The Ultimate Collection

by The Temptations

Overview

With the exception of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, one would be hard pressed to name a Motown act who went through as many creative shifts as the Temptations. While Wonder's and Gaye's changes of direction were a product of their own creative rebellion against Berry Gordy's brilliant but often formulaic vision, the Temptations seemed to be the label's official "keeping up with the times" artists, starting out as interpreters of Smokey Robinson's silky-smooth sweet soul confections and going on to embrace rock guitars, work with members of Funkadelic, and be produced by Rick James, all while holding onto their trademark vocal style. The length and breadth of the Temptations' career would make it practically impossible for a single-disc career retrospective to be truly comprehensive, and The Ultimate Collection is missing a few essential tracks (most notably "Psychedelic Shack" and "Runaway Child, Running Wild"), while two latter-day hits, "Treat Her Like a Lady" and "Error of Our Ways," don't exactly bring this set to a triumphant conclusion. But if you're only going to own one Temptations disc, The Ultimate Collection is a very good one to get; it includes the majority of the group's biggest hits, the remastering sounds great, and the chronological sequence gives a fine picture of the group's constant musical evolution. The Ultimate Collection isn't the last word on the Temptations, but it's a splendid starting point to their music, and will add a satisfying portion of sweet-and-sour soul to your next party. Special added attraction: a rare a cappella take of "My Girl" is included as a bonus. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	03/25/1997
Label:	Motown / Polydor / Universal
UPC:	0731453056220
Rank:	46846

Tracks

1. The Way You Do the Things You Do
2. My Girl
3. It's Growing
4. Since I Lost My Baby
5. Don't Look Back
6. Get Ready
7. Ain't Too Proud to Beg
8. (I Know) I'm Losing You
9. All I Need
10. You're My Everything
11. Angel Doll
12. I Wish It Would Rain
13. Cloud Nine
14. I Can't Get Next to You
15. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
16. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
17. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
18. Shakey Ground
19. Treat Her Like a Lady
20. Error of Our Ways
21. My Girl

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Temptations   Primary Artist
Paul Williams   Vocals
The Andantes   Vocals (Background)
Eddie Kendricks   Vocals
Ali-Ollie Woodson   Vocals
Paul Riser   Conductor
David Ruffin   Vocals
Jerry Long   Conductor
Dennis Edwards   Vocals

Technical Credits

David Irvin   Design,Art Direction
Georgia Ward   Tape Archivist
Ramon Aninag   Project Assistant
Carol Friedman   Art Direction
Tina Anderson   Photography,Picture Research
Candace Bond   Executive Producer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Producer
Clarence Paul   Composer,Producer
Barrett Strong   Composer
Cornelius Grant   Composer
Eddie Cornelius   Composer
Eddie Hazel   Composer
Victor Carstarphen   Rhythm Arrangements
Harry Weinger   Liner Notes,Compilation Producer,Essay
Dana Smart   Project Coordinator
Gary N. Mayo   Mastering
Ali-Ollie Woodson   Composer
Amy Herot   Executive Producer
Paul Riser   Arranger,String Arrangements
John Lee Hooker   Composer
Smokey Robinson   Composer,Producer
Ralph Johnson   Producer
Morris Broadnax   Composer
Norman Whitfield   Composer,Producer
Harry Warren   Composer
Suzee Ikeda   Executive Producer
Frank Wilson   Composer,Producer
Robert White   Composer
Al Boyd   Composer
David Moss   Librarian
Alphonso Boyd   Composer
Richard Dean Taylor   Composer
Otis Williams   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Eddie Holland   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Ronald White   Composer,Producer
Dennis Nelson   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements
Rodger Penzabene   Composer
Robert Rogers   Composer
Warren "Pete" Moore   Composer
Jeffrey Bowen   Composer,Producer
R. Dean Taylor   Composer
Melvin Franklin   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Brian Holland   Composer
Al McKay   Producer
Stevie Wonder   Composer