| The Temptations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 7, 1981 | |||
| Studio | Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia and Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:03 | |||
| Label | Gordy | |||
| Producer | Thom Bell | |||
| The Temptations chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Temptations | ||||
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The Temptations is a studio album by American R&B group the Temptations, released via Motown's subsidiary label, Gordy Records on August 7, 1981. The album is the group's third album upon their return to Gordy Records after their brief stint at Atlantic Records.
The album is the result of the Temptations' collaboration with the critically acclaimed record producer Thom Bell, whom they had met eight years prior.[1] The album features two original members of the group, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, recurring member Dennis Edwards, and more recent members Richard Street and Glenn Leonard.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [3] |
The album leans more toward pop, which alienated them from their R&B audience.
According to Craig Lytle of AllMusic, the reason why the album wasn't a huge success was that it wasn't marketed to a crossover audience.[4]
The album peaked at No. 119 on the Billboard 200 albums chart[5] and No. 36 on the Top Black Albums albums chart.[6] The only charting single from the album was the album's debut single, the uptempo R&B groove "Aiming at Your Heart" featuring Street and Leonard on lead vocals. The single peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was more successful on the Hot Soul Singles chart, reaching No. 36.[7]
All tracks are arranged by Thom Bell, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arranged by | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aiming at Your Heart" | Charles B. Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, Richard Roebuck | Bill Neale | 5:58 |
| 2. | "Evil Woman (Gonna Take Your Love)" | Leroy M. Bell, Casey James | 3:20 | |
| 3. | "The Best Of Both Worlds" | Thom Bell, Linda Creed | 3:41 | |
| 4. | "Ready Willing And Able" | Alan Glass, Preston Glass, T. Bell | 3:25 | |
| 5. | "Open Their Eyes" | T. Bell, Creed | 4:14 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arranged by | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Oh, What A Night" | T. Bell, Creed | 4:03 | |
| 7. | "The Life of a Cowboy" | Jefferson, Roebuck | 3:33 | |
| 8. | "Just Ain't Havin' Fun" | T. Bell, Creed | 4:06 | |
| 9. | "What Else" | Simmons, Jefferson, Roebuck | 4:11 | |
| 10. | "Your Lovin' Is Magic" | A. Glass, P. Glass, T. Bell | Neale | 4:05 |
Musicians:
Production:
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[8] | 119 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 36 |
