Masterpiece (Temptations album)
Encyclopedia
Masterpiece is a 1973 album by The Temptations
for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced and written by Norman Whitfield
.
" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" which emphasized his instrumental tracks over the group's vocals, Whitfield goes one step further here.
The title track, at nearly fourteen minutes long, includes only three minutes of vocals from the group, who all share sections of the lead vocal. "Masterpiece" shares space on side one with "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)", a slow classic-styled ballad led by Richard Street
which opens the album. Side two of the LP opens with "Ma", an ode to a hillbilly
mother led by Street, Damon Harris
, and Melvin Franklin
, which was recorded as the title track of Rare Earth
's 1973 Whitfield-produced LP. "Law of the Land", led by Dennis Edwards
, Street, and Harris, was recorded the same year by The Undisputed Truth
. The song is a message track in the tradition of "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" from Puzzle People
. "Plastic Man", with its lead vocal shared between Edwards, Harris, Franklin, and Street, disparages "plastic people" who operate in backhanded ways, while the eight-minute album closer, "Hurry Tomorrow", is a solo spot for Harris, which explores a hallucinogenic drug trip.
Many critics, and the Temptations themselves, remarked that much of Masterpiece, and especially its title track, sounded more like Norman Whitfield/Funk Brothers solo recordings rather than Temptations recordings. Fans complained directly to the Temptations themselves, and some music journalists began snidely referring to the Temptations as "The Norman Whitfield Chorale Singers" and other such names.
Despite the criticism directed towards the LP, "Masterpiece" became a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart, and a #7 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
. Its follow-up, the "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"-like "Plastic Man", hit #40 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" also became a Top 40 hit in the late summer/early fall of 1973.
Masterpiece was the final Temptations LP recorded in Detroit at Motown's Hitsville USA studio. By 1973, Motown Records had completed its migration to Hollywood, California, and beginning with the next release, 1990, the Temptations would record in Los Angeles
-area studios.
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) label, produced and written by 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...
.
Overview
The title refers to the album being not the group's intended masterpiece, but Whitfield's. Having already produced songs for the Temptations such as "Smiling Faces SometimesSmiling Faces Sometimes
"Smiling Faces Sometimes" is a soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label. The song was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. Producer Norman Whitfield had the song re-recorded by the Undisputed Truth the same year, resulting in a number-three Billboard...
" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" which emphasized his instrumental tracks over the group's vocals, Whitfield goes one step further here.
The title track, at nearly fourteen minutes long, includes only three minutes of vocals from the group, who all share sections of the lead vocal. "Masterpiece" shares space on side one with "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)", a slow classic-styled ballad led by Richard Street
Richard Street
Richard Allen Street is an American soul and R&B singer, most notable as a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1993...
which opens the album. Side two of the LP opens with "Ma", an ode to a hillbilly
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
mother led by Street, Damon Harris
Damon Harris
Damon Harris is a three-time Grammy Award-winning African-American soul and R&B singer. He is most notable as a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1975. Twenty years old when he joined the group, Harris was the youngest member of The Temptations during his tenure in the group...
, and 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....
, which was recorded as the title track of Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
's 1973 Whitfield-produced LP. "Law of the Land", led by Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
, Street, and Harris, was recorded the same year by The Undisputed Truth
The Undisputed Truth
The Undisputed Truth was a 1970s Motown recording act, assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield as a means for being able to experiment with his psychedelic soul production techniques...
. The song is a message track in the tradition of "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" from Puzzle People
Puzzle People
Puzzle People is a 1969 album recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Entirely produced by Norman Whitfield, Puzzle People takes the next step along the path that Cloud Nine started, and takes the Temptations further away from a classic soul sound, and more towards the realm of...
. "Plastic Man", with its lead vocal shared between Edwards, Harris, Franklin, and Street, disparages "plastic people" who operate in backhanded ways, while the eight-minute album closer, "Hurry Tomorrow", is a solo spot for Harris, which explores a hallucinogenic drug trip.
Many critics, and the Temptations themselves, remarked that much of Masterpiece, and especially its title track, sounded more like Norman Whitfield/Funk Brothers solo recordings rather than Temptations recordings. Fans complained directly to the Temptations themselves, and some music journalists began snidely referring to the Temptations as "The Norman Whitfield Chorale Singers" and other such names.
Despite the criticism directed towards the LP, "Masterpiece" became a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart, and a #7 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Its follow-up, the "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"-like "Plastic Man", hit #40 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" also became a Top 40 hit in the late summer/early fall of 1973.
Masterpiece was the final Temptations LP recorded in Detroit at Motown's Hitsville USA studio. By 1973, Motown Records had completed its migration to Hollywood, California, and beginning with the next release, 1990, the Temptations would record in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-area studios.
Side one
- "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" – 4:36
- "Masterpiece" – 13:49
Personnel
|
The Funk Brothers The 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... :
|
Singles history
- "Masterpiece [Vocal]"
- Gordy single 7126, February 1, 1973; *b-side: "Masterpiece [Instrumental]"
- "Plastic Man"
- Gordy single 7129, May 10, 1973; b-side: "Hurry Tomorrow"
- "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)"
- Gordy single 7131, July 24, 1973; b-side: "Ma"
- "Law of the Land"
- Tamla-Motown single TMG-866, 1973 (United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
only); b-side: "Run Charlie Run" (from All DirectionsAll Directions-Personnel:* Dennis Edwards: vocals* Damon Harris: vocals* Richard Street: vocals* Melvin Franklin: vocals* Otis Williams: vocals* The Andantes: Additional background vocals on "Love Woke Me Up This Morning"* Norman Whitfield: producer...
)
- Tamla-Motown single TMG-866, 1973 (United Kingdom
Chart history
| Name | Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Masterpiece | U.S. Billboard Pop Albums | 7 |
| Masterpiece | U.S. Top R&B Albums | 1 |
| "Masterpiece [Vocal]" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 7 |
| "Masterpiece [Vocal]" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 1 |
| "Plastic Man" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 40 |
| "Plastic Man" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 8 |
| "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 35 |
| "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 2 |