Early Paul Williams, the classic line-up or the early Dennis Edwards period. IMO The Tempts did their best work during the early Edwards period. CLOUD NINE, PUZZLE PEOPLE, PHSYEDELIC SHACK, SKY'S THE LIMIT and ROCK SOLID yeilded some of their best recordings. I like the classic Tempts but I like the line-up w/ Edwards better. I also like the early Williams period although the group was still rough around the edges.
shareThe Psychedelic lineup, I thought it was great that they each got to have a chance to sing a part of the songs. and of course the classic 5
shareThe early Edwards line-up is my personal favorite. I love David Ruffin's voice, but I love Dennis Edwards's voice even more--especially the voice he had as a young man in the late 1960's. Cloud Nine is my personal favorite Temptations song--and I love each and every hit song they had during their psychedelic funk period.
shareI loved all of it!!!
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The Paul Williams, Eddie Kindricks, Melvin Franklin, David Ruffin and Otis Williams line-up.
shareEarly Edwards period. I actually prefer David Ruffin as a solo artist.
shareClassic Lineup wins for me and I also liked when they had Ali Woodson, though his lineup isn't featured in this movie.
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The Classic 5. The psychedlic period was mehh to me. The only two songs i liked were Cloud Nine, Just my Imagination and Cant get next to you. They were basically ripping off Sly and the Family Stone's style. They should have been making sweet soul but Norman Whitfield had them making social commentary songs with 5 minute instrumental breaks. Plus i think Ruffin blew Edwards out of the water. Edwards couldn't hit those peaks and valleys like Ruffin
When I first started listening to The Temptations it was their psychedelic soul era. I was into Jimi Hendrix, Sly & The Family Stone and Prince so that era of The Tempts was right up my alley. But when I went back and listened to the Classic 5 I realized that was the best lineup.
Dennis Edwards is an excellent singer and very underrated. His voice may have saved The Tempts from becoming irrelevant. I am a little surprised he never had much of a solo career. Maybe it had something to do with his drug problem. His drug abuse had something to do with at least one of his departures from The Tempts. Edwards was with them from 1968 until 1976, returning from 1980 to 1984 and 1987 to 1989. He now tours as "The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards". His current group includes Paul Williams Jr., son of original Temptations member Paul Williams. It would be even better if Paul Williams Jr. sang with the Otis Williams' Temptations.
There are some singers besides the Classic 5 and Dennis Edwards who were outstanding. The late Richard Street sang tenor with The Tempts from 1971 to 1993. Falsetto Ron Tyson joined the group in 1983 and has been with them ever since.