery on the vocals by everyone involved. Nothing in the song really sticks out too much though. Fine. 3/5 Heard it through the Grapevine Iconic song, probably not the most famous version of it however as many artists have their own cover of it. I kinda hate the mixing on this. Boring instrumentally. While the performances are good it feels a bit formulaic. Average. 2.5/5 Runaway Child, Running Wild It's sad when I really can't focus on the song because of my distaste for how it's mixed. Seems a common problem with the album. I feel the storytelling is sufficiently vivid, with decent worldbuilding. The backing vocals is really the highlight for me. I think the song has a lot of potential, but is let down by a boring instrumental and dated production. Might work for some people, did not work for me. Really wanted it to be over by the end. 1.5/5 Love is a Hurtin' Thing Succeeds at being a soul song. Their voices are nice, the chorus is sufficiently powerful. A bit rough recording wise, showing its age. Doesn't really do much else worthy of mentioning. Average. 2.5/5 Hey Girl Predictable lyrics. Don't want to repeat myself so I won't. Basic song with a premise seen time and time again. Lead singer does a great job on the chrous. Not great. 2/5 Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go) I like the backing vocals. Limited and basic. Not exactly challenging. Probaly fine as background music, but not much else. Average. 2.5/5 I Need Your Lovin' I think the bassline is pretty good. Impressive voice. Predictable and bland. 2/5 Don't Let Him Take Her Love From Me There's a nice guitar sequence at the start. The vocal melody for the chorus is decent, the horns echoing it also works well. Average. 2.5/5 I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) I guess there's a decently dancable rhythm there somewhere in here. Sax sounds muted and awful. There's a lot of effort put into the lead vocals. Sounds like they had fun. Fine. 3/5 Gonna Keep Tryin' Till I Win Your Love I'm having some fun with the bassline. I can't stand the sharp trumpet. Nothing stands out. Just bland and edgeless, coasting along on a formula that has been present the entire album. 2/5 Did not expect to be as bored as I was by this album. Genuinely felt 3x longer than it was. So safe, so formulaic, blander than white bread. Yes there are some soulful performances, yes there is chemistry within the group, and yes they play their parts competently. Is that enough to make something that holds up today? Not for me unfortunately. I do understand that for the time the production was probably fine, and that there was difficulties for black artist to get access to the funds and equipment needed, but to my modern ears it just doesn't sound good. It really does not help that most of the songs are different varations on the same theme. Would not revisit, but open to hear a different project from them as they are obviously talented. Fave track. I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) Least fave track. Runaway Child, Running Wild
Another 4.5 I wish there was a way to do half stars. I enjoyed the songs but for some reason it wasn't gripping me as I expected it to. This might be another relisten down the line tbh
I WANT MY MAMAAAAA I WANT MY MAMAAAAA traumatizing but overall good tunes Easy listening and finding myself unknowingly bopping
Good version of heard it through the grapevine- quite distressing the child wailing though
Not for me. Not into funk.
late 60s soul is tbh kind of a blind spot for me, i have stronger impressions of the periods before and after. this record is an A side of really overtly post-psych motown updates (including a very strange heard it through the grapevine cover that i like a lot tbh), and B side of music that is not nearly as obviously out there but still a delight and i can definitely believe it indicates an uptick in ambition, or at least recording technology. honestly maybe remembered for slightly misleading reasons but im sure its hard to go wrong with temptations harmonies and motown melodies even on relatively forgotten records, this is pure delight in ways that dont need to be explained rly. aaaaaaaaaah! the temptations!!!
Really dug this funky album. Just so cool. Favourite tracks were Cloud Nine, Why Did She Have to Leave Me and I Gotta Find a Way. This genre/era is fast becoming a favourite.
I have discovered a new genre I do not like, which is this psychedelic/funk/soul combo. It doesn't surprise me that this is influenced by Slh and the Family Stone, which is another album I didn't particularly enjoy. I can hear that it's good music, it just isn't music for me.
3 out of 5. When this album gets funky it gets funky.
More like cloud 4
Quite liked it. Very smooth. Nothing particularly standout to me. 5/10
Good funk and soul here. Didn't move me like some of the other Temps albums did, but still a very worthy listen. Best thing for me about this was getting to the "recommended songs" and discovering Skull Snaps! Great to groove to.
pretty good album, I liked it
Good vibes. Pretty alright. Probably won't listen to it again
Everybody playing and singing on this album is supremely talented, knew that going in. But I was surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to most of these songs top to bottom.
So funky, so soulful. The Temps were some of the best who ever did it. A vocal group where each guy had a special voice and new exactly where they fit in. And this is that special album where they're trying to tackle current issues. Which still hits even if we aren't in that same space. Dennis Edwards replaces David Ruffin, which is just such a sad situation. Ruffin was the voice for a time, but Edwards also brings a lot to the table. A little gruffer but all soul still. And the backing band totally crushes here. Hits all the right notes.
Worst. Album. Ever.
It's a fine soul album. I wouldn't consider it a classic and won't hurry to put it back on the stereo. I don't think it's one of their best. The first song listed on the album cover is I Heard It Through the Grapevine and I was hopeful to hear something that I hadn't before, but compared to Marvin or Gladys (whose versions both preceded this one) I don't know why they bothered.
These guys have many classic singles but “Cloud Nine” is not one of them. With that being the tentpole for the album, the whole thing collapses! I can safely say there is not a good song to be found anywhere on this album. “Runaway Child, Running Wild” is especially dumb, and this has to be the worst cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” ever recorded. I think I’m just more of a Four Tops man.
Nice and funky. Not many standout tracks, but a good listen overall.
Enjoyable Will I listen to again: 30%
A little goes a long way. Don't get me wrong. They're all good songs. It just is so achingly arch in places.
The album runs the gamut of soul, R&B and funk, with a lot of variation in style and sound from song to song, without an overall theme or harmony. Some are really good, some less so. Low 3.
It was a good album.Cloud Nine was the best song.
- groovy - really good bass - little bit repetetive - really nice soul music
I liked it alot. Wish it was longer
I haven't had a ton of exposure to Motown and I honestly don't understand why that is because this album is so good. I know who The Temptations are, of course, but have only listened to a couple of their biggest hits. The main ding for this album is that it's too short. Just as I was really getting into a groove, it was suddenly over.
classic