Into the Groovy #18 - "Masterpiece"
@teamfreak16 (43611)
Denver, Colorado
April 7, 2016 1:12am CST
The Temptations are a three-time Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocal group from Detroit that rose to fame with smash hits such as "My Girl," and "Ain't too Proud to Beg."
It was, however, their 1970's work that I particularly enjoy, especially protest tunes like "Ball of Confusion."
The epic (13-plus minutes) "Masterpiece" is just such a song: gritty urban funk tempered by orchestration and horns, with lyrics about life in the ghetto. The song was released in 1973, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that those lyrics still ring true all these decades later. The link below will take you to the full version, which is worth every listening minute.
Masterpiece (Norman Whitfield) publ. Stone Diamond Recorded Hitsville-GW / L.A., completed 09-Jan-73 ; produced by Norman Whitfield Album: Masterpiece (1973)...
4 people like this
2 responses
@teamfreak16 (43611)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Apr 16
Oh, without a doubt. There was a time Motown could do no wrong.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
7 Apr 16
@teamfreak16 I seem to recall a thing on Radio 4 about a Motown musical. Or did I imagine it
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43611)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Apr 16
@Ronrybs - No, I think they did make something along those lines. I'd have to look it up, though. But I think you're right.
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@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Apr 16
You left Canada and went Motown. So many hits for the Temps. And personnel changes. Masterpiece was the result of Norman Whitfield taking complete artistic control of the group after Papa was a Rolling Stone.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43611)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Apr 16
I had the album as a kid. Loved it then, and I still do.
