Farewell My Love
Encyclopedia
"Farewell My Love" is a 1963 single by The Temptations
for the Gordy (Motown
) label. It was the last single that A-side
was written and produced by Motown president Berry Gordy
for well over a decade, and the last released during the period of the "Original 5" lineup (before member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired). It is also noted as the group's last single to miss the Billboard pop chart's Top 40 until 1971's "It's Summer" (and the last to not make it on any U.S. music charts for the next 23 years). Up until now the group was jokingly referred to at this time as the "Hitless Temptations" by the Motown staff, much like their "sister" group, The Supremes
, were called the "no-hit Supremes". However, their next single, the Smokey Robinson
produced "The Way You Do the Things You Do
", would chart in the Top 20 of the U.S. Pop chart, breaking the group's streak of being "hitless".
" and "Check Yourself
". As with "Isn't She Pretty", Paul Williams
is the song's main lead yet it mainly showcases another group member, in this case it's Eddie Kendricks
who alternates between his famous falsetto
and his natural register (first and second tenor
). Bryant's voice is also prominently heard here, delivering harmony solos behind Kendricks' and Williams' leads as well as having brief lead lines - one each - on the first two choruses ("To me" and "I'm going cry"). Bass singer Melvin Franklin
starts the song with do-wop harmonies and later repeats Williams' line, "Why couldn’t you be true?", at the end of the second verse.
Although it did not chart nationally, the song was a regional smash hit in the country's mid-west. This would be the group's final A-side released with Williams as the main lead (although B-side releases "Just Let Me Know
", "Baby, Baby I Need You
", and "Don't Look Back
" would be promoted as if they were). The next three singles from the group would have Kendricks on lead, and then, beginning with release of "My Girl", David Ruffin
, Bryant's replacement, would become the Tempt's new main lead singer.
to "Farewell My Love" was "May I Have This Dance". (recorded on November 2, 1962). Despite speculation by some that the recorded version of this song was led by Elbridge "Al" Bryant (who performed the lead on stage and was originally credited as the track's lead), in fact it features a lead vocal from Eddie Kendricks in which he's singing mostly in his (rarely recorded) natural tenor and not his more familiar falsetto, which is only heard near the song's end. Backing him are fellow members Otis Williams, Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin; Bryant's vocals do not actually appear on this track. It would be the last time a Temptation track involving producer-songwriter Norman Whitfield
would appear on a single where neither side would chart. In three years, after a few more B-sides and album fillers for the Tempts, Whitfield would produce the hit "Ain't Too Proud To Beg
" and take over as the group main producer.
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
for the Gordy (Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
) label. It was the last single that A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
was written and produced by Motown president Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
for well over a decade, and the last released during the period of the "Original 5" lineup (before member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired). It is also noted as the group's last single to miss the Billboard pop chart's Top 40 until 1971's "It's Summer" (and the last to not make it on any U.S. music charts for the next 23 years). Up until now the group was jokingly referred to at this time as the "Hitless Temptations" by the Motown staff, much like their "sister" group, The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, were called the "no-hit Supremes". However, their next single, the Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
produced "The Way You Do the Things You Do
The Way You Do the Things You Do
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single...
", would chart in the Top 20 of the U.S. Pop chart, breaking the group's streak of being "hitless".
Overview
The song tells of a couple's breakup; the narrator speaks of his lover being untrue to him and that he's leaving her to find "someone who cares/ And still be there" for him. This is the third of the small handful of pre-psychedelic era songs the group recorded that had more than two members singing lead at one point; the previous were "Isn't She PrettyIsn't She Pretty
"Isn't She Pretty" is a 1961 song recorded by The Temptations, and written by group members Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams, as well as Motown’s founder Berry Gordy...
" and "Check Yourself
Check Yourself
"Check Yourself" is a 1961 song that was released as a Miracle label single by Motown singing group The Temptations; and written by Motown president Berry Gordy, and group members Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and Elbridge Bryant, and produced by Gordy...
". As with "Isn't She Pretty", Paul Williams
Paul Williams (The Temptations)
Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
is the song's main lead yet it mainly showcases another group member, in this case it's Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
who alternates between his famous falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
and his natural register (first and second tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
). Bryant's voice is also prominently heard here, delivering harmony solos behind Kendricks' and Williams' leads as well as having brief lead lines - one each - on the first two choruses ("To me" and "I'm going cry"). Bass singer Melvin Franklin
Melvin Franklin
David Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
starts the song with do-wop harmonies and later repeats Williams' line, "Why couldn’t you be true?", at the end of the second verse.
Although it did not chart nationally, the song was a regional smash hit in the country's mid-west. This would be the group's final A-side released with Williams as the main lead (although B-side releases "Just Let Me Know
Just Let Me Know
"Just Let Me Know" is a song recorded in late 1963 by The Temptations for the Gordy label and is the B-side to the 1964 hit single "The Way You Do the Things You Do". Ironically, both songs competed with each other and with the H-D-H production, "A Tear From A Woman's Eyes", for the A-side; the...
", "Baby, Baby I Need You
Baby, Baby I Need You
"Baby, Baby I Need You" is a 1963 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It was written by Smokey Robinson, and was later used as the B-side to their Top 40 1964 hit "Girl "....
", and "Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back (Temptations song)
"Don't Look Back" is a 1965 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. The flip side to their Top 20 hit "My Baby", "Don't Look Back" broke out and became a hit among the R&B audience on its own, reaching #14 on the R&B charts...
" would be promoted as if they were). The next three singles from the group would have Kendricks on lead, and then, beginning with release of "My Girl", David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
, Bryant's replacement, would become the Tempt's new main lead singer.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (The Temptations)Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
(verses; bridge), Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
(choruses, outro), Al BryantElbridge BryantElbridge "Al" Bryant was an American tenor singer, and one of the founding members of Motown singing group The Temptations.-Early life and career:...
(choruses, harmony vocals), and Melvin FranklinMelvin FranklinDavid Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
(2nd verse, harmony vocals) - Background vocals by Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Al Bryant, and Otis WilliamsOtis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
"May I Have This Dance"
The B-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to "Farewell My Love" was "May I Have This Dance". (recorded on November 2, 1962). Despite speculation by some that the recorded version of this song was led by Elbridge "Al" Bryant (who performed the lead on stage and was originally credited as the track's lead), in fact it features a lead vocal from Eddie Kendricks in which he's singing mostly in his (rarely recorded) natural tenor and not his more familiar falsetto, which is only heard near the song's end. Backing him are fellow members Otis Williams, Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin; Bryant's vocals do not actually appear on this track. It would be the last time a Temptation track involving producer-songwriter Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
would appear on a single where neither side would chart. In three years, after a few more B-sides and album fillers for the Tempts, Whitfield would produce the hit "Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for...
" and take over as the group main producer.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks
- Background vocals by Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams
- Written by Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
and Janie BradfordJanie BradfordJanie Bradford is an American songwriter, most known for her tenure with Motown. With Berry Gordy, she co-wrote "Money ", originally recorded by Barrett Strong and used by The Beatles on their second album With The Beatles... - Produced by Norman Whitfield
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers