0601. The Temptations
Cloud Nine

This is yet another album where the songs automatically starts playing in my head as I check out the tracklist. The thing I notice is that in some cases it's the wrong version.
Cause in my head it's the original version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine (well, you know, the Marvin Gaye version [yes, I know he didn't write it nor record the first version) and not the popped up version that The Temptations launch here.

The title track outshines everything else on the album with it's definitive funk (a change in musical style induced by one of the members fascination for Sly & The Family Stone) and escapist theme.

Eddie Kendricks falsetto, most prominently featured on Love Is A Hurtin' Thing, isn't a joy for my ears, though. I chalk it up to bad mixing on the re-release, cause I doubt that anyone on Motown would let it sound that bad.

The other real good track is the nine-minute Run Away Child, Running Wild, with a huge chunk of instrumental music in it, while the rest are okay (and mostly lacking the funk-drive). But the title track. Dämn!