Last week saw the release of the latest album from The Temptations “Temptations 60” to celebrate 60 years of the group. The only surviving member of the original Temptations is Otis Williams, Now 80 who has been responsible for the artistic direction of the group, and he usually contributes to the vocal arrangements that are the unchanging collective fingerprints that make the Temptations the Temptations.
It’s a fantastic album. Beginning with the first track to be released as a single, today I played 3 songs from the album. That first single, “Is it Gonna Be Yes or No?” features the still beautiful voice of Smokey Robinson. I could have played any tracks from the album, there’s not a bad one in there but I also chose “Time for the People” Which has a groove that moves, thanks partly to Melvin Davis, one of several great bass players on Temptations 60. It’s a motivational song for the Black Lives Matter era, in the tradition of “Ball of Confusion” and the more political Temptations songs from the early ’70s.
Temptations 60 strikes a careful balance between looking backward and staying grounded in the here-and-now. It’s only February and It’s already my album of the year!
Also on today’s show –
A fantastic Mash Up for Valentines Day next week by local artist Leanne Louise
Britain’s cost of living crisis intensified on Thursday as Ofgem announced rise in the maximum price of home energy bills by up to 54 per cent above current record highs.
The Queens Platinum Jubilee
Plans to tackle the backlog of people waiting for treatment from the NHS have been delayed.
My Sunday Lunch
You can listen to the whole show here –
One 2 Three
Bob Simpson
