Motown / Pgd
1994
Emperors Of Soul
About This Album
Released in 1994, Emperors of Soul is a five-CD anthology celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Temptations with 109 key tracks taken from their 40-plus album catalog. Along with the Four Tops and the Supremes, the Temps became one of Motown's most successful acts, scoring an astounding 35 Top 40 entries during their prime. However, unlike many of their contemporaries, the vocal quintet survived the transition from stylish pop and R&B on "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Get Ready," "Ain't to Proud to Beg," and "I Wish It Would Rain" to the psychedelic soul of "Cloud Nine," "Psychedelic Shack," and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)," as well as covering socially relevant issues on "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" and "Plastic Man." Of course, all of those favorites are included here, as are a handful of tunes that predate their association with Berry Gordy and Motown. The initial five-man incarnation came together as the Distants (whose "Come On" is the opening selection of the set in 1959) -- featuring Otis Williams, Eldridge Bryant, and the distinctive bass pipes of Melvin Franklin -- linked up with the Primes' Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams, first as the Elgins and ultimately the Temptations.
Track List

Disc 1 (try tracks 1,3,4,5,8,10 and 26)

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Disc 2 (try tracks 1,3,6,16,22 and 23)

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Disc 3 (try track 5)

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Disc 4 (try tracks 1,2,3,6,7,13 and 16)

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Disc 5 (try tracks 1 and 5)

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