Another great piece. Reminiscent of print-era music journalism, but without the self-indulgent esotericism that publications like MOJO were sometimes guilty of. In fact, how nice it would be to see these pieces anthologised, bibliography and index and everything. Just a humble suggestion...
That is a terrific essay on the Temps, Robert - well done!
I'm the younger brother of a Motown-loving sister. She had a lot of the early albums, which cost - jeez - $2.99 at the local record store in our little town in New Joisey.
When she was out, I would steal away upstairs to her bedroom and listen to her records. The early Motown album covers were rather bare bones - the name of the group, maybe a few of the song titles, but who cared? The Temps, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Smokey & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes - I listened to them all, and along with NYC's prodigious AM radio stations, ingested the hits into my musical DNA.
I had but a few albums of my own, mostly Ray Charles, who was my guide to soul, R&B and jazz, and eventually, country-and-western.
In '68 I was privileged to see the Temps perform in the Lehigh University Gymnasium, on a tiny stage stuck against a wall, with a small backing band. The only neglect in your essay is their dancing. Their dancing! They were trained in the Motown School and their dance routines were a priceless part of their charm. I had seen them on TV numerous times, on the teen shows broadcast after school, where they lip-synced their hits and did their brilliant moves. After seeing them live, I could close my eyes and remember them singing and dancing their hearts out to a couple of thousand white kids who packed the room. It remains a solid memory, filed away for those times I'm in a Motown State of Mind.
I play guitar and sing for high school kids with developmental disabilities, and "My Girl" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do" are requested frequently. Motown lives!
Perhaps one day you will write about The Persuasions, one of the greatest of latter day Doo Wop groups. On their second and greatest album, "Street Corner Symphony" they performed a medley of Temptations' hits, titled "Temps Jam". It's fantastic, and can be heard here:
Thanks for sharing the memories (oh, to have been alive during that time). I tried to slip in a reference to their routines with the reference to Cholly Atkins, the label's choreographer as part of the "finishing school" the label ran, when discussing 'Get Ready.' Motown was "the sound of Young America," very conscious of its striving to appeal to everyone and that soul music is for all people. We all can partake of it and in so doing, recognize our common humanity. No words can truly capture the important legacy of Motown to which we are all heir.
Another great piece. Reminiscent of print-era music journalism, but without the self-indulgent esotericism that publications like MOJO were sometimes guilty of. In fact, how nice it would be to see these pieces anthologised, bibliography and index and everything. Just a humble suggestion...
Thanks so much. Maybe one day I'll work on collecting these essays into something - you're not the first to suggest such an endeavour.
You are welcome Robert. You high quality reviews are always a pleasure to read.
Thanks again! The kind words are appreciated.
Top shelf again Robert! "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is one my favorite Temptations tracks.
Thanks Marco - appreciate it!
That is a terrific essay on the Temps, Robert - well done!
I'm the younger brother of a Motown-loving sister. She had a lot of the early albums, which cost - jeez - $2.99 at the local record store in our little town in New Joisey.
When she was out, I would steal away upstairs to her bedroom and listen to her records. The early Motown album covers were rather bare bones - the name of the group, maybe a few of the song titles, but who cared? The Temps, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Smokey & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes - I listened to them all, and along with NYC's prodigious AM radio stations, ingested the hits into my musical DNA.
I had but a few albums of my own, mostly Ray Charles, who was my guide to soul, R&B and jazz, and eventually, country-and-western.
In '68 I was privileged to see the Temps perform in the Lehigh University Gymnasium, on a tiny stage stuck against a wall, with a small backing band. The only neglect in your essay is their dancing. Their dancing! They were trained in the Motown School and their dance routines were a priceless part of their charm. I had seen them on TV numerous times, on the teen shows broadcast after school, where they lip-synced their hits and did their brilliant moves. After seeing them live, I could close my eyes and remember them singing and dancing their hearts out to a couple of thousand white kids who packed the room. It remains a solid memory, filed away for those times I'm in a Motown State of Mind.
I play guitar and sing for high school kids with developmental disabilities, and "My Girl" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do" are requested frequently. Motown lives!
Perhaps one day you will write about The Persuasions, one of the greatest of latter day Doo Wop groups. On their second and greatest album, "Street Corner Symphony" they performed a medley of Temptations' hits, titled "Temps Jam". It's fantastic, and can be heard here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EneTGMtuml8
Thanks for this one, Robert!
Thanks for sharing the memories (oh, to have been alive during that time). I tried to slip in a reference to their routines with the reference to Cholly Atkins, the label's choreographer as part of the "finishing school" the label ran, when discussing 'Get Ready.' Motown was "the sound of Young America," very conscious of its striving to appeal to everyone and that soul music is for all people. We all can partake of it and in so doing, recognize our common humanity. No words can truly capture the important legacy of Motown to which we are all heir.