Why So Many Temptations???

[StuBass1]

Saw The Temptations last night here in So Cal...Give Otis credit for keeping the legacy going...Pretty full house for a small-mid-size venue [[although some tickets were given away through a radio station promotion). Having seen the classic Temptations perform back in the day a few times...and their Vegas act with the Four Tops in the 80's... those expecting the classic group from years ago..perhaps some of the "electricity " and excitement in the air from the classic days was lacking , but taking it for what it is a nostalgic tribute trip down memory lane, it was pretty good entertainment..which is sorely lacking with many of todays performers. I won't break down individual members but somewhat of a shame that Otis and Dennis couldn't take the best of both groups and form one, but I suspect the money and egos would not allow that to happen, but think it could bring about at least a bit more "authentic" performance...Perhaps the biggest mistake I made was playing a Temptations Greatest Hits CD on the way to last nights performance...

[supremester]

I have seen Otis' group for the last time. A bunch of strangers and Otis does not make The Temptations to me. I thought they were a weak tribute act and Otis sweats like a piece of rancid pork.
Dennis' group is spot on and, IMO, much better than we have a right to expect given just one original Paul Williams Jr is fantastic.
I'be been told that Otis won't pay Dennis any more that what he pays the others and that he likes being the sole star or the group. If this is true, it makes sense as Otis' group works a lot as the official Temptations and might not get any additional gigs or higher fees than he already does. So he doesn't really need Dennis - only the audience does.
I don't believe he's keeping the legacy alive - he's just keeping Otis employed. If anything, his show hurts the legacy. I do give him credit for not trying to take over singing the leads however. He's wise to recognize his place and that has really helped sustain them.

Saw The Temptations last night here in So Cal...Give Otis credit for keeping the legacy going...Pretty full house for a small-mid-size venue [[although some tickets were given away through a radio station promotion). Having seen the classic Temptations perform back in the day a few times...and their Vegas act with the Four Tops in the 80's... those expecting the classic group from years ago..perhaps some of the "electricity " and excitement in the air from the classic days was lacking , but taking it for what it is a nostalgic tribute trip down memory lane, it was pretty good entertainment..which is sorely lacking with many of todays performers. I won't break down individual members but somewhat of a shame that Otis and Dennis couldn't take the best of both groups and form one, but I suspect the money and egos would not allow that to happen, but think it could bring about at least a bit more "authentic" performance...Perhaps the biggest mistake I made was playing a Temptations Greatest Hits CD on the way to last nights performance...

[arr&bee]

Stu,that's a point i've been trying to make for years why can't dennis and otis get together for the sake of the legecy,they are the last two from the period that most of us here remember at this point and time with them both in their seventies ego really shouldn't be a problem,come on fellas make it happen and bring back the magic once more.

[StuBass1]

Stu,that's a point i've been trying to make for years why can't dennis and otis get together for the sake of the legecy,they are the last two from the period that most of us here remember at this point and time with them both in their seventies ego really shouldn't be a problem,come on fellas make it happen and bring back the magic once more.

Agree Jai...but I assume in the end It comes down to the money split and the fact that Otis fired Dennis twice, lawsuits over the naming use of the brand, etc...There are 10 guys working now, but I suspect that an Otis-Dennis reunion could demand a bit higher performance fee...

[arr&bee]

Yeah stu i know you're right,but it's sad none the less.

[motony]

last night on TV here in Central Fla. there was a commercial about some kind of benefit to take place at the Dr. Phillips Performing Art Center downtown Orlando and the entertainment would be Richard Streets' Temptations!! I about flipped cause I know Dennis has to call his group Dennis Edwards Temptation Review. Whats up with this?

[motony]

sorry I didn't put this in the first post but what really got my attention about this is that Richard street passed away a couple of years ago.Strange, I know.

[StuBass1]

sorry I didn't put this in the first post but what really got my attention about this is that Richard street passed away a couple of years ago.Strange, I know.

Richard passed away two years ago...At the time, there were at least 4 Temptations groups performing, Otis, Dennis, Richard, and Glenn Leonard. Richard was about to leave for Dubai with Joyce Vincent and the FLO's...After Richard passed away, the people in Dubai had to scramble to get one of the other Temptation groups. On March 20 2013 I had our Funk Brothers Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony. The three remaining members of Richards group [[along with Richards widow) showed up at our after party in Beverly Hills and performed along with Stevie Wonder, Freda Payne, and others.

[StuBass1]

Gary...I was at the State Fair gig too...Got to hang out with the guys and met the beautiful Tammi backstage...I still can recall her magnificent eyes to this day...As you mentioned, she was so sweet to us kids..

[marv2]

Gary...I was at the State Fair gig too...Got to hang out with the guys and met the beautiful Tammi backstage...I still can recall her magnificent eyes to this day...As you mentioned, she was so sweet to us kids..

Stu you've had some great, memorable experiences.

[StuBass1]

Stu you've had some great, memorable experiences.

Yes sir...So far lol

[arr&bee]

Yeah stu,to have known[paul williams]and the rest of the classic temps,cool,very cool.

[StuBass1]

Yeah stu,to have known[paul williams]and the rest of the classic temps,cool,very cool.

Yes Jai...But in Pauls case a bit bittersweet. I ran into Paul one day at a burger joint called Biffs on West Grand Blvd. I hadn't seen him in a while. He wasn't looking well at all, but invited me to have lunch with him and we found a booth near the back. He was still is kind, sweet self, but obviously troubled. Talked about some Temptations stuff and he realized I knew he wasn't performing with them at the time. He told me he was working on some solo material. We said goodbye and planned to stay in touch. It probably wasn't two months later that I heard of his tragic death, although I didn't know the cause at the time. Paul Williams...RIP

[marv2]

Yes Jai...But in Pauls case a bit bittersweet. I ran into Paul one day at a burger joint called Biffs on West Grand Blvd. I hadn't seen him in a while. He wasn't looking well at all, but invited me to have lunch with him and we found a booth near the back. He was still is kind, sweet self, but obviously troubled. Talked about some Temptations stuff and he realized I knew he wasn't performing with them at the time. He told me he was working on some solo material. We said goodbye and planned to stay in touch. It probably wasn't two months later that I heard of his tragic death, although I didn't know the cause at the time. Paul Williams...RIP

That was awful. To add to that, the weekend of Paul's funeral David and Eddie were down in Toledo and were robbed!

[arr&bee]

Well,i'm thinking of one of his best...slow down heart..paul forever!

[arr&bee]

Rough week.

[marv2]

Rough week.

I remember it being a very sad one.

[arr&bee]

Well,i always remember the great,great music and performances from our temps,as i've said before the temptations body of music is like an endless table with songs for days on end all the great singers all the great lyrics,and if you listen closely you might hear a beat or verse or an instrument that you didn't know was there,that's part of the fun...tall-tan-talented-teasin-temptin temptations forever!!!

[marv2]

Well,i always remember the great,great music and performances from our temps,as i've said before the temptations body of music is like an endless table with songs for days on end all the great singers all the great lyrics,and if you listen closely you might hear a beat or verse or an instrument that you didn't know was there,that's part of the fun...tall-tan-talented-teasin-temptin temptations forever!!!

This is the song that was out when I thought I was "grown" LOL!

[marv2]

Here dem bad boys are doin' it in the eighties.....!

[jboy88]

I obviously wasn't around for the Classic era, and sadly, Eddie, David and Melvin were all gone by time I got hip to them around late 97. But I did get to see them in 2000 at the Birmingham Heritage festival. This was around the time they were enjoying a renaissance following the Movie and the release of the Phoenix Raising album IMO "Stay" is the last great song the Temptations recorded and I was shocked to hear Bo Harrington, barely sang a note on the Album. But in Theo's case, the Temps loss the Tops gain!

I remember being very excited to know that The Temptations were still going strong in the 90s and early 00s. I always thought the Movie would of ended on a happier note if they'd shown Otis and the then-current lineup performing "Stay" instead of the Actors pantomiming "My Girl".

[marv2]

I obviously wasn't around for the Classic era, and sadly, Eddie, David and Melvin were all gone by time I got hip to them around late 97. But I did get to see them in 2000 at the Birmingham Heritage festival. This was around the time they were enjoying a renaissance following the Movie and the release of the Phoenix Raising album IMO "Stay" is the last great song the Temptations recorded and I was shocked to hear Bo Harrington, barely sang a note on the Album. But in Theo's case, the Temps loss the Tops gain!

I remember being very excited to know that The Temptations were still going strong in the 90s and early 00s. I always thought the Movie would of ended on a happier note if they'd shown Otis and the then-current lineup performing "Stay" instead of the Actors pantomiming "My Girl".

I agree. "Stay" was there last major commercial hit. The Tempts proved they still had it in them. The movie was nice and all ,but it was not very accurate. I enjoyed it, but how many inaccuracies can you all pick out?

I'll start! First of all it was filmed in Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh does NOT look like Detroit at all!

[arr&bee]

Haaaaaaaaaaa,marv let's not start on the movie!!

[marv2]

Haaaaaaaaaaa,marv let's not start on the movie!!

Ahhh, come on JAI, let's just examine it for a moment. Not for malicious purposes at all, just for fun to see how many inaccuracies we can find. Like there being 2 Primes and 3 Primettes and having them perform together on stage at the same time! LOL! The movie was for entertainment and not a documentary. Please? hehehehehehehe.......

[arr&bee]

Hehehehe...oh well,how about eddie being about[5'7]and david[leon]towering over him,how about the scene in the bathroom with otis and blue meeting berry with blue saying[the things you are doing with motown]haaaaa,there was no[motown]it was still[hitsville].

[marv2]

Hehehehe...oh well,how about eddie being about[5'7]and david[leon]towering over him,how about the scene in the bathroom with otis and blue meeting berry with blue saying[the things you are doing with motown]haaaaa,there was no[motown]it was still[hitsville].

Yeah the guy playing Eddie favored him some, but was way too short! LOL! The bathroom scene was suppose to be true, but it was just Otis meeting Berry and you're right, there was no "Motown" by that point.

Here's one. Melvin dying in his Mom's kitchen. He didn't . He passed away in the hospital!

[gary]

Hehehehe...oh well,how about eddie being about[5'7]and david[leon]towering over him,how about the scene in the bathroom with otis and blue meeting berry with blue saying[the things you are doing with motown]haaaaa,there was no[motown]it was still[hitsville].

Agreed. The guys who played Paul and Eddie were both too short. But both of them were decent actors; I guess that's good enough. I love Pittsburgh, so even though I am a Detroiter, I don't have a big problem with them using Pittsburgh to "play" Detroit, although it would have been nice if it could have been filmed here. My biggest complaint is with the scenes that take place in and around the Hitsville studios. The neighborhood in the movie looks NOTHING like the actual location. Same thing with the Woodward Ave/Fox Theater scene in the opening. Little things like that make a lot of this movie unconvincing to me.

Marv...since you say we're only discussing non-malicious topics, I won't go into all the historic inaccuracies and flat-out lies in the movie. I'm sure most of us already know what they are anyway, right?

[marv2]

Agreed. The guys who played Paul and Eddie were both too short. But both of them were decent actors; I guess that's good enough. I love Pittsburgh, so even though I am a Detroiter, I don't have a big problem with them using Pittsburgh to "play" Detroit, although it would have been nice if it could have been filmed here. My biggest complaint is with the scenes that take place in and around the Hitsville studios. The neighborhood in the movie looks NOTHING like the actual location. Same thing with the Woodward Ave/Fox Theater scene in the opening. Little things like that make a lot of this movie unconvincing to me.

Marv...since you say we're only discussing non-malicious topics, I won't go into all the historic inaccuracies and flat-out lies in the movie. I'm sure most of us already know what they are anyway, right?

Gary, you are sooooo right! Detroiters will know that some of the "details" in the movie are completely wrong. Historic inaccuracies are fair game. What about the parts with Johnnie Mae Matthews? I love Pittsburgh too, but Pittsburgh is a hilly city, some neighborhoods have row houses ,etc . Detroit is nothing like that.

[edafan]

My son wore out the VHS tapes of The Temptations movie and The Jackson 5 movie;
so much I had to buy the DVD's.
He is 36 y o and when he visits, he still wants to see them
edafan

[marv2]

My son wore out the VHS tapes of The Temptations movie and The Jackson 5 movie;
so much I had to buy the DVD's.
He is 36 y o and when he visits, he still wants to see them
edafan

I have a younger brother that loves these movies. I enjoyed them for what they were ...................entertainment. When came to a factual representation of individuals and events, I took exception to many things depicted in these films. My biggest problem is that young people will believe them to be truth. I actually had a kid ask me, which singer replaced "Effie" in the Supremes! LOL!

[arr&bee]

I too have the movie,but i will still love to see a theatrecal version more closely tied to the book...the one thing that i didn't like was the way[blue]was made to look like a wimp.

[marv2]

I too have the movie,but i will still love to see a theatrecal version more closely tied to the book...the one thing that i didn't like was the way[blue]was made to look like a wimp.

Blue [[Melvin) was NO wimp in reality!

[marv2]

Strange but the guy that played Melvin, looked more like Otis to me.

[gary]

Strange but the guy that played Melvin, looked more like Otis to me.

First thing I noticed.

[marv2]

First thing I noticed.

The nailed the Smokey character. I thought the Berry Gordy character was too much like the one in Dreamgirls in appearance. The guy that played Richard looked nothing like him whatsoever. I know they couldn't show everything thing, but I wished they had left out the circumstances surrounding David Ruffin's death.

[arr&bee]

Yep,me too,so many story lines to explore but we know time and money were limited...blue and eddie were too friendly in the movie when we know that they didn't get along and paul's drinking was partly because of his relationship with the lady who worked for the supremes.

[marv2]

Yep,me too,so many story lines to explore but we know time and money were limited...blue and eddie were too friendly in the movie when we know that they didn't get along and paul's drinking was partly because of his relationship with the lady who worked for the supremes.

Yeah, Winnie, Florence Ballards's niece or cousin he was involved in. The Temptations or even Motown as a whole deserve one of those Ken Burns documentary treatments. What do you think?

[arr&bee]

But back to the movie,how bout the cadillacs,and it was funny because by his own admission otis didn't drive until 68 so he wouldn't have had one at that point,how about the scene where al gets fired because he doesn't want to go back on stage,when he acually was the only one who did want to go back and argued with paul which lead to him hitting paul with the bottle.

[marv2]

But back to the movie,how bout the cadillacs,and it was funny because by his own admission otis didn't drive until 68 so he wouldn't have had one at that point,how about the scene where al gets fired because he doesn't want to go back on stage,when he acually was the only one who did want to go back and argued with paul which lead to him hitting paul with the bottle.

That didn't make sense about the car and Otis, but the whole portrayal of Al Bryant and the actor playing him was totally all wrong! Al was a "pretty boy". The guy playing him reminded me of Sean Levert LOL! Al had a drinking problem he would not have wasted liquor by throwing a bottle at Paul unless he was sure the bottle was empty hehehehehehe!

Richard Street said that NONE of the Temptations received a dime from that movie EXCEPT Otis Williams. I am reading Richard's book at the moment.

[StuBass1]

The Cadillac thing was pure BS...More of the musicians had Cadillac's than did The Temptations...Smokey always had Cadillac's...I know because I used to help his valet Gaylord wash em [[the lime green one was my favorite) LOL...I recall Levi having a Cadillac...Paul had a 66 or 67 Pontiac Catalina...Silver with a black vinyl top..In about 68 he got a Corvette [[yellow as I recall)...

[marv2]

The Cadillac thing was pure BS...More of the musicians had Cadillac's than did The Temptations...Smokey always had Cadillac's...I know because I used to help his valet Gaylord wash em [[the lime green one was my favorite) LOL...I recall Levi having a Cadillac...Paul had a 66 or 67 Pontiac Catalina...Silver with a black vinyl top..In about 68 he got a Corvette [[yellow as I recall)...

Stu, thank you for confirming that! My Dad's favorite car in those days was the Pontiac Catalina also before moved on to the Electra 225's.......... LOL!

[StuBass1]

Deuce and a quarters were the bomb back then...It was The Funk Brothers who went Cadillac crazy as soon as they started making some decent money. They would line em up along West Grand Blvd. Funniest story was Eddie Willis who bought I believe an El Dorado...A month after buying it he decided he didn't like the color, so he went to the local hardware store and yeah...you guess it...painted it red with house paint himself...Talk about depreciation LOL...

[marv2]

Deuce and a quarters were the bomb back then...It was The Funk Brothers who went Cadillac crazy as soon as they started making some decent money. They would line em up along West Grand Blvd. Funniest story was Eddie Willis who bought I believe an El Dorado...A month after buying it he decided he didn't like the color, so he went to the local hardware store and yeah...you guess it...painted it red with house paint himself...Talk about depreciation LOL...

[[Bustin' out laughing here! LOL!!!) Eddie Willis would have been what we called "county" back then! LOL! Yep, yep Deuce and quarters were the s&%t in those days. He had an electric blue one with the white walls. Funny you never hear Berry talk about material things like cars, but then again, he did have the mansion!

[marv2]

Stu, you were able to get into the Upper Deck at the Roostertail right?

[StuBass1]

I was Pauls guest at the Upper Deck [[with my friend Mark Bayoff who I just learned passed away in 2010 I'm sorry to hear. We went to Beatles concerts together and Tempts shows too)when they recorded the Live album...Anyways, we hung out in the dressing room before and after the first show...We were about 15. We stood right next to the guys as they did their little prayer circle ritual they did before all their performances. Many of the Motown people were there coming in and out of the dressing room, including BG and Chris Clark and two of Berrys sons dressed in matching suits...Paul kept sending us to the bar to get him scotch, and we were drinking too...Rules were a little looser those days ...And dear Eddie WIllis...Mississippi all the way LOL

[detmotownguy]

I was Pauls guest at the Upper Deck [[with my friend Mark Bayoff who I just learned passed away in 2010 I'm sorry to hear. We went to Beatles concerts together and Tempts shows too)when they recorded the Live album...Anyways, we hung out in the dressing room before and after the first show...We were about 15. We stood right next to the guys as they did their little prayer circle ritual they did before all their performances. Many of the Motown people were there coming in and out of the dressing room, including BG and Chris Clark and two of Berrys sons dressed in matching suits...Paul kept sending us to the bar to get him scotch, and we were drinking too...Rules were a little looser those days ...And dear Eddie WIllis...Mississippi all the way LOL

Was Berry dating Chris Clark around this timeframe?

[marv2]

I was Pauls guest at the Upper Deck [[with my friend Mark Bayoff who I just learned passed away in 2010 I'm sorry to hear. We went to Beatles concerts together and Tempts shows too)when they recorded the Live album...Anyways, we hung out in the dressing room before and after the first show...We were about 15. We stood right next to the guys as they did their little prayer circle ritual they did before all their performances. Many of the Motown people were there coming in and out of the dressing room, including BG and Chris Clark and two of Berrys sons dressed in matching suits...Paul kept sending us to the bar to get him scotch, and we were drinking too...Rules were a little looser those days ...And dear Eddie WIllis...Mississippi all the way LOL

Stu, use to wished I were old enough to get into the nightclubs in those days. Even 15 would have been more acceptable than a 6.7. 8 year old LOL! Yeah Eddie Willis just sounds like a country dude to me. I am sorry about the loss of your friend Mark. People come in and out of our lives sometimes we do not realize how important a role they play.

[StuBass1]

W Outer Drive was nice...Funny thing [[or not so funny) is when Berry bought that house from a family named Zack, he actually wanted to buy a house in the more prestigious Sherwood Forest on the other side of Livernois...He couldn't buy the house he really wanted because the owners didn't want to be the first family there to sell their house to a "negro"...Berry Gordy!

[marv2]

W Outer Drive was nice...Funny thing [[or not so funny) is when Berry bought that house from a family named Zack, he actually wanted to buy a house in the more prestigious Sherwood Forest on the other side of Livernois...He couldn't buy the house he really wanted because the owners didn't want to be the first family there to sell their house to a "negro"...Berry Gordy!

Uh huh, I remember when Sherwood Forest was "exclusive" and everyone wanted to live there. I just found out one of my relatives was living in Bloomfield Hills all these years. She passed away last month.

[StuBass1]

I have a very old picture postcard of the Tempts signed by all the guys [[except Otis for some reason). Paul signed it to "My friend Stupid"...which is what he called me since he had never met a Stu before and used to drag me around introducing me as that...Stupid LOL...Otis's manager Billy Bannister wants to hook me and Otis up for a one on one to talk about the old days...I guess I can get Otis to finally sign that picture then LOL...