50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection (1961-1971)

~ Release by The Temptations (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

The Temptations were the greatest of the Motown groups, and for a label that also had the Four Tops and the Supremes, that’s really saying something. Blessed with a succession of great singers like Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, and Dennis Edwards, any of whom could have easily fronted their own group, the Temptations racked up countless hits between 1961 and 1971, helped immeasurably by Motown's astounding songwriting stable. Songs like “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Pround to Beg,” “(I Know) I’m Losing You,” “I Wish It Would Rain,” “Cloud Nine,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Psychedelic Shack,” and “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” are enduring classics that still sound fresh and vital all these years later. This lavish box set, released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Temptations' first single in 1961, collects all of the group’s singles from Motown Records between then and 1971 on three discs, and it’s an amazing legacy, with classic song after classic song rolling by one after the other, the essential playlist of one of the greatest singing groups in the history of pop.

Annotation last modified on 2023-04-13 19:56 UTC.

Tracklist

1Medium
2Medium
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Get Ready
producer:
Smokey Robinson
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
background vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29), David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29), Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
lead vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29) and Eddie Kendricks (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
recording of:
Get Ready (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
lyricist and composer:
William “Smokey” Robinson
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Temptations42:38
2Fading AwayThe Temptations2:38
3Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
producer:
Norman Whitfield
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
background vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11), Eddie Kendricks (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11), Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
recording of:
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
cover recording of:
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations4.352:33
4You’ll Lose a Precious Love
producer:
Smokey Robinson
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (on 1964-03-02)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-03-02)
recording of:
You’ll Lose a Precious Love (on 1964-03-02)
writer:
Smokey Robinson
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Temptations12:28
5Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recording of:
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
writer:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations32:21
6You’re Not an Ordinary Girl
producer:
Smokey Robinson
recording of:
You’re Not an Ordinary Girl
writer:
Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin, Warren Moore and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles)
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Temptations2:50
7(I Know) I’m Losing You
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recording of:
(I Know) I’m Losing You (from 1966-09-12 until 1966-09-16)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Cornelius Grant (soul, funk and disco producer and songwriter) and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations3.52:27
8I Couldn’t Cry If I Wanted To
recording of:
I Couldn’t Cry If I Wanted To
writer:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
The Temptations2:40
9All I Need
producer:
Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations)
recording of:
All I Need
writer:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team), R. Dean Taylor (Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer) and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations3:17
10Sorry Is a Sorry Word
recording of:
Sorry Is a Sorry Word
writer:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Ivy Jo Hunter
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations2:29
11You’re My Everything
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1967)
recording of:
You're My Everything
writer:
Cornelius Grant (soul, funk and disco producer and songwriter), Roger Penzabene (songwriter, who worked mainly at Motown) and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations3.353:12
12I’ve Been Good to You
cover recording of:
I’ve Been Good to You
lyricist and composer:
Smokey Robinson
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Temptations3:01
13(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1967)
recording of:
(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need
writer:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.) and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations12:37
14Don’t Send Me AwayThe Temptations2:51
15I Wish It Would Rain
producer:
Norman Whitfield
recording of:
I Wish It Would Rain (in 1967)
lyricist:
Roger Penzabene (songwriter, who worked mainly at Motown) (in 1967)
composer:
Barrett Strong (in 1967) and Norman Whitfield (in 1967)
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations3.652:52
16I Truly, Truly Believe
recording of:
I Truly, Truly Believe
writer:
George Gordy, Margaret Gordy (1960s songwriter) and Allen Story (Shadee Hasan)
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Temptations2:48
17I Truly, Truly Believe (alternate vocal)
recording of:
I Truly, Truly Believe
writer:
George Gordy, Margaret Gordy (1960s songwriter) and Allen Story (Shadee Hasan)
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Temptations2:46
18I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
cover recording of:
I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
lyricist:
Rodger Penzabene (songwriter, who worked mainly at Motown)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
recording of:
I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
lyricist:
Rodger Penzabene (songwriter, who worked mainly at Motown)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations13:38
19Gonna Give Her All the Love I’ve GotThe Temptations2:46
20Please Return Your Love to Me
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
recording of:
Please Return Your Love to Me
writer:
Barbara Neely, Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations12:22
21How Can I ForgetThe Temptations1:45
22Cloud Nine
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Dennis Edwards (US soul & R’n’B singer), Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
recorded at:
Motown Studios - Hitsville West (recording and mastering studios in West Hollywood, CA) in West Hollywood, California, United States (on 1968-10-02)
recording of:
Cloud Nine (on 1968-10-02)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations3.63:36
23Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)The Temptations3:10
24I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
producer:
Nickolas Ashford and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks and Diana Ross
spoken vocals:
Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants)
arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968), Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968), Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968) and PolyGram (in 1968)
recorded at:
Motown Studios - Hitsville West (recording and mastering studios in West Hollywood, CA) in West Hollywood, California, United States
cover recording of:
I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (until 1968-09-13)
writer:
Kenneth Gamble (songwriter for Philadelphia International), Leon Huff (Philly soul producer, of Gamble & Huff) and Jerry Ross (Philadelphia soul composer/producer)
publisher:
Act Three Music, Down Stairs Music, MRC Music Corp., Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Diana Ross & The Supremes / The Temptations2.653:07
25A Place in the Sun
producer:
Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
arranger:
Paul Riser
cover recording of:
A Place in the Sun
writer:
Ron Miller (Motown songwriter Ronald Norman Miller) and Bryan Wells
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Diamond Music Corporation, イーエムアイ音楽出版 C・F事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan C.F. division) (until 2021-06-30), イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Diana Ross & The Supremes / The Temptations3:30
26Rudolph the Red‐Nosed Reindeer
producer:
Clay McMurray (producer, songwriter, engineer) and Barrett Strong
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1970)
cover recording of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell & Co Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), St. Nicholas Music Publishing Co. (on 1949-05-09) and St. Nicholas Music Inc. (from 1950 to present)
arrangement of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (for voice, choir and orchestra, Elms)
The Temptations12:58
27Silent Night, Holy Night
producer:
Clay McMurray (producer, songwriter, engineer) and Barrett Strong
cover recording of:
Silent Night (Christmas carol, English translation)
lyricist:
Josef Mohr (composer/author) (in 1816)
composer:
Franz Xaver Gruber (composer/author) (in 1818)
translator:
John Freeman Young (in 1859)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 27088)
translated version of:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
The Temptations2:23
3Medium

Credits

Release

purchase for download:https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id462634171 [info]
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/The_Temptations_50th_Anniversary_The_Singles_Colle?id=Bjdhuikyxrwmbnrqqeljk2gbe24&hl=en [info] (until 2020-10-12)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/3466260 [info]
ASIN:US: B005JLN9QM [info]
US: B005KOMLYE [info]