The Temptations - A Song For You (2016) [Hi-Res]

Although 1975's „A Song For You“ was the last truly great Temptations album, it's a killer, and it should come as a revelation to anyone who thinks the band didn't do anything worthwhile after Dennis Edwards took over lead vocals following the departures of David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. Edwards's gruffer voice does take a bit of getting used to for those accustomed to Ruffin and Kendricks's smooth sounds, but he's a fiery, impassioned lead singer. His delivery of the Leon Russell-written title track shreds not only the better-known Carpenters version, but also the Donny Hathaway rendition that many feel is definitive. The other highlight is the scorching "Shakey Ground," a cataclysmic funk powerhouse co-written by Funkadelic guitar legend Eddie Hazel, who delivers some searing solos on the track. Longtime Temptations fans consider this one of the group's finest albums, up there with „Cloud Nine“ and „In A Mellow Mood“.

„By 1975, the Temptations were a much different group with both David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks out of the lineup. Dennis Edwards was now singing lead, and only Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams existed from the original group. The group was far more of a funk mind, and this set proves it. The big hit on here was "Happy People," with the Temps backed up by the Commodores, listed as "the Temptations Band" on the second part instrumental version. For ultra-funk, though, it's hard to beat "Glasshouse" and "Shakey Ground," which features guitar and bass work from P-Funk alumni Eddie Hazel and Billy Nelson. But they didn't leave their ballads entirely in the good old days, as the satin-drenched "Firefly," "Memories" and the title track clearly show. Produced by Jeffrey Bowen, this thing has "'70s'" stamped all over it. In the case of the Temps, that's good.“ (Cub Koda, AMG)