Chart Hit [Level 6]
I love the Tempts disco stuff from their "Song For You" album, but I was just wondering if the Tempts had released any disco stuff in between "Song For You" in 1975 and "Power" in 1980.. I got their "Temptations do the Temptations" album a few days ago, and there was one disco track on there ("There Is No Stopping ('Til We Set The Whole World Rockin') "), so just wondering if there were any others in that time, particularly on their Atlantic albums..
Thanks :)
Platinum Record [Level 8]
They had a number of albums. House Party was released in '76 and was made up of various unreleased tracks from previous albums, according to allmusicguide.com. I don't recall that album having anything impressive. I do have the Atlantic album 'Hear To Tempt You', which was produced by Norman Harris. This is a prime example of great philly soul disco. There are some slow songs, but typical of a philly produced lp, most of the tracks are dancefloor oriented.
Disco Funk
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Thanks for the tip Disco Funk, I'll keep an eye out for that one.. I've really liked what I've heard from Norman Harris so far..
I was just curious, since according to allmusic.com, the mighty Tempts only had two charting singles in the years between "Song For You" and "Power". Talk about a slump..
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I guess they just couldn't find the right producer, because their group vocal sounds was no worse than any other big group during that period, like The Trammps, The Dells, etc...Originally Written by neonlights
Edit: I mean, the right company to promote them. Most songs become hits because of the amount of money the label pumps into promoting a song. If a label doesn't give a damn, then its rare for a song to build up a national following from the grassroots.
Disco Funk
Chart Hit [Level 6]
I've always considered "Treat Her Like a Lady" to be the song closest to traditional disco (it's also unique in that it's one of the few songs they wrote themselves). It was produced by 2 former members of Earth, Wind and Fire. "Standing on the Top" is also quite danceable, and really bears the stamp of Rick James, who wrote it....And did anyone hear the album that the 2 Temps singers, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, did with Daryl Hall and John Oates?
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Hey DiscoFunk: They just had weak material in the late 70's. Berry Gordy worked on the A song for you Lp which was solid. Just before then, Norman Whitfield hit a major slump and Tempts sales plumetted around 73ish.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Check out their 1973 album "Masterpiece". Especially Law of The Land and Plastic Man which I would consider proto-disco.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I thought the Hear To Tempt You album produced by Norman Harris featured some great dance tunes. Maybe by that time the classic Philly sound wasn't as cool. But then again, the Four Tops had a reasonably big hit with H.E.L.P. which was taken from another Norman Harris produced LP At The Top. There weren't any 12"s made from the Hear To Tempt You album, so I'm figuring Atlantic didn't want to get behind the album.
Disco Funk
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Definitely, Norman Whitfield was way ahead of the game.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Based on DF's suggestion, I just recently bought the "Hear To Tempt You" album. I've really come to enjoy it these past few days, real good Philly disco, at least to my ears! "Snake In The Grass," "Think For Yourself," "She's All I've Got," "Read Between The Lines" and "It's Time For Love" are my faves from it.. I'm not sure if the sound they went for on here distinguished them enough from the competition though.. Regardless, it's quite good on it's own terms, IMO..
Speaking of Norman Whifield, can't argue with that. I got their "Psychedelic Soul" 2 CD set a while back, great compilation of their Whitfield-produced material.. I haven't heard the Masterpiece album, but I hope they do an album reissue on that sometime. I hope to get the reissue of their "1990" album pretty soon..
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