The Temptations - The Ultimate Collection

A brave effort at cramming one disc full of Temptations classics, The Ultimate Collection nevertheless makes a couple of puzzling choices. Why, for instance, include "Error of Our Ways," a very minor mid-'90s hit, and ignore "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" or "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)," both number ones from their classic period? Still, for the price, it's hard to argue with. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

The Ultimate Collection

What a great collection!! The music is fun and uplifting, I enjoy the
vocals and the melody combination on this disc. Many of the songs are in
my record collection of days gone bye. My purchase was prompted when I
watched the movie about the Temptations. As I drive to work I listen to
the Cd everyday!!!! It is great way to start my day!!!!!


Linda Rozner November 27, 2008

Something is Missing

I love the CD, but it is inexcusable for not having "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" and "Psychedelic Shack" on it. November 18, 2008

What great music. . . .

Recently, an Amazon friend reviewed this book. Since I gave up my old vinyl collection, I have not had any Temptations' CDs in my collection. That review just mentioned impelled me to begin adding some of the group's music to the set of CDs that I own.

Just got the CD and is it glorious! Obviously, one CD will not hold all of the best music of this group. However, what appears here is pretty terrific. From 1964, "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "My Girl"; from 1972, "Just My Imagination (Running away with Me)" and, maybe, my all-time favorite work, "Pap Was a Rolling Stone"; from 1994, "Error of Our Ways."

A few examples of their work. . .

The sunny "My Girl." A cheerful instrumental introduction followed by opening lines such as:

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day;
When it's cold outside, I got the month of May."

Why? "My girl." A nice uptempo, upbeat tune, something that the Temptations could do so well.

Of course, more lugubrious feelings can be elicited as well. Take "Just My Imagination (Running away with Me)." The singer speaks of the joy of having a wonderful girl"

". . .I watch her as she passes by.
I say to myself, I'm such a lucky guy.
To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true."

But the reality?

"It was just my imagination, running away with me."

Good instrumentals and fine vocal backing. One of the classics among all Temptations' songs. The Rolling Stones did a nice cover of this, but this version is the "real deal."

Then, my personal favorite of all their oeuvre, "Pap Was a Rolling Stone." A 2 minute introduction, as funky as one could wish, with wailing horns and an hypnotic beat before vocals come into play. The first lines:

"It was the third of September,
A day I'll always remember. . .
That was the day that my Daddy died."

This is the story of a person being apart from a father and hearing lots of bad things about him. Then asking his mom why. Her answer?

"Papa was a rolling stone,
Wherever he laid his hat was his home."

Song after song. These bring memories flooding back as I recalled hearing some of these songs for the first time when they were first released. Want to know something about this group? This is a good starting point.


October 18, 2008

I Wish I Would Reign....................

As all of you know, Election Day is fast approaching and I am running for President. This means hard work! But make no mistake- I realize this review will be antiquated in a few weeks so, who really cares? After all, time is swift, and most things will be forgotten eventually (minus, of course, the pens I've created that can write even on the moon, if you should ever visit there).

Well, I am at a whistle stop in Detroit at the current moment (on the caboose of a train, no less), and the crowds are receptive and they are cheering. Mostly, they cheer "Elect Metamorpho and, please, make him stop reviewing on Amazon"! Such adoration brings a tear to my eye (carefully hidden from the press). After all, if they got a whiff of sentimentalism, the papers and newscasts would bray "Seer not fit to Rule! Has Human Emotions"! This could be devastating, especially in politics. Better if I run off with tons of the public money than show emotion. Ah well, it is, after all, the quagmire we all face everyday.

Anyway, this is Motown, and the hard working, blue collar people, need someone to trust and to believe in. They cheer and raise bonfires and pitchforks! I am uncertain as to whether they think I'm Frankenstein or the new Messiah. But, I will get back to you and let you know. (If I'm able, of course).

But, you didn't tune in here to hear my vainglorious aspirations. No. You came here to read a review of The Temptations. And, I don't blame you. Awhile ago, I realized my vast collection was in dire need of some classic 60's tunes from a very considerable group. And, I have to say that this collection fit the bill very nicely. I will say that, it should be a wise choice to fit in to your collection. However, there are a few tunes that should have been included. But, it's a ploy you know. They force you to purchase more to get those songs. However, this collection includes most of the essential hits. And, if you want to get a taste of what Motown was all about, this is a good starting point.

"The Temptations:The Ultimate Collection" kicks. It surely does. There are so many charged songs here and it's a definite pleasure to hear. These guys have it down. From the pleading to the soft, from the desperate to ensemble bliss. I get into this. The blend of the lead vocals, the back-up, all contribute to the total enjoyment. And, do not forget the exceptional band playing on these songs. Absolutely, and without a doubt, these guys are experts in providing the mood and what's so needed in the musical recording process. They can bring you to the highs with horns, dramatic bass, and drum beat of "Ball of Confusion" to the softness and delicate balance of "Just My Imagination".

These guys are great. The vocal and the heart which they sing is a true joy of life. Really. They give you, probably, the ultimate similie ode with "The Way You Do the Things you Do".

i.e; "The way you swept me off my feet, you know you could have been a broom
The way you smell so sweet,you know you could have been some perfume"

etc. etc. You all know the deal.

But, good grief, there is so much classic 60's soul here to keep you satisfied for ages, AND, to reflect on. Included here are such great soul songs, "My Girl", "Get Ready", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Ball of Confusion", "Just My Imagination" and, one of my very favorites "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone". Listen to the amazing intro to that song. There is rarely, if ever, such a great beginning in music that I have heard.

Of course, for my Presidential aspirations, I am asking to include their "Ain't To Proud to Beg" as my offical political song. Maybe if I beg enough, they'll agree. Oh well, time will tell.

In closing, if you have only one choice, and want to get a fine slice of what the Temptations were all about, then this is the collection for you. Granted, it isn't totally complete, but it includes a lot of the very essential ones that you should have if you want to aproach the level of Metamorpho's vast archives. Get it if you love soul, or rather, get it if you love music. You won't be disappointed. A time capsule from the 60's that is vibrant and lives today.

Now I must go. The cameras are leaving and the crowd is dispersing. We just can't have an empty crowd on the 11 o'clock news. Now, I must get busy and approve those insistent attack ads. They do work, or so I'm told. Credibility is so hard to come by these days.

Vote Metamorpho - Candidate with Soul and (maybe) some Substance!

October 11, 2008

An igneous outburst of deliriously creativeness!

The Temptations was the soul band that captured me most in those years when I was entering in my early adolescence. Their sense of dynamical rhythm, their variegated gamut of timbers, imaginative compositions and frenetic proposals really engaged not only me, but besides a vast audience all over the world. So, when they decided to join with the Supremes to create that unforgettable song "I'm going make you love me" - one of the most original soft ballads of 1968 - together with "Sitting on the dock of the bay", "Honey", "Little green apples", "Hey Jude", "Over you", "I say a Little pray for you", "This magic moment", "Promises", "Angel of the morning", "I love how you love me", I`m coming home" and "Release me" - among my affective memory retains - they reached an even major recognition around the world.

But mostly, they knew to readapt themselves as band as any other soul ensemble with three master-songs , "Papa was a rolling Stone", "Psychedelic shack" and "Ball of confusion."

That outburst of igneous creativity was indeed, their golden passport for the immortality, neither more nor less.
September 20, 2008

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