Emperors of Soul

Infobox Album | Name = Emperors of Soul
Type = Box set
Artist = The Temptations

| Released = September 20, 1994
Recorded = 1959 - 1994
Genre = Doo wop/soul/psychedelic soul/funk/pop/R&B
Length = 6:25:36
Label = Motown
Producer = Various
Reviews =
* Allmusic (4.5/5) [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:u1uk6j4871t0 link]
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"Emperors of Soul" is a 1994 box set compilation for The Temptations, released by Motown Records. The five-disc collection covers the Temptations' entire four-decade history, from the first recording of The Distants in 1959 ("Come On") to four new recordings by the then-current Temptations lineup of Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, Ron Tyson, and stalwart members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin: "Error of Our Ways", "Givin' U The Best", "Elevator Eyes", and "Blueprint for My Love".

The first two discs and the first half of the third disc collect the original mono versions of the Temptations' most popular singles, including "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and several b-sides, album tracks, and unreleased songs. The rest of the set continues on through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s with later hits, album tracks, and unreleased songs.

Disc 1: Early years

"All tracks in mono."

#"Come On" "(by Otis Williams & the Distants)"
#"Oh, Mother of Mine"
#"Romance Without Finance"
#"Check Yourself"
#"Dream Come True"
#"Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)" "(credited as "The Pirates")"
#"I'll Love You 'Til I Die" "(credited as "The Pirates")"
#"Paradise"
#"Slow Down Heart"
#"I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To"
#"Witchcraft (For Your Love)" *
#"I Want A Love I Can See"
#"The Further You Look, The Less You See"
#"Farewell My Love"
#"A Tear From A Woman's Eyes"
#"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
#"I'll Be in Trouble"
#"The Girl's Alright With Me"
#"Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)"
#"Baby, Baby I Need You"
#"My Girl"
#"(Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My Baby"
#"It's Growing"
#"You'll Lose A Precious Love"
#"Since I Lost My Baby"
#"You've Got To Earn It"
#"My Baby"
#"Don't Look Back"

(*) previously unreleased

Personnel

* Originally recorded between 1959 and 1965
* Lead and background vocals: Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams
*Lead vocals on "Come On": Richard Street
*Additional background vocals on "Come On": James "Pee-Wee" Crawford.
* Additional background vocals on "Come On" and "It's Growing": The Andantes
* Producers: Andre Williams, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Clarence Paul, Norman Whitfield, and Holland-Dozier-Holland
*Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers

Disc 2: "Classic-5" years

"All tracks in mono unless otherwise noted. "

#"Get Ready"
#"Fading Away"
#"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
#"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"
#"Who You Gonna Run To"
#"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"
#"I Got Heaven Right Here On Earth" *
#"(I Know) I'm Losing You"
#"All I Need"
#"Sorry Is A Sorry Word"
#"I'm Doing It All"
#"No More Water In The Well"
#"You're My Everything"
#"Just One Last Look"
#"Angel Doll" *
#"(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need"
#"Don't Send Me Away"
#"Hello Young Lovers"
#"Ol' Man River" [Alternate Version] *
#"I Wish It Would Rain"
#"I Truly, Truly Believe"
#"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"
#"Please Return Your Love To Me"
#"How Can I Forget"
#"For Once in My Life" (live from "TCB") **
#"My Girl" [Acapella] (bonus track)

(*) previously unreleased (**) in stereo

Personnel

*Originally recorded between 1965 and 1968; bonus track recorded in 1964
* Lead and background vocals by David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
* Additional background vocals on "Sorry Is A Sorry Word" and "Just One Last Look": The Andantes
* Producers: Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson, Frank Wilson, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Clarence Paul, Jeffrey Bowen, and Ivy Jo Hunter
* Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers and L.A. session artists
* Aaron Smith: Drums

Disc 3: "Psychedelic soul" years

"All tracks in mono unless otherwise noted."

#"Cloud Nine"
#"Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go)"
#"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" ** "(Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations)"
#"I'll Try Something New" "(Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations)"
#"Runaway Child, Running Wild" (single edit)
#"Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down"
#"I Can't Get Next to You"
#"Message From A Black Man" **
#"War" **
#"Psychedelic Shack" *
#"Hum Along and Dance" **
#"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"
#"Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)"
#"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
#"Take a Look Around" **
#"It's Summer" **
#"Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" **
#"I Ain't Got Nothin'" **
#"Mother Nature" **
#"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (single edit) **

(**) in stereo (*) mono 45 single, with stereo LP intro added to beginning

Personnel

* Originally recorded between 1968 and 1972
* Lead and background vocals by Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, Richard Street, and Damon Harris
* Lead vocals on "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" and "I'll Try Something New": Diana Ross: vocals
* Background vocals on "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" and "I'll Try Something New": Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong
*Producers: Norman Whitfield, Frank Wilson, and Nickolas Ashford
* Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers and L.A. session artists

Disc 4: Funk/disco years

"All songs in stereo."
#"Masterpiece" (single edit)
#"Plastic Man" (single edit)
#"Hey Girl" (I Like Your Style)
#"Law Of The Land" [Alternate Mix] *
#"Let Your Hair Down"
#"Heavenly"
#"You've Got My Soul on Fire"
#"Happy People"
#"Shakey Ground"
#"Glasshouse"
#"A Song for You"
#"Memories"
#"Keep Holdin' On"
#"Darling, Stand By Me (Song For My Woman)"
#"Who Are You" "(original title: "Who Are You (and What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)")"
#"In a Lifetime"
#"Power"
#"Isn't the Night Fantastic"
#"Aiming at Your Heart"

(*) previously unreleased

Personnel

*Originally recorded between 1972 and 1982
* Lead and background vocals by Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Glenn Leonard, Louis Price , Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
* Producers: Norman Whitfield, Jeffrey Bowen, Berry Gordy, and James Carmichael
* Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers, The Commodores, Rose Royce, and L.A. session artists

Disc 5: 1980s and 1990s

"All songs in stereo."
#"Standing On The Top" [Pt. 1]
#"Sail Away"
#"Treat Her Like A Lady"
#"My Love Is True (Truly For You)"
#"Do You Really Love Your Baby"
#"Magic"
#"Lady Soul"
#"I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now"
#"Look What You Started"
#"Soul To Soul"
#"Special"
#"My Kind Of Woman" *
#"Hoops Of Fire"
#"Error Of Our Ways" **
#"Givin' U The Best" **
#"Elevator Eyes" **
#"Blueprint For Love" **

(*) previously unreleased (**) new songs

Personnel

* Originally recorded between 1982 and 1994
* Lead and background vocals by Dennis Edwards, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Richard Street, Glenn Leonard, Ron Tyson, Theo Peoples, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
* Additional leads and background vocals on "Standing on the Top": Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Rick James, and the Mary Jane Girls
* Guest rap on "My Kind of Woman" by Ice-T
*Producers: Rick James ("Standing on the Top"), Berry Gordy, Norman Whitfield ("Sail Away"), Ali-Ollie Woodson, and Otis Williams
* Instrumentation: Earl Van Dyke, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Norman Whitfield, and L.A. session musicians.