YES....I love the Temptations Movie....and have watched it so many times I know it by heart
However, I do want to set some things straight here
Otis wrote the book but did NOT have production control of the tv movie
The movie came out shortly after the death of Melvin
Melvin (by all accounts) was the sweetheart that he was shown to be in the movie
However, the movie sort of neglected the fact he was a good family man and dad,
as well as being the best Bass singer ever and Otis Williams Best Buddy Forever
Melvin did NOT die in front of Otis and his mother...Melvin DID destroy his health due to cortisone shots he kept taking to ease the pain of the RA he was inflicted with. He developed diabetes
and heart problems from the cortisone shots *(and maybe did not recover fully from the time he was shot by the car thief)
However, the Tempts recorded their last song with Melvin "Blue" on the album "For Lover's Only"...the last song Melvin sang on was "Life is But a Dream"....and that was the last time Otis sang with him. Melvin took ill, lapsed into a coma and died 6 days later in hospital, NOT in his mother's kitchen.
Another problem in the movie is David Ruffin's tragic death....he admittedly was brought to the hospital but the driver told them "This is David Ruffin of the Temptations"....and then the driver/rat took off...the hospital tried to save David but failed...however, he was NOT left in a morque unknown as the movie states...that is just wrong
I also feel that Paul Williams was given an unfair treatment and I will make a whole other post about this
One thing that I have read : people who knew David Ruffin all praise the talents of Leon in his portrayal of the great singer!
Tuesday
Yes, I love the Temptations Movie...but some corrections
Temptations Forever...in Perspective
My very favorite group of all time...ever...Temptations forever
The Tempations in Perspective
I grew up with the Temptations Music...hit after hit...always something new
on the radio. They were the Premier American Group...just about the ONLY American
group that kept turning out hits during the "British Invastion"
Hit after Hit...
I now sit around on Youtube arguing with 13 year old boys in Spain etc about this..
I don't think kids today understand just how "dominant" the Temptations really were.
They rose to the top with the "Classic Five" lineup...the hits from Eddie and David..
then despite troubles and line up changes they came out with new and exciting material with Dennis Edwards, moving from "Classic Soul" into Funk.
Today we see so many flash in the pan groups. We see groups that are one hit wonders. And Prima Donna Groups that take years between albums.
The Temptations just kept on bringing out the songs, the voices....the harmony
Love songs, funny songs, dancing songs, sad songs, Christmas Songs, "Standard" songs,
funky songs, "message songs", even a bit of gospel and Broadway...
I loved them all. Plus they were on TV a lot too...even Ed Sullivan which was a HUGE show back in the 60's.
If I had only one group to listen to forever, it would of course be the Temptations
In fact...that is about what I do anyhow...mostly I listen to the Tempts
(with a bit of Motown, Manhattans, Classic Rock and yeah a little pop thrown in there)
The Tweens (Spanish and otherwise) should understand that these songs were what everyone listened to. Hit after Hit.
Temptations Forever...my all time Favorite Group.
I have seen them in various lineups..and I have loved
every one. I last saw them in West Palm Beach in Feb 2009...Fantastic
Links, Favorite Videos, Facts, Trivia, and Tributes to the Temptations.