With only Otis Williams dating back to the group's most famous hits, "The Temptations" is more a concept or a lineage than the actual aggregation that had chart success throughout the '60s and '70s. But while other historical bands have only tenuous connections to their ancestry (and careers that simply retread past glories), the Temptations are still quite vital and creative. Their first album for New Door covered hits that had been recorded by other Motown artists; this second effort winningly expands the group's reach to soul and pop hits from beyond Motown's studio.

Covers of Barry White ("Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up"), Sam and Dave ("Hold on I'm Comin'"), the Staple Singers ("Respect Yourself"), and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes ("Wake Up Everybody"), find the Tempts applying their multipart vocals to hits from Stax, Atlantic and Philadelphia International. There's terrific chemistry between the group's choreographed Motown musical roots and the songs of these other great soul houses. Pop hits from the Bee Gees ("How Deep is Your Love") and the Doobie Brothers ("Minute by Minute") are pleasant, but less resonant with the Temptations style.

This is a big improvement on the group's previous outing. The arrangements are sharp and funky, and by stretching themselves beyond Motown the Temptations find something fresh. It's ironic that a modern-day edition of the Temptations captures the groove of non-Motown tunes better than their home team's material; but then, may of these modern day Temptations weren't ever cloistered in Studio A with the Funk Brothers. This is a fun, energetic, soulful and funky set of covers that could well light up your party. [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]

Sadly the last two Temptations albums of covers have been disappointing. On this album in particular the group hardly sounds like the Temptations. They could be any other soul/funk group. On their previous comeback albums featuring new material the group's distinctive sound remained intact. Even with changing line-ups the sound of the group remained. They had their Eddie Kendricks clone, their David Ruffin/Dennis Edwards soundalike, even a Melvin Franklin clone. Interestingly enough this strengthened the group rather than weakened it. They remained distinctive. Check out the unreleased track "Temptin' Temptations" Otis Williams's tribute to the original Temptations and it was like listening to the original group. The melody was distinctive and the song memorable. Since then they've released two albums of covers and that original sound has all but disappeared. What the Temps need to do is locate some decent songwriters (easier said than done in this era) and produce a true Temptations album. Unlike others who have covered classics the Temps can't claim any song on this album their own.

Otis Williams, the last surviving original member of the Temptations and the one who has always been the heart and soul of this iconic group brings the Temptations back to the front with fresh approaches to classic R&B that also serves to bring some great "old" music back to the front!

I always say that when you cover anyone's classic music -- especially if you record it -- you better "bring it!" The Temptations do that by adding "Temptations Style" to great songs that old-schoolers will remember and new schoolers can appreciate. The opening cut that covers and enhances Barry White's "Never Gonna Give You Up" is priceless!

A few songs are too close to the original arrangements without enough freshness added ("Hold On" and "Don't Ask My Neighbors" come to mind) and one or two lead voices over sing with a too much "sqwall" at times, but overall this album will not disappoint -- especially for dyed-in-the wool fans of the Temps and of classic R&B.

I love this cd, the music is beautiful to listen to. The Temptations are such a versatile group and this cd displays that.

The Temptations have long become an institution. I am an unabashed Tempt's fan. I think with all the changes in personnel they have started to drift away from the sound that made them so famous and endeared by many. This cd has some good moments on it but it doesn't compare with some of the cd's of the late eighties and early nineties ( I won't even mention the seventies or earlier). I think that as the true Tempt's fan listens to this he (or she) will long for the days gone by when whomever sang lead totally captured the song and painted a vocal picture and made you feel the mood of the song.