MovieChat Forums > The Temptations (1998) Discussion > One LP On Atlantic?

One LP On Atlantic?

posted 12 years ago by chihuahuaboydh-724-612855
10 replies | jump to latest

According to the movie, The Temptations recorded one LP on Atlantic Records. This was around 1977, according to the film's storyline. What's even more surprising was that Otis Williams' narrative stated that The Tempts "were sent to Atlantic's black division". What?! From what I've read & heard, I don't recall Atlantic Records ever having separate labels for black & white artists on its roster. Also, from what I've read about late founder Ahmet Ertegun, he was a kind, compassionate & fair man to all of Atlantic's artist roster, & didn't judge a performer by the color of his/her skin. I think the writers took liberties with The Tempts brief stay @ Atlantic just to make the film's storyine more interesting.

Larry Appleton: "I have..."
Balki Bartokomous: "Oh, God!"
Larry Appleton: "...a plan!"

[–] sharonbeavers70 12 years ago

My eyebrow went up at that too! Did they have any hits from this one Atlantic recording that they did?

[–] chihuahuaboydh-724-612855 12 years ago

I don't think The Tempts had any hits from the one LP they recorded with Atlantic. As Otis Williams' narrative stated in the movie: "Our records on Atlantic weren't happening. We left there after one LP". I also don't think that Atlantic LP even made the Billboard album chart. After that, The Tempts never secured another contract to record new LPs or even recorded any new singles.

Larry Appleton: "I have..."
Balki Bartokomous: "Oh, God!"
Larry Appleton: "...a plan!"

[–] sharonbeavers70 12 years ago

I remember Otis saying what you quoted, I just thought maybe I had missed a song or two that they recorded while there. That's so sad. Thanks for the information, take care.

[–] chihuahuaboydh-724-612855 12 years ago

Actually, The Temptations did record two LPs for Atlantic: "Hear To Tempt You" (1977) & "Bare Back" (1978). The former LP charted @ #113 on Billboard's album chart, & the latter LP didn't chart, so I erred in my information about The Tampts never having charted on Atlantic. Again, Otis Williams took liberties with that item in the movie's storyline, & stated that: "We left there (Atlantic) after 'one' LP". I obtained the above information via Wikipedia. Hope that helps! Take care, & have a great day!

Larry Appleton: "I have..."
Balki Bartokomous: "Oh, God!"
Larry Appleton: "...a plan!"

[–] b-touch 12 years ago

Otis Williams didn't write the script for the movie. It wasn't his call to take that liberty.

[–] chihuahuaboydh-724-612855 11 years ago

Although Otis Williams didn't write the script for the movie, he most likely contributed to it via vocal suggestions. Whether or not he took the liberty of mentioning The Tempts "were sent to Atlantic Records' black division", I'm not certain. You can bet Otis did have more than a fair amount of say in this project.

Larry Appleton: "I have..."
Balki Bartokomous: "Oh, God!"
Larry Appleton: "...a plan!"

[–] stimpy25 11 years ago

their 1st album after writing their own material was in (1976) called The Temptations do the Temptations and i think that was their last album for Motown. and it's not that great of an album either. Tempt you' is a terrible album as well. and so is Bare back' those are pretty much disco albums. i can see why they didn't do well. in (1980) they did the album "Power' and that's got some good songs on it. and was their best album since (1975)'s "A Song For you' which is a pretty good album, not great but it's got some good material.

i've been listening to their albums lately and that's how i know. now if you want to hear a good album, of their later stuff check out (1983)'s Surface Thrill's there's a song on it called "The Seeker' that i just love to death.

as for the comment on the black division, that's something i've read online of all places he he. that was something that wasn't true at all. the way i look at films like these is they RARELY get made 100% correct. check out the beach boys "(1990) tv film. "Heroes & Villians' i think is the name of it ? i may be wrong on the title but it came out that year. the film is actually pretty good. the fake beards in it are funny as hell.

but it's got plenty of stuff wrong stuff in it. and the (2000) film i forget the name of it. is more correct on information but i think they also got stuff wrong as well. my point is i have yet to see a bio that is correct. they no doubt have changed a number of things to fit along with the story.

[–] b-touch 11 years ago

He actually didn't have that much say in the project, according to his autobiography. He came around the production offices periodically after selling his rights and making the deal, and came to the set once (ironically, the day Leon had to deliver his now-infamous "ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis!" line). I'm sure they interviewed him a few times during the development process, but, as happens in television production, the writers went away and wrote the miniseries as they were required to by the studio, not by Otis.

As of 2002, when he published the updated version of his book, Otis hadn't even seen the miniseries in its entirety, and didn't think he ever would.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

I don't recall Atlantic Records having a separate subsidiary for Black artists. Otis Williams' book might go into more detail about this. But R&B acts, many of whom are Black, may have been assigned different people to work with than the rock acts, most of whom are white. Atlantic recorded many great Black artists. The first three who come to mind are Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Even if The Tempts found a home at Atlantic they would have always been considered a Motown act.

Motown did have separate subsidiaries for white acts. Weed Records was a very short lived subsidiary that released Chris Clark's "CC Rides Again" album in 1969. Rare Earth and other white acts recorded for their Rare Earth Records. Morocco Records stood for "MOtown ROCk COmpany". It was a short lived attempt to revive the Rare Earth Records concept. Its most promising act, Duke Jupiter were eventually moved to the parent label. Duke Jupiter thought Motown didn't have any interest in promoting them, and even if they did they found that they didn't have the contacts to promote a rock act.

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

Many Motown acts left the label with varying degrees of success, but most were always considered "Motown acts". The obvious comparison to The Temptations was the Four Tops. In 1972 the Tops left Motown for ABC-Dunhill. "Keeper of the Castle" was a Top 10 hit and "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" was a million seller and number one R&B hit. I still can't believe The Tempts had no hits on Atlantic. The Tops recorded for Casablanca in the early '80s. And like The Tempts they returned to Motown in 1983 just in time for their "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" television special.