Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Although Reunion was a chart topper, the group's 1983 Surface Thrills barely made a dent. Changes were in order. Back to Basics marks the Temptations reuniting with producer Norman Whitfield for the first time since 1973. At his best, Whitfield could draw hard-edged and earthy performances from the Temptations, especially lead singer Dennis Edwards. That's certainly true of the first track. The underrated "Miss Busy Body" finds Whitfield's production style suitably updated and has Dennis Edwards in great voice, shouting the immortal line, "Girl button up that lip/And get on up and shake them hips." The aerial ballad "Sail Away" features a vocal from new falsetto lead Ron Tyson. As Edwards took a powder during the sessions, the always engaging Ali-Ollie Woodson filled his role. The hard-edged "Stop the World Right Here" is Woodson's debut and immediately displayed a voice that merged the best parts of David Ruffin and Edwards. The track was Woodson's only appearance here. As Whitfield produced five of the ten tracks, the rest of Back to Basics is pretty much standard issue fare. The biggest flop here is "The Battle Song," which is an excruciating, bravado-filled session featuring the Four Tops. The jaunty "Hollywood" has Edwards exhibiting his penchant for howling over Tyson. It works though. The group's 1980 classic, "Isn't the Night Fantastic," which came from Power shows up here and gets a smooth, atmospheric Whitfield-styled remix, although his name did not appear on the credits. Although Back to Basics wasn't a full-fledged album filled with Whitfield's tracks, what's here is worth listening to.
© Jason Elias /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $16.65/month
Angelo Bond, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Angelo Bond, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Angelo Bond, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Angelo Bond, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Willie Hutchinson, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Willie Hutch, Producer - Berry Gordy, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Otis Williams, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer - Ron Tyson, ComposerLyricist - David English, ComposerLyricist - Victor Castarphen, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Otis Williams, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer - Dennis Edwards, ComposerLyricist - Richard Street, ComposerLyricist - David English, ComposerLyricist - Glenn Leonard, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Angelo Bond, ComposerLyricist - The Temptations, MainArtist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Although Reunion was a chart topper, the group's 1983 Surface Thrills barely made a dent. Changes were in order. Back to Basics marks the Temptations reuniting with producer Norman Whitfield for the first time since 1973. At his best, Whitfield could draw hard-edged and earthy performances from the Temptations, especially lead singer Dennis Edwards. That's certainly true of the first track. The underrated "Miss Busy Body" finds Whitfield's production style suitably updated and has Dennis Edwards in great voice, shouting the immortal line, "Girl button up that lip/And get on up and shake them hips." The aerial ballad "Sail Away" features a vocal from new falsetto lead Ron Tyson. As Edwards took a powder during the sessions, the always engaging Ali-Ollie Woodson filled his role. The hard-edged "Stop the World Right Here" is Woodson's debut and immediately displayed a voice that merged the best parts of David Ruffin and Edwards. The track was Woodson's only appearance here. As Whitfield produced five of the ten tracks, the rest of Back to Basics is pretty much standard issue fare. The biggest flop here is "The Battle Song," which is an excruciating, bravado-filled session featuring the Four Tops. The jaunty "Hollywood" has Edwards exhibiting his penchant for howling over Tyson. It works though. The group's 1980 classic, "Isn't the Night Fantastic," which came from Power shows up here and gets a smooth, atmospheric Whitfield-styled remix, although his name did not appear on the credits. Although Back to Basics wasn't a full-fledged album filled with Whitfield's tracks, what's here is worth listening to.
© Jason Elias /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 8 track(s)
- Total length: 00:41:23
- Main artists: The Temptations
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UNI - MOTOWN
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 1983 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2015 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.