The Temptations discography

This article presents the discography of Motown group The Temptations. It is a complete listing of all their singles and albums. Thirty-seven of their singles reached the Billboard Top 40 in the US, with four of them reaching #1. On the R&B singles chart, the group scored a record seventy-one Top 40 singles, with fourteen of those reaching #1.

The Temptations discography
The Temptations perform on The Ed Sullivan Show circa 1969
Studio albums43
Live albums4
Compilation albums15
Singles109
Soundtrack albums3

Albums

Motown releases

All Temptations albums until 1987 were on the Gordy label except for the four Supremes/Temptations collaborative albums, which were released on Motown, and the two Atlantic Records releases.

Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US US
R&B
AUS[1] UK
1964 Meet the Temptations 95 N/A
1965 The Temptations Sing Smokey 35 1 N/A
The Temptin' Temptations 11 1 N/A
1966 Gettin' Ready 12 1 N/A 40
1967 The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul 7 1 N/A 19
The Temptations in a Mellow Mood 13 1 N/A
1968 The Temptations Wish It Would Rain 13 1 N/A
Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations (with Diana Ross & The Supremes) 2 1 N/A 1
1969 Cloud Nine 4 1 32
Together (with Diana Ross & The Supremes) 28 6 28
Puzzle People 5 1 20
1970 Psychedelic Shack 9 1
The Temptations Christmas Card 4 *
1971 Sky's the Limit 16 2
1972 Solid Rock 24 1 34
All Directions 2 1 19
1973 Masterpiece 7 1 28
1990 19 2 98
1975 A Song for You 13 1 77
House Party 40 11
Wings of Love 29 3
1976 The Temptations Do the Temptations 53 10
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

"*" "Christmas Card"'s peak position regards the Top Christmas Albums Chart.

Atlantic Records releases

The following two albums were released by Atlantic Records.

Year Album Peak chart positions
US US
R&B
1977 Hear to Tempt You 113 38
1978 Bare Back - 46

Motown releases (return)

The Temptations return to Motown and the Gordy label.

Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US US
R&B
1980 Power 45 13
Give Love at Christmas 6 *
1981 The Temptations 119 36
1982 Reunion 37 2
1983 Surface Thrills 159 19
Back to Basics 152 30
1984 Truly for You 55 3
1985 Touch Me 146 20
1986 To Be Continued 74 4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

"*" "Give Love at Christmas" charted only on the Top Christmas Albums catalog.

The Gordy label is absorbed into the main Motown label.

Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US US
R&B
1987 Together Again 112 12
1989 Special 25
1991 Milestone 88
1995 For Lovers Only 43
1998 Phoenix Rising 44 8
  • US: Platinum[2]
2000 Ear-Resistible 54 16
2001 Awesome 140 27
2004 Legacy 163 18
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

New Door releases

Year Album Peak chart positions
US US
R&B
2006 Reflections 80 14
2007 Back to Front 108 19
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

10/30 International releases

Year Album Peak chart positions
US US
R&B
2010 Still Here - 49
2018 All the Time - 6 ac
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

All Motown releases
Year Album Peak chart positions
US US
R&B
UK
1967 Temptations Live! 10 1 20
1968 Live at the Copa 15 2
1970 Live at London's Talk of the Town 21 5
1973 The Temptations in Japan
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

All Motown releases
Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US US
R&B
UK
1966 Greatest Hits 5 1 17
1970 Greatest Hits II 15 2 28
1973 Anthology (version #1) 65 5
1981 All The Million Sellers
  • US: Platinum[2]
1983 Great Songs and Performances That Inspired the Motown 25th Anniversary T.V. Special
1986 Anthology (version #2)
The Temptations 25th Anniversary 140 55
1992 Motown's Greatest Hits 8
1994 Emperors of Soul
1995 Anthology (version #3)
1997 The Ultimate Collection 137 60
1999 Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)
2000 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1 - The '60s
  • US: Platinum[2]
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Temptations, Vol. 2 - the 1970s, 80s, and 90s
2001 The Temptations at Their Very Best 28
2002 My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations (re-released in 2005 as The Temptations: Gold) 167
2003 Psychedelic Soul
2008 Classic Soul Hits 8
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Soundtracks

All Motown releases
Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US US
R&B
UK
1968 TCB (with Diana Ross & The Supremes) 1 1 11
1969 The Temptations Show 24 2
On Broadway (with Diana Ross & The Supremes) 38 4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Otis Williams & The Siberians

  • 1958: "Pecos Kid" b/w "All Of My Life"

The Distants

  • 1959: "Come On" b/w "Always" (with The Andantes)
  • 1960: "Open Your Heart" b/w "All Right"

Both singles originally released locally on the Northern label, then nationally on Warwick

1960s Motown releases

The following singles were released on Motown's Gordy label except for the following: "Oh Mother of Mine" and "Check Yourself" were released on Miracle, "Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)" was released on Mel-o-dy, and the three American-issued Supremes/Temptations duets were released on Motown. "I Second That Emotion" was released only in the United Kingdom on Tamla-Motown. Lead vocalists are identified for each of the following singles.

Year Song title Lead vocal Peak chart positions Certification
US US
R&B
UK
1961 "Oh Mother of Mine" Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks
"Check Yourself" Paul Williams, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
1962 "Dream Come True" Eddie Kendricks 22
"Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)"
(credited as The Pirates)
Eddie Kendricks
"Paradise" Eddie Kendricks 122
1963 "I Want A Love I Can See" Paul Williams
"Farewell My Love" Paul Williams
1964 "The Way You Do the Things You Do" Eddie Kendricks 11 1*
"I'll Be in Trouble" / Eddie Kendricks 33 22*
"The Girl's Alright with Me"
(B-side of "I'll Be In Trouble" )
Eddie Kendricks 102 39*
"Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" Eddie Kendricks 26 11*
"My Girl" David Ruffin 1 1 43
  • US: Platinum[2]
1965 "It's Growing"
(additional background vocals by The Andantes)
David Ruffin 18 3 45
"Since I Lost My Baby" / David Ruffin 17 4
"You've Got to Earn It"
(B-side of "Since I Lost My Baby")
Eddie Kendricks 123 22
"My Baby" / David Ruffin 13 4
"Don’t Look Back"
(B-side of "My Baby")
Paul Williams 83 15
1966 "Get Ready" Eddie Kendricks 29 1 10
(1969 reissue)
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" David Ruffin 13 1 21
"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" David Ruffin 3 1 18
"(I Know) I'm Losing You" David Ruffin 8 1 19
1967 "All I Need" David Ruffin 8 2
"You're My Everything" / Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin 6 3 26
"I've Been Good To You""
(B-side of "You're My Everything")
Eddie Kendricks 124
"(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" David Ruffin, Paul Williams,
Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin
and Eddie Kendricks
14 3
1968 "I Wish It Would Rain" / David Ruffin 4 1 45
"I Truly, Truly Believe"
(B-side of "I Wish It Would Rain")
Melvin Franklin 116 41
"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" David Ruffin 13 1 47
"Please Return Your Love To Me" Eddie Kendricks 26 4
"Cloud Nine" Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams,
Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
6 2 15
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" / Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin,
Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams
and Otis Williams
"Silent Night"
(B-side of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer")
Eddie Kendricks
1969 "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)
Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks
(Spoken interlude by Otis Williams)
2 2 3
  • US: Platinum[2]
"Runaway Child, Running Wild" Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams,
Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
6 1
"I'll Try Something New"
(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)
Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks 25 8
"Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down" Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams,
Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
20 2
"I Second That Emotion"
(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)
Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks 18
"I Can't Get Next to You" Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams,
Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
1 1 13
  • US: Platinum[2]
"The Weight"
(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)
Diana Ross, Eddie Kendricks,
and Paul Williams
46 4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

(*) Denotes information derived from the Cashbox R&B chart, as there was no Billboard R&B Singles Chart from November 1963 to January 1965. When the Billboard R&B singles chart was reinstated on January 30, 1965, the Temptations' "My Girl" was the first #1 hit on the new chart.

1970s Motown releases

The following singles were released on Motown's Gordy label except for "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" and "Law of the Land", released on Tamla-Motown in the United Kingdom. Lead vocalists are identified for each of the following singles.

Year Song title Lead vocal Peak chart positions Certification
US US R&B US AC UK
1970 "Psychedelic Shack" Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams,
Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
7 2 33
"Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)
Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks 31
"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams,
Eddie Kendricks, and Melvin Franklin
3 2 7
  • US: Platinum[2]
"Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)" / Dennis Edwards and Melvin Franklin 33 8
"Hum Along and Dance"
(B-side of "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)")
Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks,
Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin
1971 "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams 1 1 33 8
  • US: Platinum[2]
"It's Summer" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street
and Melvin Franklin
51 29
"Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Damon Harris, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
18 8 32
1972 "Take a Look Around" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Damon Harris, and Otis Williams
30 10 13
"Mother Nature" / Dennis Edwards 92 27
"Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On"
(B-side of "Mother Nature")
Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Damon Harris, Otis Williams,
and Melvin Franklin
27
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Damon Harris, and Melvin Franklin
1 5 14
  • US: Platinum[2]
1973 "Masterpiece" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Damon Harris, and Melvin Franklin
(Spoken introduction by Otis Williams)
7 1
"Plastic Man" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Damon Harris, and Melvin Franklin
40 8
"Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" Richard Street 35 2
"Law of the Land" Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
and Damon Harris
41
"Let Your Hair Down"
(instrumentation by Rose Royce)
Dennis Edwards 27 1
1974 "Heavenly" Richard Street and Damon Harris 43 8
"You've Got My Soul on Fire" Dennis Edwards 74 8
"Happy People"
(instrumentation by "The Temptations Band": The Commodores)
Dennis Edwards and Melvin Franklin 40 1
1975 "Shakey Ground"
(instrumentation by The Eddie Hazel Band)
Dennis Edwards 26 1
"Glasshouse" Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams,
Richard Street, Melvin Franklin
and Damon Harris
37 9
1976 "Keep Holdin' On" Dennis Edwards 54 3
"Up The Creek (Without A Paddle)" Dennis Edwards 94 21
"Who Are You (and What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)" Dennis Edwards 22
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Atlantic Records releases

The following four singles were released by Atlantic Records.

Year Song title Lead vocal Peak chart positions
US R&B
1977 "In a Lifetime" Glenn Leonard 21
1978 "Think for Yourself" Louis Price 58
"Bare Back" Richard Street and Glenn Leonard 42
"Ever Ready Love" Glenn Leonard 31

Motown releases

The Temptations return to Motown and the Gordy label.

Year Song title Lead vocal Peak chart positions
US US R&B US AC UK
1980 "Power" Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard,
Melvin Franklin & Richard Street
43 11
"Struck by Lightning Twice" Dennis Edwards 55
"Take Me Away"
(from the movie Loving Couples)
Glenn Leonard 69
1981 "Aiming at Your Heart" Richard Street and Glenn Leonard 67 36
"Oh What a Night" Richard Street 104
1982 "Standing on the Top - Pt. 1"
(featuring Rick James)
Rick James, Dennis Edwards,
David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks,
Richard Street,and Melvin Franklin
66 6 53
"More on the Inside" Dennis Edwards 82
1983 "Love on My Mind Tonight" Dennis Edwards 88 17
"Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy)" Dennis Edwards 67
"Sail Away" Ron Tyson 54 13 17
1984 "Treat Her Like a Lady" Ali-Ollie Woodson 48 2 12
1985 "My Love Is True (Truly for You)" Ron Tyson 14 84
"How Can You Say That It's Over" Ron Tyson and Ali-Ollie Woodson 81
"Do You Really Love Your Baby" Ali-Ollie Woodson 14 88
1986 "Touch Me" Ali-Ollie Woodson 63
"A Fine Mess" Ali-Ollie Woodson 63 28
"My Girl" (re-issue) David Ruffin 27 92
"I'm Fascinated" Richard Street 84
"Lady Soul" Ali-Ollie Woodson 47 4
"To Be Continued..." Ali-Ollie Woodson 25
1987 "Someone" Ali-Ollie Woodson 45
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

The Gordy label is absorbed into the main Motown label.

Year Song title Lead vocal Peak chart positions
US US R&B US AC UK
1987 "I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now" Dennis Edwards 3 36 90
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (re-issue) Dennis Edwards, Richard Street,
Melvin Franklin and Damon Harris
31
"Look What You Started" Dennis Edwards 8 63
1988 "Do You Wanna Go with Me" Dennis Edwards 53
1989 "All I Want from You" Ali-Ollie Woodson 16 71
"Special" Ali-Ollie Woodson 10
1990 "Soul to Soul" Ali-Ollie Woodson and Ron Tyson 12
1991"The Motown Song"
(Rod Stewart ft. the Temptations; issued on Warner Bros)
Rod Stewart and Ali-Ollie Woodson 10 3 10
"The Jones" (produced by Bob Jones & Ray Hayden) Otis Williams, Ron Tyson
and Ali-Ollie Woodson
41 69
1992"My Girl" (re-issue) David Ruffin 2
"Hoops of Fire" Ali-Ollie Woodson 68
1994 "Error of Our Ways" Ali-Ollie Woodson 86
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

The following album cuts all charted, but were not available as commercially issued singles.

Year Song title Lead vocal Peak chart positions
US
R&B
US
Urban AC
1995 "Silent Night" Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards
and Glenn Leonard
16 7
"Some Enchanted Evening" Ali-Ollie Woodson and Theo Peoples 40
1998 "Stay" Theo Peoples, Terry Weeks
and Ron Tyson
28 1
1999 "This Is My Promise" Theo Peoples 54 3
"How Could He Hurt You" Barrington "Bo" Henderson 57 5
2000 "I'm Here" Terry Weeks 40 3
2000 "Selfish Reasons" Terry Weeks 18
2002 "4 Days" Terry Weeks 19
2004 "Something Special" Terry Weeks, G.C. Cameron, and Ron Tyson 25
2007 "How Deep Is Your Love" Ron Tyson 38
2018 "Earned It” Terry Weeks
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 307. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
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