| The
Temptations
The Cavaliers - A high school band formed in Birmingham,
Alabama. Members Edward James Kendricks, Paul Williams,
Cal Osborne and Wiley Waller. After graduating from
school they moved to Cleveland and met manager Milton
Jenkins, who felt the group would do better based out of
Detroit. Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and Cal Osborne
did so, then changed their name to The Primes. Meanwhile
Otis Miles of Texarkana, Texas, moved to Detroit in 1950
and in 1959 formed a street-corner group called The
Elegants with Elbridge Bryant, Melvin Franklin (real name
David English), his cousin Richard Street and Albert
Harrell, all friends from Northwestern High School.
During this period they found out about the white group
called The Elegants and thus became The Questions then
changing their name once more to The Distants. The Primes
met The Distants at a party thrown by Janette Poole, a
friend of The Distants. Richard Street and Albert Harrell
soon departed and the two groups merged into one. The
members were now Otis Miles (now calling himself Otis
Williams) Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams
and Elbrige "Al" Bryant. Milton Jenkins
arranged local club work for the group and they became
The Elgins. This is when Berry Gordy spotted the group
and signed them to his Motown subsidiary Miracle records.
Standing on the porch of Motown's Hitsville office Otis
Williams and label employee Billy Mitchell came up with
the name The Temptations for the group.
Otis Williams &
The Siberians (Members Otis Williams, Elbridge
Bryant, James "Pee Wee" Crawford, Arthur
Walton And Vernard Plain -- Lead)
? - Pecos
Kid / All Of My Life - 1958 Only reference to this release is Otis Williams
in his book The Temptations.
The El Domingoes (Members
Otis Williams, Elbridge Bryant, James "Pee
Wee" Crawford, Arthur Walton And Vernard Plain
-- Lead)
Little David Bush (David
Ruffin)
Vega 1002 - Believe Me / You
And I - 1958
Eddie Bush (David
Ruffin)
? - Statue Of A Fool / ? -
? (78 Rpm Format)
The Voice Masters (Members
Ty Hunter, C.P. Spencer, Lamont Dozier, David Ruffin And Freddie Gorman)
Anna 101 - Hope And Pray
/ Oop's I'm Sorry - 1959 (This was the first release on the Anna Label)
Anna 102 - Needed / Needed (For Lovers Only) - 1959
Ty Hunter &
The Voice Masters
Anna 1114 - Everything
About You / Orphan Boy - 1960
Anna 1123 - Every Time / I'm Free - 1960
David Ruffin
Anna 1127 - I'm In Love / One Of These
Days - 1960
The Voice Masters
Frisco 15235 - In Love In
Vain / Two Lovers - 1960 (Identification Number shown since no
selection number is used)
The Distants (Members
Richard Street (Strick) (Former singer with High School group The Swallows), Otis Williams, Melvin
Franklin, Eldrige Bryant And James Crawford)
Northern 3732 - Come On*
/ Always** - 1960 *Co-Written by Johnnie Mae
Matthews. **Written by Ex-Member Vernard Plain. (This label number was
also assigned to Johnnie Mae Matthews with "So Lonely / Help
Me" and also Pop Corn & His Mohawks
with
"Pretty Girl / You're The One")
The Distants Vocal
By Richard Strick
Warwick 546 - Come On
/ Always - 1960
The Distants
Northern ? - Alright /
Open Your Heart - 1960 (Backing Vocals The
Andantes) - Reference to this release is Otis
Wiliams in his book The Temptations.
Warwick 577 - Always / Open Up Your
Heart -1960
The Temptations (Members
Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul
Williams And Elbrige Bryant)
Miracle 5 - Oh, Mother Of
Mine / Romance Without Finance - 1961
Miracle 12 - Check Yourself / Your Wonderful Love* - 1961
*Covered In 1969 by Chuck Jackson on
Motown 1144. This was the last release on the
Miracle Label.
Richard Street
& The Distants (Members Richard Street,
Eddie Kendricks And Paul Williams)
Thelma 82335/6 - Answer Me
/ Save Me From This Misery - 1961
Harmon 1002 - Answer Me / Save Me From This
Misery - 1962
David Ruffin
Check-Mate 1003 -
Actions Speak Louder Than Words / You Can Get What I Got
- 1961
Check-Mate 1010 - Knock You Out (With Love)
/ Mr. Bus Driver (Hurry) - 1962
The Temptations
Gordy 7001 - Dream Come
True / Isn't She Pretty - 1962 (The first issue on the
Gordy Label)
Gordy 7010 - Paradise / Slow Down Heart - 1962
The Pirates
Mel-O-Dy 105 - Mind Over
Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)* / I'll Love You
Till I Die - 1962 (The Group Was The Temptations)
*Written by Nolan Strong who also released it in
1962 on Fortune 546.
The Temptations
Gordy 7015 - I Want A Love
I Can See / The Further You Look, The Less You See -
1963
Gordy 7020 - May I Have This Dance? / Farewell, My Love -
1963 (Elbrige Bryant leaves group and is replaced by
David Ruffin after this release)
Gordy 7028 - The Way You Do The Things You Do* / Just Let
Me Know - 1964 *Lead Eddie Kendricks -
Song also covered In 1969 by Diana Ross &
The
Supremes & The Temptations on Motown 1142.
Liz Lands &
The Temptations
Gordy 7030 - Keep Me /
Midnight Johnny - 1964
The Temptations
Gordy 7032 - I'll Be In
Trouble / The Girl's Alright With Me* - 1964 *Also
released in 1974 by The Undisputed Truth on Gordy 7139.
Gordy 7035 - Girl (Why you Wanna Make Me Blue) /
Baby, Baby I Need You - 1964
Hitsville U.S.A. Dm
097311 - Greetings To The Tamla Motown Appreciation
Society - 1964 This American record was limited to 300 copies for
dispersal throughout various European Fan
Clubs as a Promo for their first European tour. Each act gives an
individual greeting over it's latest Record.
Artists involved are The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes, The Temptations, Martha And The Vandellas, The Contours, Eddie Holland, Kim Weston And The Supremes. The record has an introduction from Publicist Margaret Phelps
and Berry
Gordy.
The Temptations
Gordy 7038 - My Girl*
/ (Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My
Baby - 1965 *Lead David Ruffin - Song also released in 1968
by Stevie Wonder on Tamla 54168.
Gordy 7040 - It's Growing* / What Love Has Joined
Together** - 1965 *Song also released in
1968 by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
on Gordy 7079.
**Originally released in 1963 by Mary Wells on Motown 1042.
Gordy 7043 - Since I Lost My Baby / You've Got To Earn It
- 1965
Gordy 7047 - My Baby / Don't Look Back - 1965
Gordy 7049 - Get Ready* / Fading Away** - 1966 *Also
released in 1970 by Rare Earth on Rare Earth 5012 And In
1979 by Smokey Robinson on Tamla 54301. **Covered in 1968 by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers on Gordy 7069.
Gordy 7054 - Ain't Too Proud To Beg - 1966 (One
Sided Disc)
Gordy 7054 - Ain't To Proud To Beg / You'll Lose A
Precious Love - 1966 (Issued with Picture Sleeve)
Gordy 7055 - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep / You're Not An
Ordinary Girl - 1966 (Issued with Picture Sleeve)
Gordy 7057 - (I Know) I'm Losing You* / I Couldn't Cry If
I Wanted To** - 1966 *Also released In
1970 by Rare Earth on Rare Earth 5017. **Originally released in 1963 by Eddie Holland
on Motown 1049.
Various Artists
Motown 2482 - Seasons
Greetings From Motown - 1966 very short "Christmas
Greetings" Radio Station spots are delivered By
Martha And The Vandellas, The Temptations, The Miracles, Shorty Long, The Velvelettes, The Spinners, The Four Tops, The Elgins and The Supremes ----
Issued in red vinyl.
The Temptations
Gordy 7061 - All I Need /
Sorry Is A Sorry Word* - 1967 *Also released in 1970 By
Ivy Jo on V.I.P. 25055.
Topps/Motown 4 - My Girl - 1967 (Cardboard Record)
Topps/Motown 13 - The Way You Do The Things You Do - 1967
(Cardboard Record)
Gordy 7063 - You're My Everything* / I've Been Good To
You - 1967 (Has Gordy on top of label) *Also released in
1970 by Gladys Knight & The Pips on Soul 35071.
Gordy 7063 - You're My Everything / I've Been Good To
You* - 1967 (Has Gordy on left side of label) *Originally released in 1961
by The Miracles on Tamla 54053.
Gordy 7065 - (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I
Need / Don't Send Me Away - 1967
Gordy 7067 - All I Need / All I Need - 1967
(White Label Promo Issue Only)
Gordy 7068 - I Wish It Would Rain / I Truly, Truly
Believe - 1967
Gordy 7072 - I Could Never Love Another (After Loving
You) / Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got* - 1968
*Originally released in 1967 by Jimmy Ruffin on Soul 35032.
Gordy 7074 - Please Return Your Love To Me / How Can I
Forget* - 1968 David Ruffin leaves and is replaced by Dennis Edwards after
this release. *Also released in 1969 by Marvin Gaye on Tamla 54190.
Gordy 7081 - Cloud Nine* / Why Did She Have To Leave Me
(Why Did She Have To Go) - 1968 (This 45 became
Motown's first Grammy Winner - For Best Group R
& B Performance) *Also released in 1969
by Gladys Knight & The Pips on Soul
35068 and in 1971 by Edwin Starr on Gordy 7107
Diana Ross &
The Supremes & The Temptations
Motown 1137 - I'm Gonna
Make You Love Me / A Place In The Sun - 1968
The Temptations
Gordy 7082 - Silent Night
/ Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - 1968
Gordy 7084 - Run Away Child, Running Wild* / I Need Your
Love - 1969 *Also released in 1969 by Earl Van Dyke on
Soul 35059.
Diana Ross &
The Supremes & The Temptations
Motown 1142 - I'll Try
Something New / The Way You Do The Things You Do - 1969
The Temptations
Gordy 7086 - Don't Let The
Joneses Get You Down / Since I've Lost You* - 1969 *Originally
released in 1964 by Jimmy Ruffin on Soul 35002.
Gordy 7093 - I Can't Get Next To You / Running Away
(Ain't Gonna Help You) - 1969
Diana Ross &
The Supremes & The Temptations
Motown 1150 - Stubborn
Kind Of Fellow / Try It Baby - 1969
Motown 1153 - The Weight / For Better Or Worse - 1969
The Temptations
Gordy 7096 - Psychedelic
Shack / That's The Way Love Is* - 1970 *Originally
released in 1967 by The Isley Brothers On Tamla 54154.
Gordy 7099 - Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is
Today)* / It's Summer - 1970 *Also released in 1971
by The Undisputed Truth on Gordy
7112 and in 1972 by Edwin Starr on Soul 35096.
(Issued With Picture Sleeve and some copies came in red vinyl)
Gordy 7102 - Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World) / Hum
Along And Dance* - 1970 *Covered in 1973 by Rare Earth
on Rare Earth 5054. (Some copies issued in red vinyl)
Gordy 7105 - Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) /
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)* - 1971 (White
Label Promo Issue Only) *Also released in 1973 by The
Undisputed Truth on Gordy 7130.
Gordy 7105 - Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
*/ You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On
Earth** - 1971* Lead Eddie Kendricks -- He leaves group shortly after
this release to start a solo career at
Motown. Also Paul Williams leaves due to ill health. Both are replaced
by Damon Harris (From The Vandals And
T-Neck) and Richard Street (From The Distants And The
Monitors) Also at this time Ricky Owens (Of The
Vibrations) sang with the group for a short time. **Also
released in 1971 by The Undisputed Truth on Gordy 7112.
Gordy 7109 - It's Summer / I'm The Exception To The Rule*
- 1971 Members Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin
Franklin And Dennis Edwards. *Originally released in 1965 by The Velvelettes
on V.I.P. 25017.
Gordy 7111 - Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You
Are) / Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love* - 1971
Members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street,
Damon Harris And Dennis Edwards. *Also released in 1975 by David Ruffin
on Motown
1336.**Also released in 1967 by Edwin Starr on Gordy 7066 and also in 1970
on Gordy 7104. In 1968 by Jimmy
Ruffin on Soul 35053. In 1969 by Marvin Gaye on Tamla
54185. In 1973 by The Undisputed Truth on Gordy
7124.
Gordy 7115 - Take A Look Around / Smooth Sailing (From
Now On) - 1972
Gordy 7119 - Mother Nature / Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns
Me On* - 1972 *Originally released in
1971 by Edwin Starr on Gordy 7107.
Gordy 7121 - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone / (Instrumental)* -
1972 (Originally released In 1972 by The Undisputed
Truth on Gordy 7117) *Flip won a Grammy as Best
Instrumental.
Gordy 7126 - Masterpiece (Vocal) / Masterpiece (Instrumental)
- 1972
Gordy 7129 - Plastic Man / Hurry Tomorrow - 1973
Gordy 7131 - Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) / Ma* - 1973 *Also
released in 1973 by Rare Earth on Rare Earth 5053 and on
Rare Earth 5056.
Gordy 7133 - Let Your Hair Down / Ain't No Justice - 1973
Gordy 7135 - Heavenly / Zoom - 1974
Gordy 7136 - You've Got My Soul On Fire* / I Need You -
1974 *Originally released in 1973 by
Edwin Starr on Motown 1276.
The Temptations /
The Temptations Band
Gordy 7138 - Happy People
/ Happy People (Instrumental) - 1974 *Flip
By The Temptations Band.
The Temptations
Gordy 7142 - Shakey Ground
/ I'm A Bachelor - 1975
Gordy 7144 - Glasshouse / The Prophet - 1975 Around this time Damon Harris
is replaced by Glenn Leonard (From The
Unifics)
Gordy 7146 - Keep Holding On / What You Need Most (I Do
Best Of All) - 1975 Members Otis Williams, Melvin
Franklin, Richard Street, Glenn Leonard And Dennis
Edwards.
Gordy 7150 - Up The Creek (Without A Paddle) / Darling
Stand By Me (Song For A Woman) - 1976
Gordy 7151 - Who Are You (And What Are You Doing The Rest
Of Your Life) - 1976 (Single Sided Disc -Promo Issue
Only)
Gordy 7151 - Who Are You (And What Are You Doing The Rest
Of Your Life) / Darling Stand By Me (Song For A Woman) -
1976 (Unreleased)
Gordy 7152 - Let Me Count The Ways (I Love You) / Who Are
You (And What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life) - 1976
Atlantic 3436 - In A Lifetime / I Could Never Stop Loving
You - 1977 Members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin,
Richard Street, Glenn Leonard And Louis Price.
Atlantic 3461 - Think For Yourself / Let's Live In Peace
- 1978
Atlantic 3517 - Bare Back / I See My Child - 1978
Atlantic 3538 - Ever Ready Love / Touch Me Again - 1978
Atlantic 3567 - Mystic Woman / I Just Don't Know How To
Let You Go - 1979
Gordy 7182 - Power / Power - 1980 (Promo Copy -- Red
Vinyl -- Same Version Both Sides)
Gordy 7183 - Power / Power (Part 2) - 1980 Lineup now consists of a
returned Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams,
Melvin Franklin, Richard Street And Glenn Leonard.
Gordy 7188 - Struck By Lightning Twice / I'm Coming
Home - 1980
Gordy 7208 - Aiming At Your Heart / The Life Of A Cowboy
- 1981
Gordy 7213 - Oh What A Night / Isn't The Night Fantastic
- 1981
The
Temptations Featuring Rick James
Gordy 1616 - Standing On
The Top - Part 1 / Standing On The Top - Part 2 - 1982
(Rick James Is Melvin Franklin's Nephew) Members On This
45 Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Richard
Street, Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin And Glenn Leonard.
The Temptations
Gordy 1631 - More On The
Inside / Money's Hard To Get - 1982
Gordy 1654 - Silent Night / Everything For Christmas -
1982 Members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Richard
Street, Glenn Leonard And Dennis Edwards.
Gordy 1666 - Love On My Mind Tonight / Bring Your
Body (Exercise Chant) - 1983
Gordy 1683 - Made In America / Surface Thrills - 1983
The Temptations /
Finis Henderson
Motown 119 - Surface
Thrill* / ** ? - 1983 ( 12" Promo Issue Only) *The
Temptations Only. **Finis Henderson Only.
The Temptations
Gordy 1707 - Miss Busy
Body (Get Your Body Busy) (Part 1) (Vocal) / Miss Busy
Body (Get Your Body Busy) (Part 2) (Instrumental)
- 1983 Members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Richard
Street, Ron Tyson And Dennis Edwards.
Gordy 1713 - Silent Night / Everything For Christmas -
1983
Gordy 1720 - Sail Away / Isn't The Night Fantastic - 1984
Gordy 1765 - Treat Her Like A Lady / Isn't The Night
Fantastic - 1984 Members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin,
Richard Street, Ron Tyson And Ali-Ollie Woodson.
Gordy 1781 - My Love Is True (Truly For You) / Set Your
Love Right - 1985
Gordy 1789 - How Can You Say That It's Over / I'll Keep
My Light In My Window - 1985
Gordy 1818 - Do You Really Love Your Baby / I'll Keep My
Light In My Window - 1985
Motown 4550 - Do You Really Love Your Baby (3 Versions) /
I'll Keep My Light In Your Window - 1985 (12"
Release)
Gordy 1834 - Touch Me / Set Your Love Right - 1986
The Temptations /
Smokey Robinson
Motown 1837 - A Fine Mess
*/ Wishful Thinking - 1986 * From The Film Of Same
Title. Flip Is By Smokey Robinson
The Temptations /
Jackson 5 / De Barge / The Commodores
Quaker - Motown Sound -
1986 (45rpm Cardboard Picture Disc Issued With Box
Of "Quaker Granola Dipp Bars". No Selection
Number Used)
The Temptations
Motown 180 - A Fine Mess /
A Fine Mess - 1986 (12" Promo Issue)
Gordy 1856 - Lady Soul / Put Us Together Again - 1986
Gordy 1871 - To Be Continued / You're The One - 1986
Motown 1908 - I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now* / Girls
(They Like It) - 1987 * Harmonica Solo By Stevie Wonder
-- Members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Richard
Street, Ron Tyson And Dennis Edwards.
Gordy 1881 - Someone / Love Me Right - 1987 (Last Issue
On The Gordy Label)
Motown 1920 - Look What You Started / More Love, Your
Love - 1987
Motown 4598 - Look What You Started (4 Versions) / More
Love, Your Love - 1987 (12" Release)
Motown Yesteryear 690 - Silent Night / Everything For
Christmas - 198?
Motown 1933 - Do You Wanna Go With Me / Put Your Foot
Down - 1988
Motown 1974 - All I Want From You / (Instrumental) - 1989
Motown 4649 - All I Want From You / (Instrumental) - 1989
(12" Release)
Motown L33-17880 - All I Want From You (Club Mix) /
(Debbie Favorite Mix) - 1989 (12" Promo Issue)
Motown 2023 - Soul To Soul / (Instrumental) - 1990
Motown L33-18149 - Soul To Soul (3 Versions) - 1990
(12" Promo Issue)
Motown L33-18206 - One Step At A Time (3 Versions) - 1990
(12" Promo Issue)#
Motown 53954 - Get Ready 1990 (4 Versions) - 1990
(12" Release)
Motown 1132 - Get Ready 1990 (4 Versions) - 1990
(12" Promo Issue)
The 1991 Temptations
Lineup Includes Ali-Ollie Woodson, Damon Harris,
Richard Street, Ron Tyson, And Louis Price.
Motown 1604 - The Jones (4
Versions) - 1991 (12" Promo Issue)
Motown 37463 1025 1 - Hoops On Fire (3 Versions) - 1992
(12" Promo Issue)
Motown 860862-7 - Stay* / My Girl - 1998 *Produced By
Narada Michael Walden.
The 2001 Temptations
lineup includes Harry McGilberry (the 17th
Temptation replacing Melvin Franklin), Otis Williams, Ron
Tyson, Terry Weeks (in group since 1997) and Barrington
"Bo" Henderson (in group since 1998)
Harry McGilberry worked
extensively for Philly International in the 1970's ,
initially as a member of The Futures (remembered for
their 1975 album "Castles In The Sky") as well
as providing backing vocals on McFadden & Whitehead's
"Ain't No Stopping Us Now" and artists such as
Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls, Billy Paul and Teddy
Pendergrass).
Discography by Bosko Asanovic with
additions from Dave Rimmer, Colton Thomas, and Steve Robbins
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