The lineup for this album included Otis Williams, Harry Mcgilberry Jr, Terry Weeks, Ron Tyson and Barrington 'BO' Henderson who replaced Theo Peoples midway through recording the album. This lineup stayed together for over five years with the release of the grammy award winning 'Ear-isistable in 2000 and Awsome in 2001.
Problems where begining to arise with both Barrington and Harry Mcgilberry, Bo left the group in June 2003 and was promptly replaced by former lead man for The Spinners G.C Cameron, and in Septmember due to personal problems Harry Mcgilberry left the group and was replaced by bass singer Joe Herndon.
The new line-up of The Tempts had been together just under six months when they entered into the studio to record what was to be the groups 60th album. The 2001 release of Awsome had received a luke warm reception from critics and fans alike, so this new album had to try and carry on from the success of both Phoenix Rising and Ear-isitable.
The first single from the album came to the surface in March 2004, this being Fifty Fifty Love an up-tempo soulful track which features a shared lead from Terry Weeks and G.C Cameron. Although this track may well alienate some fans of the 'Classic' Temptations it will bode well with fans of current R&B. Although saying that all the trademark tempts features are there. A powerful lead vocal with fantastic harmonies backing the lead up and a welcome return to the old style of trading leads between members.
Later that month fans got a second sneak preview of the album with Somethin Special which certainly lived up to its title. The track was the first to feature heavily from the tempts new bass singer Joe Herndon and is highly efective. Again as with the majority of songs on the album it features a joint lead from G.C Cameron & Terry Weeks. This track is begining to prove a big favourite with Modern soul fans in the UK and is set to be one of the biggest tracks of the year on the UK soul scene.
The album itself begins with a spoken intro from Otis Williams celebrating his fourty third year as a Temptation. The intro leads into the opening track from the album aptly named Still Temptin a song which was written by a young fan who became captivated over the group after seeing the NBC mini-seires from 1997. An emotional song in every sense of the word and gives the CD a fantastic opening which in turn shows fans that the group truly are Still Temptin. As with a lot of the offerings from this album it is produced by Steve 'the Scotsman' Harvey' who is known for his great work with nu-soul heroes Impromp2 among others.
Next up another Steve Harvey penned track this time the driving Round Here which features lead vocals once again from Terry Weeks and G.C Cameron.
Other stand out tracks from the album include Chicago groove feeling Love to the music which is very much in the vain of recent R Kelly releases such as Happy People & Step in the name of love.
You are nessecary in my life (the wedding song) opens with the giys in a classic appacapella moment leading into a heart warming love song led by G.C Cameron, this particular track perfectly shows the blend of harmonies between the group something that was less evident in Awsome this features production from Otis Williams.
. Also worth a listen is Mr Fix It which again utilises Joe Herndon and finds him in great form with a voice that is strangely similair to the original bass singer for The Tempts Melvin Franklin and in turn he adds another dimension to the group which has been missing somewhat for a number of years.
Why can't we be lovin friends follows a popular trend of some more recent Temptations releases by pairing the lead vocalist with a female counterpart. This works well with Danesha Simon sharing the lead once again with G.C Cameron although at times her vocals do sounds stretched in the most she works well on this particular record. It is also interesting to note that former lead singer Ali Ollie Woodson worked with the group on this record which he co-wrote with Otis Williams back in the 80's.
The only real down point for the album is the lack of a lead from Ron Tyson although his voice is an integral part of the background vocals.
All in all a great album for The Temptations and one that may well suceed in todays youth dominated charts, currently the signs are good with the album debuting at number 16 on the Urban charts of America.
Rating: 4/5
Procution: Executive producers: Otis Willams & Kedar Massenburg/Steve Harvey/Drew Ramsey/Shannon Sanders/JK/Dinky Bingham/Rainfall Entertainment/Daniel Wetherspoon/Benjamin Wright.
Motown records 2004
The Temptations: Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, G.C Cameron & Joe Herndon
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