Remembering Dennis Edwards Through His Music......... [Archive]

marv2

02-02-2018, 08:52 PM

At this time I thought it would be appropriate to remember the late, great Dennis Edwards through some of the many memorable music classics he has left us with. Here's one that immediately came to my mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLFkRhCmyiI&spfreload=10

marv2

02-02-2018, 09:31 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKx-B1NJ37M&lc=z22mttrgvw3vjhazn04t1aokgbjgk1z4kfnnabxkoukyrk0 h00410

marv2

02-02-2018, 09:38 PM

From 1987, probably my last favorite recording of Dennis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8tz_B5MYc

kenneth

02-02-2018, 10:30 PM

I always thought the "Song For You" was Dennis' shining hour as a Temptation, even though it didn't have the same number of hits as some of the earlier albums. It was such a great piece, and so cohesive. It really showed Dennis could sing any kind of song and the Tempations were still much more than the "Norman Whitfield Singers" which they were sometimes dismissed with by critics.

Thanks for posting, Marv2!

edafan

02-02-2018, 10:31 PM

My favourite music video: I Wonder

If Billy Dee Williams told me not to sing this song ever again,
I wouldn't.

And think that Melvin, Richard & Dennis are in Heaven

edafan

marv2

02-02-2018, 10:33 PM

kenneth

02-02-2018, 10:35 PM

Your welcome Kenneth. "A Song for You" was definitely Dennis at his best. A bona fide classic now.

The whole album was great. "Firefly," "I'm a Bachelor," "Shaky Ground," "Glass House." That's the kind of album that at a party you would play an entire side and everyone would keep dancing. And yes, great "Memories."

marv2

02-02-2018, 10:37 PM

I was in the 7th Grade when this one came out and I loved this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEZpde-RMe0

marv2

02-02-2018, 10:40 PM

A Song For You........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lj9ph-2V3w

mysterysinger

02-02-2018, 10:49 PM

One of the most memorable lines in music history - you'll already know it - fast forward to 1:55 if you wish.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXiQtD5gcHU

marv2

02-02-2018, 11:04 PM

One of the most memorable lines in music history - you'll already know it - fast forward to 1:55 if you wish.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXiQtD5gcHU

People all over the World know that line and this song now. Thank you Mysterysinger.

lockhartgary

02-02-2018, 11:15 PM

Love his rapid fire delivery here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns5YnHI2N54

mysterysinger

02-02-2018, 11:32 PM

Not forgetting .....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc-7a4HBRQA

marv2

02-03-2018, 12:34 AM

Dennis sang the lead on Motown's first Grammy Award Winner........"Cloud Nine"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdhhQayeWw

marv2

02-03-2018, 12:39 AM

I remember skating to this one at my first roller skating party in 1969:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWvzlqNKD4Q&spfreload=10

marv2

02-03-2018, 10:12 AM

There was a time when it seemed like the Temptations had a new hit record on the radio every 2-3 months and this was one of them......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_A3zQw-yEY

McMotown

02-03-2018, 01:38 PM

Lovely tribute everyone and such gems all of them.

Motown Eddie

02-03-2018, 01:47 PM

One of my early favorites by Dennis Edwards is The Contours' "Your Love Grows More Precious Everyday". The B-side of "It's So Hard To Be A Loser", the song features a killer lead by Dennis and is a taste of what he would bring to The Temptations.

marv2

02-03-2018, 03:55 PM

Dennis could certainly sing and shout with the best of them. What made Dennis especially unique is that he always remained humble and down to Earth through it all! He never acted like "A Star" and was always approachable. Just a real decent guy; a good human being.

arr&bee

02-03-2018, 04:39 PM

Great tunes,i hope you all like my tribute also.

marv2

02-03-2018, 07:40 PM

One of my favorite vocals by Dennis in the 80s, "Power"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC5I-gkiRv8

marv2

02-04-2018, 09:50 AM

I loved this one! It never gets played anymore for some reason: Here is what Wikipedia says about the single-

"Let Your Hair Down" is a 1973 single by American vocal group The Temptations. Dennis Edwards sings lead on the song and the group is backed by Rose Royce on the track. The song originally appeared on the Temptations 1973 album, 1990. Released as a single in November of that year, it reached the number one spot on the R&B Singles Chart in February 1974 [[their last R&B #1 with collaborator Norman Whitfield)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlCyYdqUF8

snakepit

02-04-2018, 10:27 AM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz2nYNGVUFs

Johnny on the spot

snakepit

02-04-2018, 10:29 AM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a3SlB7-cfqU

I didn't have to, but I did

marv2

02-04-2018, 11:47 AM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a3SlB7-cfqU

I didn't have to, but I did

Snakepit, when did Dennis record this one? It has an Edwin Starr feel to it.

snakepit

02-04-2018, 11:53 AM

About 1967..before joining Tempts.

marv2

02-04-2018, 12:00 PM

Here is another excellent solo from Dennis that I do not recall hearing before. "Soulmate"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQT7372SGLU&app=desktop

marv2

02-04-2018, 12:05 PM

"Let's Go Up"! Diana Ross covered this song as well. I like Dennis' version better here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vBnYGuVD-s&app=desktop

snakepit

02-04-2018, 12:31 PM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hJQnfGz3b4g

Take him back

marv2

02-04-2018, 12:53 PM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hJQnfGz3b4g

Take him back

Another great one and thank you. As great of an artist that Dennis Edwards was, it would seem to warrant a multi-disc anthology if not an outright box set covering his work from the beginning thru several live recordings with his group Dennis Edwards and the Temptations Revue.

snakepit

02-04-2018, 12:57 PM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLt3SADOZQ

Classic

snakepit

02-04-2018, 01:01 PM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nrZv2WttVWc

And another

kenneth

02-04-2018, 01:51 PM

One of the most memorable lines in music history - you'll already know it - fast forward to 1:55 if you wish.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXiQtD5gcHU
Clearly one of Edwards' best performances, understated and with the right amount of tension in the delivery. I think this was the song where he once stated that Whitfield had him sing it in what I think he described as a "tight" style, unlike his usual way of singing. Does anyone recall?

And no one looked better in the Temptations show outfits!

Really nicely done video. Seems like it could have been a promotional video produced by Motown. Do you think it was assembled from "Soul Train" and other sources, or do you think it was produced as is, including the nice shots of the band during the intro? I don't remember "Soul Train" doing this kind of creative work but then again, they probably didn't broadcast a lot of tunes with such a long instrumental opening.

Opinions?

marv2

02-04-2018, 03:10 PM

About 1967..before joining Tempts.

That was such a good song.

marv2

02-04-2018, 03:13 PM

Clearly one of Edwards' best performances, understated and with the right amount of tension in the delivery. I think this was the song where he once stated that Whitfield had him sing it in what I think he described as a "tight" style, unlike his usual way of singing. Does anyone recall?

And no one looked better in the Temptations show outfits!

Really nicely done video. Seems like it could have been a promotional video produced by Motown. Do you think it was assembled from "Soul Train" and other sources, or do you think it was produced as is, including the nice shots of the band during the intro? I don't remember "Soul Train" doing this kind of creative work but then again, they probably didn't broadcast a lot of tunes with such a long instrumental opening.

Opinions?

I can tell from the very opening had nothing to do with Soul Train. The group's performance is from Soul Train in 1972. Someone must have edited it to include the special opening.

kenneth

02-04-2018, 03:44 PM

I can tell from the very opening had nothing to do with Soul Train. The group's performance is from Soul Train in 1972. Someone must have edited it to include the special opening.

I thought that must be the case, thanks.

I love the performances on "Soul Train" and "American Bandstand" but I wish the groups had more often sung live. We'd have such a treasure trove of additional performances to enjoy.

Another question, Marv. Did groups ever sing live on "Soul Train?" I think they did occasionally on "Bandstand" but not often. But I think we've seen a few Supremes [[with Jean) clips from "Train" where they were singing live over a recorded track. Do you know?

sansradio

02-04-2018, 04:25 PM

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:13 PM

13937
Here's Dennis Edwards on lead in 1965, before joining Motown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxJ4V0pFefE

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:20 PM

Here's the flip [[labels were reversed):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PryBgDJoQcA

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:25 PM

13938
Solo from 1967 - maybe with The Contours in the background?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnAPGIkhOHk

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:31 PM

13939
Another solo effort, probably with The Contours in the background:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elrtef3b8NM

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:36 PM

13940
Dennis leading The Contours:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uijfs77EuoA

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:39 PM

13941
From 1966:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0wvV9QGWr8

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:43 PM

13942
From 1966:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVkwXLD6ZeU

robb_k

02-04-2018, 05:58 PM

13943
Dennis leading The Contours in 1967:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIbpmiQN5Vs

marv2

02-04-2018, 05:59 PM

Those are some great selections. Thank you very much Robb!

marv2

02-04-2018, 09:28 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH3rx8LhrQo&app=desktop

kenneth

02-05-2018, 12:00 AM

Hey, Kenneth, some acts did indeed perform live occasionally on Soul Train. Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” Elton’s “Bennie and The Jets,” Patti LaBelle’s solo “Oh, People,” and Aretha & Smokey’s ‘79 duet appearance are just a few that come to mind.

Thanks sansradio. I thought that might be the case. I wish they had all performed live. There would be a vault somewhere like the one from the Ed Sullivan Show, which they just keep mining over and over. Some of the Sullivan performances were never commercially recorded, including some of the Broadway tunes which didn't happen to be from hit shows, and many are the only live performances that exist of some performances such as the Julie Andrews and Richard Burton selections from "Camelot."

marv2

02-05-2018, 01:02 AM

13939
Another solo effort, probably with The Contours in the background:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elrtef3b8NM

I really like this! Thanks Robb

marv2

02-05-2018, 05:22 PM

What would the Holiday Season be without this one........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfgNR_aiSTg&app=desktop&spfreload=10

marv2

02-05-2018, 07:46 PM

Summer Vacation 1969!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmxWbEfdiZI

marv2

02-08-2018, 10:19 PM

Something Dennis never did........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua81uW6tj-8

lockhartgary

02-09-2018, 12:04 PM

Always liked this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3KBHEAdj44

lockhartgary

02-09-2018, 12:06 PM

Another great performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLztUe3XGwI

jboy88

02-13-2018, 10:15 AM

This summer will be The 50th anniversary of Dennis becoming a Temptation! I was thinking about the thread about an anthology being done that would of been perfect to mark the occasion!

RTA6226

02-13-2018, 02:33 PM

I always thought the "Song For You" was Dennis' shining hour as a Temptation, even though it didn't have the same number of hits as some of the earlier albums. It was such a great piece, and so cohesive.

I agree. I LOVE that song. It's my favorite Dennis solo song. Of course, it was written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album "Leon Russell."

I love the song anyway, no matter who sings it, but Dennis does an incredible job on it!