The Temptations - Disc of the day

The Temptations
Wish It Would Rain

(Motown, 1968)

Holland-Dozier-Holland? Who needs ’em?

This week is 1968 Week on MOJO, and every Disc Of The Day will reflect that theme.

Despite the revolution outside and turmoil inside Motown – hit machine Holland-Dozier-Holland had quit in a dispute over royalties – the hits kept coming because of Norman Whitfield, the producer destined to keep Motown ahead of the times. Whitfield did not produce all of Wish It Would Rain, but the best tracks are his. The (almost) title track, the first of five Number 1s he co-wrote with Barrett Strong, is the spellbinding centrepiece of the album. Beautifully sung by David Ruffin, the image of a broken-hearted man, spurned by an unfaithful woman, calling down rain to hide his tears is painfully real, and no wonder. It was the situation co-writer Roger Penzabene found himself in, and in his depression he killed himself weeks before his song topped the R&B chart. However, there was no slowing Whitfield & Strong, whose I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) – a wonderful construction of harmonies, rhythm and strings behind Ruffin’s lead – and Gonna Give Her All The Love I Got (man gets out of forces, returns to beloved, very potent in the Vietnam years) also hit the top spot. One tiny problem: favouring Ruffin made him unbearable and the group sacked him. Lead vocals had always been shared, of course, and the flip of Rain – I Truly, Truly Believe – is sung by bass voice Melvin Franklin (it reached 41 on the US R&B charts), while the flute-like Eddie Kendricks sings two leads, Please Return Your Love To Me being the best.

Geoff Brown

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 04/03/2008

Further Listening

Sly And The Family Stone – Dance To The Music (Epic, 1968)

James Brown – Live At The Apollo Volume II (Polydor, 1968)

The Impressions – We’re A Winner (MCA, 1968)

What’s YOUR favourite 1968 album? Enlighten us below...

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A classic from '68 is Electric Flag's "A Long Time Comin'". This loose and short-lived collective of outrageously talented blues and r'n'b lovers created one of the best debut albums of the late 60s. Nick Gravenites' vocals are pure passion and yearning, while Mike Bloomfield contributes some of the most stunning virtuoso guitar playing of his distinguished career. The whole of Side 1 is a masterpiece, and includes one of the greatest versions of 'Killing Floor' ever recorded. Other standouts are 'Wine' and the epic 'Another Country', which is just as relevant now as it was during the Vietnam 'conflict'.

Posted by Ange Tsibogiannis at 10:11 AM GMT 04/03/2008 Report Abuse

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