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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. Drawing from the copious songwriting of Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, and the formidable trio of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, they racked up a considerable cache of classic recordings. Unfortunately, the personal problems of tenor David Ruffin (who had replaced Bryant) created an insurmountable rift with his bandmates, and he was replaced by one-time Contours member Dennis Edwards.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
TRACK LISTINGS
Disc 1
1 Come On / The Distants 2:15
2 Oh, Mother of Mine 2:19
3 Romance Without Finance 2:49
4 Check Yourself 2:47
5 Dream Come True 3:13
6 Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine) 3:01
7 I'll Love You 'til I Die 2:49
8 Paradise 2:48
9 Slow Down Heart 2:40
10 I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To 2:40
11 Witchcraft (For Your Love) previously unreleased 2:29
12 I Want a Love I Can See 2:30
13 The Further You Look, the Less You See 2:18
14 Farewell My Love 2:24
15 A Tear from a Woman's Eyes 2:37
16 The Way You Do the Things You Do 2:39
17 I'll Be in Trouble 3:17
18 The Girl's Alright with Me 2:54
19 Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) 2:12
20 Baby, Baby I Need You 2:38
21 My Girl 2:56
22 (Talking 'bout) Nobody But My Baby 2:45
23 It's Growing 2:57
24 You'll Lose a Precious Love 2:26
25 Since I Lost My Baby 2:49
26 You've Got to Earn It 2:37
27 My Baby 2:56
28 Don't Look Back 2:53
Disc 2
1 Get Ready 2:37
2 Fading Away 2:37
3 Ain't Too Proud to Beg 2:32
4 Too Busy Thinking About My Baby 2:40
5 Who You Gonna Run To 3:05
6 Beauty Is Only Skin Deep 2:20
7 I Got Heaven Right Here on Earth previously unreleased 2:52
8 (I Know) I'm Losing You 2:26
9 All I Need 3:17
10 Sorry Is a Sorry Word 2:27
11 I'm Doing It All 2:30
12 No More Water in the Well 2:58
13 You're My Everything 3:12
14 Just One Last Look 2:43
15 Angel Doll previously unreleased 2:29
16 (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need 2:36
17 Don't Send Me Away 2:52
18 Hello, Young Lovers 2:56
19 Ol' Man River previously unreleased 4:46
20 I Wish It Would Rain 2:53
21 I Truly, Truly Believe 2:43
22 I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) 3:37
23 Please Return Your Love to Me 2:22
24 How Can I Forget 1:45
25 For Once in My Life Live 3:45
26 My Girl Mono Version 2:51
Disc 3
1 Cloud Nine 3:35
2 Why Did She Have to Leave Me(Why Did She Have to Go?) 3:09
3 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 3:05
4 I'll Try Something New 2:24
5 Runaway Child, Running Wild 4:46
6 Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down 4:39
7 I Can't Get Next to You 2:52
8 Message from a Black Man 6:04
9 War 3:12
10 Psychedelic Shack 4:16
11 Hum Along and Dance 3:53
12 Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) 4:01
13 Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World) 4:11
14 Just My Imagination (RunningAway With Me) 3:52
15 Take a Look Around 3:10
16 It's Summer 2:56
17 Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are?) 2:54
18 I Ain't Got Nothing 3:45
19 Mother Nature 3:10
20 Papa Was a Rollin' Stone 6:57
Disc 4
1 Masterpiece 4:21
2 Plastic Man 4:15
3 Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) 4:37
4 Law of the Land previously unreleased / Alternate Mix 5:02
5 Let Your Hair Down 2:40
6 Heavenly 3:54
7 You've Got My Soul on Fire 3:52
8 Happy People 3:37
9 Shakey Ground 4:02
10 Glasshouse 3:55
11 A Song for You 4:45
12 Memories 5:59
13 Keep Holdin' On 3:14
14 Darling, Stand by Me (Song for My Woman) 3:45
15 Who Are You 3:45
16 In a Lifetime 3:09
17 Power 4:09
18 Isn't the Night Fantastic 4:18
19 Aiming at Your Heart 3:32
Disc 5
1 Standing on the Top, Pt. 1 4:21
2 Sail Away 4:16
3 Treat Her Like a Lady 4:16
4 My Love Is True (Truly for You) 6:08
5 Do You Really Love Your Baby 4:09
6 Magic 5:13
7 Lady Soul 4:33
8 I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now 4:22
9 Look What You Started 4:30
10 Soul to Soul 4:19
11 Special 4:26
12 My Kind of Woman previously unreleased 4:07
13 Hoops of Fire 4:20
14 Error of Our Ways previously unreleased 5:17
15 Givin' U the Best previously unreleased 4:51
16 Elevator Eyes previously unreleased 4:04
17 Blueprint for Love previously unreleased 3:54
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