Temptations cover art

Temptations

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Temptations

By: Otis Williams, Patricia Romanowski - with
Narrated by: JD Jackson, Otis Williams
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About this listen

The Temptations were named the "#1 R&B/Hip Hop Artists of All Time" by Billboard Magazine in 2017. They are one of the most iconic, best-selling brands in the entertainment world today, and their journey is one of the most extraordinary stories of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Temptations' heritage, influence, and contributions to American culture and the global music landscape is undeniable. The group produced some of the greatest music of our era and it transcends generations. Through the years, the group's trademark razor-sharp choreography, finely tuned harmonies, and compelling vocals made them the exemplars of the Motown sound. Their story is one of courage, struggle, triumphs, setbacks, and ultimately, international superstardom.

As told by its founder, this is the frank, revealing story of the legendary supergroup, that is the source of the Emmy-winning television miniseries Temptations and the smash hit Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography.

©1988 Otis Williams (P)2020 Tantor Cultural & Regional Entertainment & Celebrities

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Read this years ago but listened again and it was like a brand new book. Read all the books on Motown but this is up there with the best of them.

Temptations

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I love the Temptations so I was interested in the story, but I have the feeling there is a much better book about them but that could be written. Understandably, Otis Williams doesn’t want to give too much away that might not paint them in a flattering light. The narration is okay, but it’s an actor and it just had the same kind of repetitive tone and expression after a while. For me it’s not quite the same with an autobiography when it’s not the author reading it.

Interesting if you are a fan

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Loved it but chapter seven or eight has a problem with jumping back and forth

Superb book

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Honest, reflective and thoughtful to the memories of his colleagues. A wonderful tribute to an incredible group!

Temptations Sing

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When I read the original version it struck me as hagiography. We all knew by then that some of the back stage drama resulted from heavy drug use by some members. To leave this out was disingenuous. Even with the updated versions oblique acknowledgement of the drug issue, it remains a strangely unreal teling of the story. Otis is clearly the stable centre of the group and has the right to tel it. But in his efforts to be gracious he leaves us to full in a lot of blanks about what leads to the various meltdowns, fights and even early deaths. Everyone gets some love and forgiveness from him in hindsight, which is fine if you tel he full story in the first place. We here nothing of David Ruffin’s well documented violence (not least towards Tammi Terrell) and no connections are drawn between declining record sales and dissipated group members. The revolving roundabout of group members in later years has seen the Temps keep a certain ‘sound’ and therefore the ability to recreate the classic songs on stage, but it becomes a dull story when the cycle is repeated so often.
In 2023 Otis’ references to chasing girls in the first editions, though clearly coded, seem anachronistic and potentially #MeToo flags. All the guys are given a free law for their marital Infidelities etc. I love the Temps music and always will. But this book didn’t give me anything real after the very earliest years were described, and was ultimately unfulfilling. Well read, I don’t doubt that I would like Otis if we were too meet, but his insights are not deep, when things get tricky, it’s all ‘Gos plan’ which is an easy cop out.

Hagiography even after the update

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