Enter The Elgins Temptation’s last album to be written and produced by Norman Whitfield(R.I.P.), 1990 (recorded in 1973). This album caused more of a stir behind the scenes than it did in sales (there was only one Top 40 Hit, Let Your Hair Down). The Temptations were unhappy with Whitfield’s socio-political songwriting, personality and production (which at times focused more on instrumentation and less on their vocals). 1990’s Zoom clocks in at 13:18 with a little less than half being instrumental and vocalizing. Motown was also involved in a disc jockey boycott (can you imagine that nowadays?), which caused DJs to refuse to play Heavenly, which is a shame because it sounds just like its namesake.
Norman Whitfield was eventually replaced as The Temptation’s producer and subsequently left Motown with Rose Royce (who backed The Temptations on this album) in tow, but not before creating an album filled with gems, I Need You being one of which contains that classic Temptations’ sound. I Need You benefits from the Temps golden voices, primarily Damon Harris’ tenor/falsetto (Damon grew up admiring Eddie Hendricks, who he replaced in the Temptations), Henry Garner Jr’s (of Rose Royce) drum breaks and Norman Whitfield’s stellar production which sounds like Superfly era Curtis Mayfield.
The Temptations – I Need You
