Originally released in 1972, this 15th album from The Temptations hit #1 on the r&b chart, and here it lives again with the original cover and back cover artwork intact. This Special Gatefold Edition comes on 140 gram vinyl and is the first release the group issued without a couple of its founding members.
The eight-track listen opens with “Take A Look Around,” where Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Richard Street and Otis Williams bring their inimitable voices to the mesmerizing and powerful, soulful start. “Ain’t No Sunshine,” originally by Bill Withers, follows, and places Edwards, Harris and Street’s pipes front and center alongside soft guitar and strong attention to atmosphere.
Side A exits with “Stop The War Now,” where rumbling bass and scrappy drumming welcomes Melvin Franklin’s bass vocals to the psychedelic nods of the protest song that unfolds across 12-plus minutes.
The second side leads with the raw and noisy “What It Is?,” as backing vocals and background ambience add much to the experience, while “Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)” recruits flowing piano, plenty of percussion and Edwards’ memorable baritone for the busy yet melodic album highlight.
Landing close to the end, “It’s Summer” carries a charming dreaminess thanks to the gentle vocals, Paul Williams’ well-timed baritone and the pretty instrumentation, and “The End Of Our Road” finishes with focus on Street’s tenor amid the bouncy bass lines, animated drumming and strategic singing.
The Temptations were dealing with some serious inner turmoil during this album, with some core members wanting to shift towards balladry. Ultimately, the album lands in psychedelic soul territory, and it paid off with three well-received singles, a top spot on the Billboard charts and this much deserved reissue to keep the classic album alive and accessible.
