On Sunday (May 29th), we ventured downtown to The Cadillac Palace Theater to see the hot new musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD: The Life and Times of THE TEMPTATIONS," running thru next Sunday, June 5th. (Limited seating is still available.)
Now Frannie and I are HUGE Temptations fans. (This wasn't always the case with me. When I was growing up at the time, I never really connected with their music, despite a career that provided FORTY Top 40 Pop Hits between 1964 and 1975 ... one hell of a run for the Kings of Motown! The band also enjoyed fifteen #1 Records on Billboard's R&B Chart ... see our TEMPTATIONS HIT LIST below.)
It wasn't until years later when I bought a special three album set of greatest hits that I started to better appreciate their sound and contribution to the landscape of '60's and early '70's rock and roll. (One thing you've got to say about Motown Records ... they were ALWAYS extremely generous when it came to these greatest hits compilations ... ALL of the hits were there, with little or no filler. It was a great way to "catch up" with your record collection at the time ... and similar sets were offered for The Supremes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and a few others of their biggest acts. I virtually built my entire Motown collection around these two and three LP sets as they provided EVERY hit you could conceivably want by each artist ... and let's face it ... Motown had an INCREDIBLE stable of artists!)
Moving forward, we fell in love with the Made-For-TV mini-series / movie on The Temptations ... so much so, that this is another film we've probably watched at least a dozen times all the way through ... plus one that we leave on whenever we happen to stumble upon it while channel surfing.
The downside of this is that these "Fake Temptations" have become rooted in our minds now as the definitive visual image of the group!!! The actors did such an incredible job of embodying the real-life characters, that they have all blended into one ... and that's about the highest praise one can bestow on an actor ... or, in this case, SEVERAL actors, who worked so well together as a team to recreate the magic of one of Pop and R&B's true superstar groups.
[For all the purists out there, you CAN find DVD live
performances of The REAL Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show on a couple of
EXCELLENT discs released by Andrew Solt a few years ago ... "The Best Of
The Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Temptations Get
Ready: Definitive Performances, 1965 - 1972, featuring sixteen
full-length performances of the group in action. Just visit Amazon.com for more information.]
And now we were about to go downtown to see ANOTHER group of actors and singers take on these roles. (Would that make them the Fake, Fake Temptations??? I have to admit ... I'm getting a little confused!)
I can only tell you that they did an excellent job of reenacting the magic of The Temptations performing on stage.
Marcus Paul James (Otis Williams), James T. Lane (Paul Williams), Harrell Holmes, Jr. (Melvin Franklin), Jalen Harris (Eddie Kendricks), Elijah Ahmad Lewis (David Ruffin) and later, Harris Matthew (Dennis Edwards), did a commendable job of not only vocalizing together but also managing the very taxing dance steps that was so much a part of the group's stage act.
Once again, the story is told from the perspective of Otis Williams, the founding member and today, "the last man standing." Williams wrote his book about the band several years ago and it has become the basis for all tellings of their story ever since.
The Temptations went through a number of line-up changes over the years including the firing (and rehiring) of David Ruffin (self-appointed leader of the Temps ... he felt the group should have been renamed David Ruffin and The Temptations, much like Motown did with Diana Ross and the Supremes and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, both of whom are also featured in the stage presentation.) Enter Dennis Edwards, a former member of The Contours who scored a huge Motown Hit with "Do You Love Me," who would come in to take Ruffin's place. Shortly after, Eddie Kendricks, the impeccable falsetto voice of the band, would leave to pursue a solo career. (It clicked almost immediately ... Kendricks enjoyed back-to-back #1 Hits with "Keep On Truckin'" and "Boogie Down" in 1973.) Kendricks remained loyal to Ruffin, whose career took a major tailspin once drugs got the better of him ... he believed The Temptations were built on the foundation of A Band of Brothers, who stuck together no matter what may come their way. He never really forgave Otis for firing David from the group.
Soon, Ruffin and Kenricks teamed up to form their OWN competing version of The Temptations ... a logical progression since theirs were the voices the fans grew up listening to and falling in love with. They even collaborated for a series of shows (and a live album,
recorded at the legendary Apollo Theater) with Daryl Hall and John Oates
before rejoining The Temptations briefly ... until David started showing up
late and missing shows again. (Through it all, Ruffin insisted that it was HIS voice the fans were coming to hear ... and then he wouldn't show up for the gig, denying fans the opportunity to do so!) Soon, both Kendricks and Ruffin were gone again. (After that ... and for the next couple of decades ... it got a bit ridiculous trying to keep track of the number of groups that were out performing as The Temptations, led by so many ex one-time members, no matter how short-lived that tenure may have been.) Thankfully, "Ain't Too Proud" focuses on the core members of the group, which is certainly the way we'd most like to remember them.
The stage musical is a barrage of hit music, from cover-to-cover as they say, featuring nearly every major hit The Temptations ever had. (Noticeably missing was "Psychedelic Shack," a #4 hit for the group in 1970.) Not always presented in chronological order, the music is used more as a backdrop to advance the story in some cases ... but it is handled so brilliantly that it doesn't really distract in any way from the story at hand. (One of the highlights is the group coming to acceptance of their #1 Hit "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" in 1972 ... and the grand finale is to die for!)
Harris and Holmes, Jr. are both American Idol alums ... and James and Lewis both performed in the Broadway production of "Ain't Too Proud" ... so it's a pretty stellar cast, to say the least.
Much like "Jersey Boys," (which it clearly aspires to be), the play focuses more on the back story of the group ... in this case, much more inner turmoil than outside influence ... although drugs DID play a major part in tearing the band apart. (Still, they never lost their true focus ... and soldiered on, no matter what obstacles were thrown in their way.) Keep in mind that this was the heavily prejudiced 1960's ... and, as mentioned during the play, in some instances the same white fans who were buying their records and listening to them on the radio and dancing to them in the clubs were also shooting at them and throwing bricks as their "bus full of Niggers" pulled into town to perform a show. In many cases, they were hard-pressed to find a place to eat, a place to sleep or even a place to use the bathroom. There were a few story lines that were quickly glossed over (such as the extent of David Ruffin's REAL treatment of Tammi Terrell), but overall it makes for an interesting and entertaining presentation of some of the best-known music on the planet.
As the Otis Williams character states at the end of the play, he's the only one left ... the last man standing. He then goes on to state that eventually everybody ... and everything dies ...
And then pauses for a moment and says "Except the music ... The music will never die."
True that ... and it's still drawing us in to see and hear it. ("Ain't Too Proud" played to a full house Sunday matinee, with cheers throughout, the afternoon we were there.) This very idea forms the whole foundation of what Forgotten Hits is all about ... Keeping The Music Alive so that new generations can continue to discover it, enjoy it and fall in love with it, just like we did.
THE TEMPTATIONS HIT LIST:
1962 - Dream Come True (POP - xx / R&B - 22)
1964 - The Way You Do The Things You Do (POP - 10 / R&B - #1)
1964 - I'll Be In Trouble (POP - 32 / R&B - 22)
1964 - The Girl's Alright With Me (POP - xx / R&B - 39)
1964 - Girl, Why You Wanna Make Me Blue (POP - 25 / R&B - #11)
1965 - My Girl (POP - #1 / R&B - #1)
1965 - It's Growing (POP - 14 / R&B - 3)
1965 - Since I Lost My Baby (POP - 17 / R&B - 4)
1965 - You've Got To Earn It (POP - 107 / R&B - 22)
1965 - My Baby (POP - 13 / R&B - 4)
1965 - Don't Look Back (POP - 78 / R&B - 15)
1966 - Get Ready (POP - 23 / R&B - #1)
1966 - Ain't Too Proud To Beg (POP - 8 / R&B - #1)
1966 - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep (POP - 3 / R&B - #1)
1966 - I Know I'm Losing You (POP - 8 / R&B - #1)
1967 - All I Need (POP - 8 / R&B - 2)
1967- You're My Everything (POP - 6 / R&B - 3)
1967 - It's You That I Need (POP - 8 / R&B - 3)
1968 - I Wish It Would Rain (POP - 2 / R&B - #1)
1968 - I Truly, Truly Believe (POP - 93 / R&B - 41)
1968 - I Could Never Love Another (POP - 10 / R&B - #1)
1968 - Please Return Your Love To Me (POP - 21 / R&B -4)
1968 - Cloud Nine (POP - 4 / R&B - 2)
1969 - I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (recorded with Diana Ross and the Supremes) POP - #1 / R&B - 2)
1969 - Run Away Child, Running Wild (POP - 6 / R&B - #1)
1969 - I'll Try Something New (recorded with Diana Ross and the Supremes) POP - 18 / R&B - 8)
1969 - Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down (POP - 17 / R&B - 2)
1969 - I Can't Get Next To You (POP - #1 / R&B - #1)
1969 - The Weight (recorded with Diana Ross and the Supremes) POP - 34 / R&B - 33)
1970 - Psychedelic Shack (POP - 4 / R&B - 2)
1970 - Ball Of Confusion (POP - #1 / R&B - 2)
1970 - Ungena Za Ulimwengu (POP - 28 / R&B - 8)
1970 - Hum Along And Dance (POP - 26 / R&B - 8B)
1971 - Just My Imagination (POP - #1 / R&B - #1)
1971 - It's Summer (POP - 28 / R&B - 29)
1971 - Superstar (POP - 12 / R&B - 8)
1972 - Take A Look Around (POP 25 / R&B - 10)
1972 - Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (POP - 65 / R&B - 27)
1972 - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (POP - #1 / R&B - 5)
1973 - Masterpiece (POP - 7 / R&B - #1)
1973 - The Plastic Man (POP - 28 / R&B - 8)
1973 - Hey Girl, I Like Your Style (POP - 27 / R&B - 2)
1974 - Let Your Hair Down (POP - 25 / R&B - #1)
1974 - Heavenly (POP - 43 / R&B - 8)
1974 - You've Got My Soul On Fire (POP - 56 / R&B - 8)
1975 - Happy People (POP - 40 / R&B - #1)
1975 -Shakey Ground (POP - 26 / R&B - #1)
1975 -Glasshouse (POP - 37 / R&B - 9)
1976 - Keep Holding On (POP - 53 / R&B - 3)
1976 - Up The Creek Without A Paddle (POP - 81 / R&B - 21)
1976 - Who Are You (POP - 103/ R&B - 22)
1978 - In A Lifetime (POP - 109 / R&B - 21)
1978 - Bare Back (POP - xx / R&B - 42)
1979 - Ever Ready Love (POP - 126 / R&B - 31)
1980 - Power (POP - 43 / R&B - 11)
1981 - Aiming At Your Heart (POP - 67 / R&B - 36)
1982 - Standing On The Top (recorded with Rick James) POP - 66 / R&B - 6
1983 - Love On My Mind Tonight (POP - 88 / R&B - 17)
1984 - Sail Away (POP - 54 / R&B - 13)
1985 - Treat Her Like A Lady (POP - 48 / R&B - 2)
1985 - My Love Is True (POP - xx / R&B - 14)
1986 - Do You Really Love Your Baby (POP - xx / R&B - 14)
1986 - Lady Soul (POP - 47 / R&B - 4)
1987 - To Be Continued (POP - xx / R&B - 25)
1987 - Someone (POP - xx / R&B - 45)
1987 - I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now (POP - xx / R&B - 3)
1988 - Look What You Started (POP - xx / R&B - 8)
1989 - All I Want From You (POP - xx / R&B - 16)
1990 - Special (POP - xx / R&B - 10)
1990 - Soul To Soul (POP - xx / R&B - 12)
1991 - The Motown Song (recorded with Rod Stewart) POP - 10 / R&B - xx)
1992 - The Jones' (POP - xx / R&B - 41)
1996 - Silent Night (POP - xx / R&B - 16)
1998 - Stay (POP - 120 / R&B - 28)
2000 - I'm Here (POP - xx / R&B - 40)
Notable Solo Releases:
1969 - David Ruffin - My Whole World Ended (POP - 9 / R&B - 2)
1969 - David Ruffin - I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved (POP - 53 / R&B - 11)
1970 - David Ruffin - I'm So Glad I Fell For You (POP - 53 / R&B - 18)
1970 - Stand By Me (David Ruffin with Jimmy Ruffin) POP - 57 / R&B - 24
1972 - Eddie Kendricks - If You Let Me (POP - 50 / R&B - 17)
1973 - Eddie Kendricks - Girl, You Need Change Of Mind (POP - 87 / R&B - 13)
1973 - Eddie Kendricks - Keep On Truckin' (POP - #1 / R&B - #1)
1973 - Eddie Kendricks - Boogie Down (POP - #1 / R&B - #1)
1974 - Eddie Kendricks _ Son Of Sagittarius (POP - 20 / R&B - 5)
1974 - Eddie Kendricks - Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need (POP - 38 / R&B - 8)
1975 - Eddie Kendricks - One Tear (POP - 55 / R&B - 8)
1975 - Eddie Kendricks - Shoeshine Boy (POP - 18 / R&B - #1)
1975 - Eddie Kendricks - Get The Cream Off The Top (POP - 50 / R&B - 7)
1975 - Eddie Kendricks - Happy (POP - 59 / R&B - 8)
1976 - Eddie Kendricks - He's A Friend (POP - 36 / R&B - 2)
1976 - Eddie Kendricks - Get It While It's Hot (POP - 111 / R&B - 24)
1976 - David Ruffin - Walk Away From Love (POP - 8 / R&B - #1)
1976 - David Ruffin - Heavy Love (POP - 47 / R&B - 8)
1976 - David Ruffin - Everything's Coming Up Love (POP - 49 / R&B - 8)
1977 - David Ruffin - Just Let Me Hold You For A Night (POP - 94 / R&B - 18)
1978- - Eddie Kendricks - Intimate Friends (POP - 132 / R&B - 24)
1978 - Eddie Kendricks - Ain't No Smoke Without Fire (POP - 103 / R&B - 13)
1979 - David Ruffin - Break My Heart (POP - 93 / R&B - 9)
1985 - A Nite At The Apollo Live! -
Daryl Hall and John Oates
with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks - The Way You Do The Things You Do / My Girl - (POP - 20 . R&B - 49)
1987 - Eddie Kendricks - I Couldn't Believe It (POP - xx / R&B - 14)
