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midnightman
04-09-2018, 03:03 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC5I-gkiRv8

Controversy sometimes makes a hit and sometimes it doesn't. This made #11 R&B and #43 pop but was stopped from the top 40 due to the subject matter.

Still a great song for the returning Temptations in 1980.

RIP Dennis, Richard & Melvin!
soulster
04-09-2018, 04:20 PM
I don't know that it was stopped because if its subject matter, but I know that it came out at the wrong time in 1980, just when the U.S. was on the verge of a sociological shift and elected Ronald Ray-gun.
midnightman
04-09-2018, 05:26 PM
^ That's what I mean. ;)
But yeah it did come out at a bad time, you're right.

1980, what a year, huh?!
Motown Eddie
04-10-2018, 07:30 AM
According to Otis Williams' book, Temptations, "Power" was taken off the air due to the Miami riots in May 1980. However, the song's lyrics, "all you poor, all you needy, all you're doing is giving to the greedy", accurately portends what would happen later in the year with the Reagan election.
arr&bee
04-10-2018, 11:09 AM
It was also noted that the black dj's were upset with berry and they didn't give[power]alot of play.
marv2
04-10-2018, 11:15 AM
It was also noted that the black dj's were upset with berry and they didn't give[power]alot of play.

I remember that. They were upset with Mr. Gordy and it was no longer the 60s so........
midnightman
04-10-2018, 05:17 PM
It was also noted that the black dj's were upset with berry and they didn't give[power]alot of play.

I read that part in the liner notes of one of their anthology sets [[the 2002 "My Girl" two-CD set that included virtually every Tempts single on Motown from Dream Come True to My Baby from the Awesome album). I knew it was something else. That's probably why it peaked at #11 R&B.
TomatoTom123
04-10-2018, 08:41 PM
LOVE this song, a throwback to the early 70s Norman Whitfield era. All Tempts are fantatsic on it!!! And I love the funky guitar too, especially when it really gets going :cool:
McMotown
04-11-2018, 01:51 PM
Great track and totally agree with you Tom. ;)
BayouMotownMan
04-11-2018, 02:59 PM
Great track and totally agree with you Tom. ;)

I think Struck By Lightning Twice was a better single, should have gone out first
arr&bee
04-11-2018, 03:50 PM
The whole lp is great-[isn't the night fantastic] is one of richard's best leads.
midnightman
04-11-2018, 04:32 PM
LOVE this song, a throwback to the early 70s Norman Whitfield era. All Tempts are fantatsic on it!!! And I love the funky guitar too, especially when it really gets going :cool:

Minus the very long instrumentals. ;)
TomatoTom123
04-11-2018, 08:15 PM
Minus the very long instrumentals. ;)

Now that is true midnight. More of a "Law Of The Land" than a "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" :)
jboy88
04-13-2018, 03:16 PM
This song helped me get hyped up to vote in my first presidential election in 2008! It reflected my anger and frustration with the Bush administration to a T. And it’s doing the same today with the mess we’re in now with Trump!

This may piss off some people, but I consider this to be Dennis’s magnum opus! I guess the three year hiatus did wonders for his vocals!
midnightman
04-13-2018, 03:33 PM
^ I agree! Dennis was ON POINT during this song! Definitely his masterpiece with the Tempts.

"GIVE IT TO MEH! MORE!!!"
marv2
04-13-2018, 04:27 PM
This song helped me get hyped up to vote in my first presidential election in 2008! It reflected my anger and frustration with the Bush administration to a T. And it’s doing the same today with the mess we’re in now with Trump!

This may piss off some people, but I consider this to be Dennis’s magnum opus! I guess the three year hiatus did wonders for his vocals!

My first presidential election was just a couple of months after this song came out in 1980. I was probably the only in line where I voted that voted for Jimmy Carter.