Reviews (page 8 of 13)
fun
3 - Always fun, funky and suave. Not my fav work of theirs but Runaway Child is such a hit. Great album for a lil weekend get together
cool album. Temptations made a lot of great music, especially the early stuff. This was late 60s, so it was bit funkier and slightly darker in feel.
Great groove, energy and feel. Just quite simply The Temptations. Not particularly blown away by it, but it’s a vibe and would happily have on at various points. Interesting take on Grapevine, think I’m still with the original! Can’t remember fully absorbing each track but a classic 3.5. Good at what it does, clear quality, but not blown away, personally (3.5)
Tämähän oli ihan mukavaa, kevyttä sieluisaa kuunneltavaa. Ei mitään feivorittia, mutta ei mitenkään luotaantyöntävää. Bassolaulaja toi mieleen south parkin chefin :happythonking:
Runaway child running wild carries the album from a 2 to a 3 and it still feels like I’m underrating even though I only enjoy that and the opener
These fellas can sing and the music is funky AF but there aren't a look of hooky songs on this.
Great album. Amazing voice!
Not my vibe but musically good
These guys are soo good
Not a bad album, but not as good as I thought it would be. Fine to listen to.
nothing crazy on this but was alright
no bad
Never listened to this before, there are some wonderful tracks on it, feel like I’m going to have quite a few 3.5 Motown albums in this list, I am more likely to listen to this again than Marvin Gaye so put this slightly ahead of that.
Grittier than I expected, especially the earlier tracks
Easy listening. I liked the "I heard it through the grapevine" version.
A groovy, and on the whole, snappy party record which doesn't let up in propulsion and energy. They have a wonderful, natural, genial vibe and know how to put on a show. This is mixed up with some surprising psychedelic qualities. The second half is my favourite as II find the 10 minute Run Away Child overpowering on side one. I prefer them keeping things quick and light.
7/10
Surprised that I actually quite liked this
Standard fair is good fair man.
Me gustó
7,5/10 ani jednu jsem neskipla, kratke a zajimave, dlouhe kytarove sola
Need to listen again. Good blues and soul
Nice groove and playing. I just keep hearing Papa was a Rolling Stone though!
To be honest it wasn't very notable None of the songs on it were that appealing to me, but I didn't hate it. I would be happy to listen to it again but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it though
Overall enjoyed it, although found Side A to be more memorable.
Fun!
Some songs I really liked and some just weren’t my thing! but for the most part its good
⭐⭐⭐ Det här borde vara helt min grej men känner inte att det biter riktigt. Albumet börjar starkt med Cloud Nine som är riktigt bra, sen kommer I heard it through the grapewine som har gjorts betydligt bättre av andra. Därefter lyfter det inte riktigt. Tycker det saknas spår som riktigt sticker ut.
Fine stuff
Amazing vocals, but I didn't love it.
Another one for a specific mood, but enjoyable
I like the songs here, but there's something off on the arrangements. Something slowed down, or the orchestration is too symphonic or something.
01) Cloud Nine - 7,5 02) I Heard It Through the Grapevine - 7,5 03) Run Away Child, Running Wild - 7,5 04) Love is a Hurtin' Thing - 7,0 05) Hey Girl - 7,0 06) Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go) - 7,0 07) I Need Your Lovin' - 7,0 08) Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me - 7,0 09) I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) - 6,5 10) Gonna Keep on Tryin' till I Win Your Love - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,10 (71/100) Current ranking: 435/796
Nice. 3,5.
The title track is great- and I was expecting the rest of the songs to be like it - exciting and chaotic. Instead, each track seems to be more conventional than the last, leaving the record to feel a lot like a run-of-the-mill soul album. Which is good! But not that good. THREE STARS
Cloud Nine sounds different to what I expected from them. It is darker and a bit rougher, but I like that. It feels like they were trying something new and not playing it safe.
Edgier and grittier than previous stuff by The Temptations, but with the same brilliant vocals throughout. This album is lacking a main standout hit, although Cloud 9 to open is close.
Very much what I expected from The Temptations. Good album, but not a lot of varied sound. Still a classic and beautiful harmonies
Fun to listen to, but didn't really stand out to me. I can see why some people would rate this fairly high but it's really not my usual taste. Refreshing after having to listen to the Beatles though (which I got yesterday)
Enjoyed the soul sound but repetitive themes in lyrics and in the musical style.
This album marks a bold shift for The Temptations into psychedelic soul, with gritty grooves and socially conscious lyrics. It’s historically significant and undeniably inventive, but the experimental edge sometimes overshadows the melodies that made their earlier work so timeless. I’m glad I experienced it for its place in music history, but it’s one I'm unlikely to lisyen to again.
6/10 Favourite: Cloud Nine Least Favourite: Hey Girl
more like cloud 3/5
I honestly wanted to like it more but many tracks fell flat. Might not help that the stereo mix is super wide
I had some fears when the album started that this was going to be one of the lower rated albums so far, but I actually quite liked it as it went on. It's a nice soul/funk album, with some GREAT basslines on it. "Runaway Child, Running Wild" was the standout track and the big surprise to me. Solid album, kinda fire. 7 / 10.
Never really been into this genre but we'll give it a go 🤷♀️ Genuinely really well written music, just makes me feel like I'm back in A level music lessons 🥲
really enjoyed this album!!! stand outs for me were cloud nine, hey girl, and runaway child, running wild . not many notes, not my usual style but i really enjoyed it
6 / 10
A cool vibe rolls across this album with titles that are familiar 50+ years after they were recorded. Unlike some previous selections, the vocals take center stage on this album despite having some excellent R&B beats. The Temptations have a storied history and this record predates some of their huge sensations. A great listen for a group that had an important place in musical history.
Good album, but not great
Mid Tier, I enjoyed it though
Nice chill album very 60s
Enjoyable album Standout songs: Runaway child Love is a hurtin' thing
I liked the vibe of this
This is good. Not the best Motown record I've heard, but with the Funk Brothers as the band, the instrumentation alone kept me engaged, even if the songwriting didn't. Some killer standouts here, but quite a few that feel like afterthoughts. 6/10
Love the sound of this era. A lot of songs sound the same and I think the first half is much stronger than the second.
this was okay, nothing special
This album was an easy listen and there wasn’t a single track that I skip, I can see myself playing this on a Sunday morning. However it did not totally blow me away, for me personally, I think the vocals needed something more, instead of the sort of acapella style cheesy harmonies. The music so much more funky (and better imo) than their classic “my girl” music era, it felt psychedelic at points and the production across the album was amazing, I think this album would rate higher for me if there were a few more songs that really stood out to me on it.
Not really my genre but an enjoyable enough listen. The production was first rate and the vocals as smooth as you’d expect.
I don't have much to say about this album. It sounds good. Lyrically, almost every song is about the same thing. Which was so tiring it swung back around to comical. Overall, it was unremarkably okay. Three stars. (Favorite track: Runaway Child, Running Wild.)
This was alright for me! Enjoyed "Cloud Nine" and "Runaway Child, Running Wild"
Interesting record: side one is like a 70s prog-soul and funk (Sly Stoney) and side two is back to the (very good) Motown sound. These guys in fringe and bell bottoms or tight high-stepping tuxedos?
Sometimes I find it difficult to really listen attentively to Motown doo-wop because it sounds like the landscape of life, literally the background. This has some of that quality, but also songs that make you sit up and take notice.
The funk on this album is soo oo good. Motown not that much for my taste
Thought I would like this more than I did. The lyrics and themes got tired really quickly and their older sounding songs didn't sound very interesting to me.
Na
starts out fabulous with "Cloud Nine". somehow they managed to botch the record for me on the second half with sub-par baby-baby songs, one after another...
Loved the singing. They sang their little hearts out. Favorite song: I Gotta Find A Way.
i cant lie pretty meh on this that one 10 minute song did not need to be that long and some songs have odd panning and feel weird to listen to then the 2nd half of the album has some romantic ahh songs that are pretty basic not a huge fan overall
It's groovy and pleasant, but the songs seemed unimaginative and repetitive especially in theme and lyrics wise. It faded into the background for me completely.
3/5 It's.... fine. Nothing outstanding. It's difficult to say much about it really. It's just a fun album, but there's nothing really that special about it.
fun but nothing crazy
It feels wrong that I'm about to give three stars to The Temptations, but I'm afraid that's how I feel about this one. The turn toward a funkier sound is brilliant, and the tracks that actually sound that way are really enjoyable. But much of the record is in the 60s Motown style... timeless when applied to the right material, but nothing particularly inspiring here. I suppose it's an album that matters more as a sign of where the group (and the whole culture) were heading, but I don't think it's one I'll return to for a complete listen.
Good, not great. A nice change of pace from Slipknot but not making it to my heavy rotation.
Not my favorite thing ever. Definitely not bad, but gets kind of boring to me. Some songs are much better than others on this album. Overall, pretty solid, but nothing that I'd really come back to.
This would be fun music to put on in the background at a party. Undeniably except although not terribly resonant with me specifically! I did like the "child" crying "I want my mommy" though,
Solid album, you could say they were very tempted to sing about love.
Nice easy Motown.
Fan of this album, groovy tunes
Favorite Songs: Why Did She Have To Leave Me, Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing, I Need Your Lovin’ Least Favorite Song: I Heard It Through The Grapevine A consistently good record but nothing stands out to me. Fun though!
classic motown sound 3.40
Nice funky slice of soul.
Sexy music
Solid stuff.
just more grooving
great sound but needs a few more killer apps. i like Runaway Child, Running Wild, but Hey Girl is probably my favorite
Fun listen but a little forgettable 5.1/10
Ba da ba da ba dum. 6 wizards out of 10 lizads
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Ganz okay.
decepção. começou com a OBRA PRIMA cloud nine pra brochar total no resto do álbum :( por favor alguém avisa os criadores desse livro que existem outras décadas na música. não aguento mais os primórdios do rock, muito menos músicas românticas dessa época. e esse homem sofreu coitado. supera ela mano ela não te quer mais. pelo menos esse álbum tem mais molho que outros da época, tem músicas com camadas, muitos elementos, bem baixudas etc. queria reiterar o quanto AMEI a primeira música, mas o fato de só ter músicas de amor anos 60/70 no resto do álbum achei meio pah sou meio hater desse estilo. cloud nine (música) vc é 5 estrelas no meu coração.
A bit florid for my palate, somehow
C'était pas mal comme bruit de fond, mais je suis pas mal saturé en 60s. J'ai passé plus de temps à essayer de comprendre c'était quoi un Cloud 9 et c'était quoi le lien avec l'album du même nom de George Harrison. J'ai pas trouvé la réponse à aucune des deux questions et je vais laisser planer le mystère.
Love a bit of Motown
Best Song: Runaway Child, Running Wild Musically they are fantastic and they are amazing performers. That being said, I am not a big R&B fan and, while this is good, I am stuck with a relistenability quality that this doesn't have for me. In other words, I will never listen to this again no matter how talented the musicians are. 3/5.
I mean, it sounds quite nice but ultimately kinda left me feeling nothing. It's soulful and warm, but not very memorable except for the first song and that cover of I Heard it Through the Grapevine doesn't do the original any justice.
Motown upbeat, childhood trauma, optimistic
Enjoyable, just weird to hear the Temptations get more into the funk side of late 60s R&B and it felt like the arrangements didn’t bring out their voices.
Started strong but didn’t really keep my attention. Great vocals and cool recordings, but not exactly the style that catches my ear. Still, was a fun listen.
-love the album cover -some of the songs were kind of long and weren’t good enough in my opinion to withstand the duration -I do like Cloud Nine
Classic and soulful. What a way to relax and unwind on a Friday. Good album.
Really thown by the track arrangement here; was excited to see 10 songs, 35 minutes, awesome. Then, like 7 minutes into runaway child, running wild I realized my assumption that I'd be hearing something classic, digestible, wasn't going to pan out.
Outstanding sound but lacks anything that makes it truly pop 3.5
Decent enough, but nothing that really grabbed me - steady Motown
I love me a black soul album!!
Some great tracks on here, but a couple skippable ones too
Enjoyable but didn’t quite hit the heights I had expected.
This was better than I thought it would be; the opening title track was good, followed by a decent reworking of *I Heard It Through The Grapevine*, which means this song appears on the 1001 album challenge at least 3 times, although it’s no match for the CCR cover. The star of the show is undoubtedly the 9+ min ‘Runaway Child, Running Wild’, which is a funky, groovy track that surprised me, leaning far more into a long instrumental section, rather than the more renowned soul that dominates the rest of the album, which is what stops it scoring higher for my preferences. It’s good but I’m unsure when I’d return.
Dug it. 70s funk and Motown R&B. Not entirely a standout for me, but I enjoyed it. Didn't realize that The Temptations had some funk going on.
I expected to absolutely love this, and for the most part I did really enjoy it. But boy does it take a dive about 4 songs in. We start with "Cloud Nine," and immediately know that we're in for a record with something to SAY. "Runaway Child, Running Wild" is the absolute winner of the album to me, no questions asked; it's gritty, powerful, and plain good music to boot. I figured the album would keep pushing it with more political commentary, but -- no! That's it! From then on, we just get happy-go-lucky radio hits. Now, don't get me wrong, I like them. The Temptations are hard to dislike, and they do the cheese very well. But they just don't grip me. Fave tracks: - Cloud Nine - I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Runaway Child, Running Wild - Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me - I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) - Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love
It's fine. I thought I'd enjoy it more.
Funkkky
I love them. This isn't them at their best but some cool base and great soulful pop vibes.
I enjoyed this, The Temptations you always know that there will be at least 1 song you like a high 3
7/10
Really solid psychedelic soul
More like cloud 4.5 or 5.
I really liked the bass, drums, Fender Rhodes, organ, etc. because I love the "swing" element in the rhythm section of music, and knowing that rock drummers incorporated these elements into their own music; the vocals had an acapella-like feel with each singer singing a different note on the scale; I thought that the lyrics/song themes needed more thematic variation than just being about love
Un album des Temptations, c'est jamais mauvais. Mais celui là n'est pas particulièrement bon. Une des pires vbersions de I heard through the Grapevine.
Ça fit ben avec beaucoups d'albums dans cette liste : agréable et oubliable.
Good soul or whatever.
I was expecting more from this one.
впервые услышал этот альбом когда мне было 5 минут, сейчас мне уже 999 лет, но я все равно его слушаю каждый день.
It’s pretty good! 3
Good, but not great.
3.0 - Ok
not their best work but could be a lot worse
This was a comforting album. The Temptations span generations and this particular outing seems like a hipper one. Something laid back and cool about begging your lady to stay. Maybe it’s the humility of it all.
I enjoyed it, The Temptations are cool, but nothing really grabbed me.
The title track “Cloud Nine” is the stand out
Some really solid old motown but a bit uneven.
Yo this was good but the little kid crying for his mom threw me for a loop
This was a short listen. Easy breezy. I enjoyed it although nothing stuck with me.
Echt nett.
Nice blend of soul and funk. Not really what I think of when I think of this group.
2/2 Temptations Albums down. Having listened to the album All Directions previously, I had extremely high expectations for Cloud Nine. I added virtually the entire album after listening to it last time. So, how does this one compare? Well, in my honest opinion… This one isn’t nearly as good, sadly. The good news is that all the singers sound amazing, especially the guy with the immensely deep voice. Love that guy especially. The bad news is that as a whole, these songs are all just barely passable, maybe slightly boring, and I didn’t love the rendition of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” nearly as much as the CCR Version, so that kind of disappointed me even more. I think what held this album back compared to the other one is the level of Funk. It was easier getting down with All Directions because every song made me want to get down and dance, but this one felt like more traditional Motown and did not make me want to get down and dance. Not a bad thing, just not as good. It was a high pedestal to put the album on admittedly, and it did not pass my expectations. All that being said, it’s a slightly above middle of the road 3. Let’s go with a 3.68/5. My favorite song on this album was the opener, “Cloud Nine”. It teased me right away with a banger of a song and then went downhill rather quickly after that. Still, now that I’m done with these guys as far as this project is concerned, I’m free to check out their entire discography, which I absolutely will. That’s a huge compliment.
really solid but not something I'd listen to on my own time, 3.5
Fine but didn't feel like anything particularly special.
nice soul but heard better
Fairly middle of the road album. Cloud Nine is the standout track, which is a shame as it's the opener. Overall quite enjoyable, helps that it's nice and short 35 minutes.
not bad, jazzy
"Cloud Nine" by The Temptations is a nice album but I'm nevertheless surprised to find it on this list. I like The Temptations' sound and vibe - so I enjoyed listening to this record yesterday - but I cannot say that something outstanding on it has caught my mind. So, for me it was nice and solid but if you're not into the Motown stuff, it's a waste of time.
The title track is great, but most of the rest falls short and is pretty generic, even though the musicianship and voices are top notch.
I really like some of the songs. Some were just mid. I think I'm giving this one 3 stars.
Started off strong but not really a fan of their heard it through the grapevine. Started peetering out as the album progressed
3,5
I don't have a whole lot to say about this album, it is clearly very competently made and full of talent. That said, it's just not really my thing. I did like some of the more atmospheric instrumentals. 3.5 -> 3/5
Every Man, Every Man Is Free 1001 Albums Generator 153 (11/03/2025) I am only aware of The Temptations through their classic song "My Girl", but Cloud Nine is something totally different. It is a deep funk style, especially on the first side, which is super strong. The title track is fantastic and energetic, and the nearly 10 minute Runaway Child, Running Wild is really fantastic. It flies by and does not feel like 9 minutes at all. The second half of the album is more forgettable and is just unfortunately not nearly as strong. It's not bad, but some of the vocals, especially the lower register vocals, are pretty cringe. Not a bad album at all, but I don't think I would come back to it in its entirety. 3/5. Favs: Cloud Nine Runaway Child, Running Wild I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) Least Fav: Love Is A Hurtin' Thing
Yeah it’s the temptations
It makes me feel like i'm in a movie
Mediocre, back half picks up
Pretty good.
Alright.
Really enjoyable album. Incredible for its time
Pretty good album. Some of the songs are classic Motown, but there are a few darker sounding, more psychedelic sounding songs like Cloud Nine. Notables tracks include Cloud Nine, Runaway Child, Love is a Hurtin Thing, Hey Girl, I Need Your Lovin. Enjoyable listen, all the songs are listenable.
Good old Motown album. A couple of different sounding signs but overall had that Motown feel.
I was slightly disappointed by this - I guess I’m used to their 70’s stuff and was expecting more OOMF in their works - not to say it wasn’t bad at all - they had hits esp in the 2nd half that kinda redeemed the album.
Great artist, they all have so much talent, and it was well produced. Just felt a little bit lacklustre and that they couldn't mesh out the brilliance that they have.
3.5
Not my sort of thing
No standouts but a solid background album
What you'd expect from a mid-60s Motown record: well-produced, pleasant vocals and swooning lyrics in an attractive package. But it never quite grabbed your attention
Good but not really my kind of thing. Their version of heard it on the grapevine is good.
7.5
its a bit better than other soul albums i have listened to but its still not my thing 3/5
cloud nine- 5 i heard it through the grapevine- 5 runwaway child running wild- 5 love is a hurting thing- 5 hey girl- 5 why did she have to leave me- 5 i need your loving- 5 dont let him take your love from me- 5 i gotta find a way- 5 gonna keep on trying til i win your love- 5
👍
Slick soul, tight and groovy - half funk jamming, and half motown crooning. Mega bass!
This was a fun little number
Love a bit of Motown ❤️ Good album, very easy to listen to
Enjoyed this in my Sunday walk… saved a couple songs. Fun to listen to
3/5
Hahaha den här spelade jag när vi hade Temptations förra gången för att få en referens. Så den är i färskt minne. Ok ingen "Papa..." här men titelspåret och "Run away child..." är nästan lika bra. Annars är kvalitén på det här albumet snäppet högre än den andra skivan. Gillar det här gränsslandet där dom har ett ben kvar i det gamla och ett ben på väg in i det nya. Whitffield är en superb låtskrivare vilket gör att albumet känns sammanhållet och jämt, det är inte massa klassisk Motownutfyllnad och två singlar. Däremot är jag frågande till varför inte samtida singeln "Ball of confusion" är med, den hade passat bättre in på "Grapevines" plats på skivan. För jag saknar nån riktig topp till för att nå fyran
Jag tänker att Tempations är ett bruksband. De gör jobbet - lika säkert som en pålitlig hantverkare. Alltid en stabil lägstanivå, men sällan fantastiskt. Alltid bra sång, men aldrig gåshudsframkallande. Hantverksmässigt utförd soul helt enkelt.
Fina låtar men lite splittrat för ett album. Cloud Nine ger en föraning om Withfielfds psykedeliska soul. Texten är politisk på ett sätt som Motown inte brukade vara. Cloud Nine verkar inte riktigt höra hemma på albumet. Övriga låtar är bra, men kanske inte fantastiska. Jag uppskattar att temptations tagit sig från den sockersöta Motown-popen till något annat. Ibland låter det nästan southern soul om dem.
los primeros tracks están buenos, llegando al final se pone medio repetitivo musical y liricamente. la produ está muy bien
Quality 60s soul. Enjoyable
It IS THE Temptations
Best Song: Cloud Nine. I liked the building crescendo to kick off the song/album. Worst Song: I Heard It Through The Grapevine. It's just all around worse than the original and many of the more famous covers. Overall: Pleasant but unexciting. It verged too far into the psychedelic realm for me, whereas I wished it stayed more in the Motown/soul area.
Este challenge me esta haciendo escuchar soul todos los días, no me quejo igual pero no eran sonidos a los que esté tan acostumbrada como para hacer tanta review. Este tambien sería un 3.5 si se pudiera. De todos los que tocaron del género, fue el que menos me cautivó. Hay veces que las vocals están medio crudas, parece que lo estas escuchando en vivo. Por que hay un nene llorando que quiere a su mama?? No se si de todo lo que sacaron los temptations este era justamente el indispensable. Me causo tambien mucha ternura la foto de perfil que tienen en spotify 😭 Favs: I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Love Is A Hurtin Thing, I Gotta Find A Way.
I get it, son los Temptations y son muy imprescindibles en general, pero me parece que tienen trabajos más pulidos. Sin ir más lejos, hay cosas suyas de 4 años antes que suenan mejor y son más rompedoras. En cualquier caso, me gusta mucho este tipo de música así mala nota tampoco le voy a poner. Favs: Cloud Nine, Love is a Hurting Thin, Gotta Keep On Trying Till I Win Your Love
Según he leído, este álbum es un puente entre dos eras: los Temptations clásicos diciendo adiós y los más psicodélicos diciendo hola. Como tantos otros artistas, mi experiencia con este grupo hasta la fecha se ha basado en escuchar singles en Spotify después de haberlos reconocido en películas, y debo decir que, con lo poco que conocía de ellos, ya me temía que fuese otro ejemplo más de banda cuyo punto fuerte son los hits puntuales, y no necesariamente los álbumes. Sin embargo, hay algo fascinante en ver a una banda tan asociada al soul más pulcro lanzarse de cabeza al sonido funk. Dudo que este sea su mejor álbum, pero me parece uno que refleja riesgo, transición y curiosidad artística. Y eso, viniendo de un grupo con una fórmula de éxito tan asentada, ya dice mucho. Favs: Run Away Running Child, Love Is a Hurtin' Thing, I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back)
Disco transicional al soul psicodélico (al menos en las primeras dos canciones), que más allá de la curiosidad de escuchar a The Temptations incursionando en el género no me generó mucho más. A la playlist: Cloud Nine.
Tempted to go higher, but just didn't quick click with this one.
I wanted to love this and some songs were very cute, but ultimately I was bored. I am not bored by the two impossible whoppers I am currently eating in a parking lot
Maybe I fell asleep listening to this because it was so good but I’ll never know because I only made it through 4 songs.
AH, THE TEMPTATIONS- Dewey Cox The title track always clung around in my head with the dynamic harmonies. Love the extra deep voiced guy. The rest of the album is alright but nothing as clingy (3.5/5)
Koselig album.
was ok to listen to...
Pretty good Motown.
3/5
It was good. Didn’t really blow my socks off and I wouldn’t rush to listen to it again. I think other artists do this better, Otis Redding for example. Favourite Track: Runaway Child, Running Wild.
Easy listening. Inget starkt intryck. Trea.
Some good, psychedelic soul. Brilliant singing, obviously. Just doesn't capture my imagination as much as I'd hoped it would.
Very cool and nice, but did not have any song that was like "wow, THESE are The Temptations!". Love their work, the presence, and the history/context in the Motown scene, but did dont feel like this album was "the" one. Excited for the "Grapevine" cover, but did not like it too much. Overall, good album and musicianship, but kinda bland.
Ca m'a pas "stick" à l'écoute
Music that's nice to cook your dinner to on a Friday evening to or breakfast on a weekend morning. Seems to have been revolutionary at the time so props to the producer. It just doesn't blow my mind in 2025. 3/5.
C'est doux, sensuel et chaleureux ce petit album polyphonique Pas mal d1ns une ambiance cosy
2.5/5
Didn't love it. A few songs were alright.
The Temptations are obviously legendary for their awesome vocals, great motown and funk sounds. For people unaware, The Temptations were pioneers in creating a sound that transcended race and help bring black artists to mainstream radio during segregation. Their sound inspired the Jackson 5, The Beatles, Rolling Stones.....basically everyone. Not saying these guys are copycats or lack originality, but it's the nature of art. You hear something new/different and want to incorporate parts of it. Like the funk in this BUT just not a fan of the falsetto wailing. I know that's kind of a part of it in this time period, but there's something grating about it. I do, however, love the deep bass vocal interjections and the bass guitar riffs. Psychedelic funk though? I'm not sure. I hear the funk. I'm not really hearing the psychedelic parts. This album was The Temptations starting to transition from Motown to something new, but it definitely feels like a WIP here for sure. B Side for example feels just like straight Motown still. I'm also not a fan of Runaway Child........it's just not for me. Idiot kid shouldn't have ran away. Listen to Psychedelic Shack or their stuff post 1970 and it's way better imo. I was looking for their connection to Funkadelic because I love their album Maggot Brain....and it's post 1970. So this album is a catalyst to their transition to something more. Personally, I prefer what they evolved into over where they started. Cloud Nine isn't my cup of tea exactly, but I recognize this was an important fork in the road for The Temptations. All the elements I really like from this album are featured more prominently in their later work, and it's disappointing if people listening to this don't explore what came after. Honestly, listen to this album and then listen to Psychedelic Shack or Take A Stroll Thru Your Mind and it's shocking it's the same Temptations just ONE YEAR later.
Another case here of phenomenal album from a musicianship angle, I'm glad I heard it, but is it really a 1001 albums you need to hear before you die? They also sure love making a song way longer than you'd expect it to be. This is making me want to go back and give more specific numerical scores to my reviews because I want to give this a 4 but it is just not at all the same 4 that I just gave Judas Priest. After sitting on it for a while, I simply can't do it. It is undeniable that the temptations are great, but this is not their strongest album that's made it on the list.
Funky greier, jeg er her for basslinjene. Alle tekstene handler om det samme, men liker viben. 3/5
Ser hvor Big Bang henta inspirasjon Et ganske fint album, behagelig. Ikke sånn at jeg oppsøker det igjen tror jeg. 2-3 et sted
Pretty sure they've had better albums.
It’s got none of the hits I know but it’s still a cool vibe. But yeah, none of the hits I know.
This is some high quality Motown. Back when Simpin was just good natured Yearning.
3.5
3.5
Very uneven soul album, but "Runaway Child, Running Wild" is cool. 3.5 stars
Apparently, this was the Temptations attempt to switch up their style and sound more like Sly & the Family Stone. I'm not sure I'm particularly sold on that version of the band, but by the second half of this album, it kind of reverts to a more classic Motown sound, which I found pretty enjoyable. 3.5 stars.
3.5
A 9 minute song as the third track is wild. A full 6 minutes longer than any other track on the album. It seems like they did the same thing on each of their albums. Interesting. Luckily, that song ended up being my favorite on the album (I remember thinking the same thing for Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone on All Directions). The rest of the album, however, didn’t do much for me. 3/5 Highlights: Runaway Child, Running Wild
regular rnb
It's ok, first track is groovy 3.2
Motown vibes. Probably pretty OK dinner party listening. Not my daytime vibes tho - nor for gym. Love is a hurtin' thing is the best track on the album.
Tempting...
I don’t know much about soul, but this was so unmistakably Motown that even I could tell. I don’t dislike it, but it feels like the kind of music that loses some of its appeal when heard as a recording rather than live. The title track, “Cloud Nine,” is genuinely exciting though.
Good psychedelic soul on side A with a more standard sound on side B
Starts and ends strong; contains ‘Superstition,’ arguably SW’s best-ever track. ‘Big Brother’ is breezy w a lyric that is very relevant to the current moment. Would say tends a bit too saccharine elsewhere. For me this completes the 2 album ‘warmup’ to SW’s peak period: his next 3 albums.
this is an album where the hits are very good, and the other songs are rather forgettable, with the exception of Gonna Keep on Tryin. The vocals are good as you would expect, but it all sorta starts sounding the same
This album started real strong with the Sky and the Family Stone influence, with thick bass and strong vocal messaging. On the A side. Then that B side is a window onto what they were before this moment. I've heard them be better at being themselves. The A side could've gone with a driving force on the second half of the album but I'm not music producer. I'm confused why this is on the list. 3.2/5
This album washed over me nicely but after listening I had no particular inclination to listen to it again.
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
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
good! easy
Nothing earth shattering
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
Runaway child, running wild is the standout so far. This is nice. Super wide stereo balance again, though. Not so nice in headphones.
Easy Sunday morning listening
No está en mi agenda este tipo de música Funky, así que
The soul flows through me
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.
Highlight: Runaway Child, Running Wild
Fav: Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing
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.
A stronger 3 than some but wasn't at that next level for me. Enjoyable album.
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.
Better than Coldplay
Better than I expected when I started playing it. Good background music.
Very good music, but I won't be going back to it
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
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.
Cool and funky
It’s good it’s fine whatever we just had a Temptations album let’s move on
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
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.
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
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
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 think my expectations. Wee a bit too high for this one
It’s fine. Neither the best nor the worst. I like this version of Grapevine better than others.
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.
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.
Short and fun album with an old school vibe. Intro was a banger and quality was solid throughout.
It was fine. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. It was an easy listen.
Runaway child, running wild is a special track. Some other highlights on the first half. Second half tailed off
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
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
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.
Short but sweet. I liked it but didn’t love it!
It's fine, not my thing though
I've had it for many years, good to hear it again, not their best album by any means.
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
Solid
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.
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.
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?
Álbum interesante por los temas que toca.