Search - Temptations :: Emperors of Soul

Emperors of Soul
Temptations
Emperors of Soul
Genres: Pop, R&B, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (28) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (26) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (20) - Disc #3
  •  Track Listings (19) - Disc #4
  •  Track Listings (17) - Disc #5

The Temptations prospered by their gifts and their very name, which stood for the best of so much of what the soul-group tradition had to offer--standout lead vocalists, killer harmonies, and steps and suits that mortal me...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Temptations
Title: Emperors of Soul
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Motown
Original Release Date: 9/20/1994
Release Date: 9/20/1994
Album Type: Box set
Genres: Pop, R&B, Classic Rock
Styles: Oldies, Classic R&B, Motown, Soul, Psychedelic Rock
Number of Discs: 5
SwapaCD Credits: 5
UPCs: 731453033825, 731453033849

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording
The Temptations prospered by their gifts and their very name, which stood for the best of so much of what the soul-group tradition had to offer--standout lead vocalists, killer harmonies, and steps and suits that mortal men could only envy. By the '90s, though, the words "The Temptations" were as much a branding device as a guarantee of excellence. Fortunately, the five-CD Emperors of Soul spends most of its time winding through the act's various changes of style and personnel; this is the group, after all, that confidently leapt from romance classics such as "My Girl" to the ultrafunky "I Can't Get Next to You" and the downright scary "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Like all royalty, they're a fallible institution, but if it's a big, big box of Tempts you want, Emperors is the one. --Rickey Wright

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CD Reviews

This is the real deal....don't settle for less!
The Fancy One | Westchester County, NY | 10/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Forget about all those repackaged compilation CDs of the Tempts' work...and believe me, Motown constantly does this. EMPERORS OF SOUL is the ONE and ONLY Temptations collection you should have, outside of the original, individual albums (and the Temptations' LOST AND FOUND CD). You get five CDs of hit after slammin' hit, plus those rare b-sides that you never hear anymore and never-before-released songs...from the very beginning in the lean years, when the Tempts were Otis Williams and the Distants, right up until late 1994. It's also very fitting that the collection ends in 1994, since original Tempt and bass Melvin Franklin passed away in 1995, soon after this was released. This is a great tribute to his career, and to a group who has shown the world just WHY they so richly deserve the title "Emperors of Soul"! No other group can boast about having so many hits AND talented lead singers involved with them during their lifetime...David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, Ali Woodson, Ron Tyson...and that's just scratching the surface! For the Tempt fan past and present, this is a MUST HAVE. A bit pricey, but if you spring for this, you will NOT be disappointed in the least."
5 CD'S OF GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JUSTIN OSTOFOROFF | Las Vegas, NV | 04/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Temptations are truly one of the greatest groups of all time and with 5 discs in this collection it's not hard to see why. It starts with "Come On" which for is not as well preserved as the earlier Motown masters but hey that wasn't Motown. Other notable tracks on the album are: the acapella of "My Girl" from the original session, Paul's incredible live version of "For Once In My Life" from the 1968 TCB special, the incredibly catchy "No More Water In The Well", the gritty self describing song "Power", the down to earth "Lady Soul", and David's centerpiece "I Wish It Would Rain". Only half of this set is stereo which makes a couple of songs lose their power like "Get Ready" and "Ball Of Confusion". I don't understand why they can't use the stereo mixes on the whole set because I know they are available and would make some of the songs sound a lot better. It still deserves 5 stars though."
An amazing collection
Timothy R. Sullivan | 08/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just picked it up last weekend and it's truly amazing. It's all here and it's all great. From the very early, raw doo-wop stuff -- which is excellent -- to the 60's hit making machine, to the black power/message music of the late 60's/early 70's, to the smooth soul ballads of the 80's up to today.



It's really an amazing package, props to Otis and the late great Melvin Franklin for putting this project together. I'm sure picking songs to leave out was tough, but most of the great ones are here.



It's pretty typical for reviewers to say box sets are for die-hard fans only. Why? If you want to discover the greatest vocal group in the history of music, "Emperors of Soul" is an excellent start.



If there's a better box set out there ... ah heck, there isn't one."