Released: February 1969
By 1969, Norman Whitfield had been the primary producer for the Temptations for a couple years, but not the sole producer. Well, with David Ruffin’s exit and Dennis Edwards’s entrance, Whitfield was given near complete control over the group for the release of Cloud Nine.
Along with Barrett Strong, Whitfield would write almost every single song for the group over the next couple years. When it came to the soundboard, Whitfield was totes in control.
Cloud Nine also marked the group’s first firm foray into psychedelic soul. Whitfield was inspired by Sly & the Family Stone’s recent efforts. However, the transition to psychedelic music from their R&B roots wasn’t seamless, totally immediate, or absolute.
This album’s two big hits were really the only psychedelic soul to be found. There’s still eight other songs on this LP and they were all (for better or worse) standard issue late 60s R&B.
The Big Hits
The Temptations new sound was evident right away on “Cloud Nine”, the song. The first voice you hear is Edwards’s. However, all five members of the group get distinct moments where they are at the forefront. And they do a lot of boom boom ba ba boom boom harmonizing like the Family Stone did on “Dance to the Music”.
So that’s the vocals.
Lyrically the song is also a dramatic change. The group is singing about a drug trip: Depressed and downhearted, I took to Cloud Nine a place where there is nothing but love and harmony and you’re a million miles from reality.
Musically, this song is funky and is part of a strain of music that fed disco that doesn’t get talked about a lot. Yes, psychedelic soul. The trippy production, the fuzz guitars, the breakdowns, the bongos and congas, all of that gets absorped into certain forms of disco. In fact a future proto-disco classic (“It’s Just Begun”) is basically a vampin’ ripoff of “Cloud Nine”. A great ripoff, though, I must say.
For all its breakthroughs, “Cloud Nine” still stuck to the pop-song format in terms of length. It wound up being 3:30.
“Runaway Child, Running Wild” was an even bigger break from the past as the album version clocked in at over nine minutes and featured a lengthy jam session from the Funk Brothers. Even the single release was nearly five minutes long.
Rest assured that like on “Cloud Nine” all the members get their own time to shine individually and collectively.
Lyrically, the song is also more direct than “Cloud Nine” as the Temptations discuss a young child who left home on his own and is now lost and confused at the dangers he’s found on the mean streets of the city. Their rebellion completely flops as the only things they can remember are the words their momma told them, but the songs leaves us in a mystery to the child’s fate. All the Temptations suggest is that they “better go back home, where you belong.”
“Runaway Child” topped the R&B chart in early 1969. “Cloud Nine” just missed out at the summit peaking at #2 in late 1968. Both of these songs reached #6 on the pop charts. “Cloud Nine” also delivered Motown Records and the Temptations their first Grammy Award. Shocking it took until 1969 for Motown to get a Grammy, but that’s awards for you.
The Standard R&B
Well after all that, this album quickly retreats to standard R&B songs. I suppose Whitfield was still trying to understand where he wanted to go with the psychedelic music.
And these R&B songs can sometimes be painfully standard. Their cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is terrible. Despite not being a ballad, it threatens to put you to sleep.
Although not terrible, a slew of other songs stick to a fairly pedestrian quality. The Temptations have tremendous vocal chops. Motown had a terrific house band. And yet one undistinguished song after another spews out on this album.
Thankfully there are three of these “standard” R&B songs that do manage to have a little pep in their step.
Paul Williams’s earthy voice treats “Hey Girl” quite nicely. Dennis Edwards has his best vocals on “Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go?)”. Elsewhere on the album he does a little too much soul shoutin’ instead of singing. Here he’s smoothly under control.
And the best of these second-tier tunes is “I Need Your Lovin’”. Eddie Kendricks gets the lead there, but Paul Williams has a terrific accentuation on the chorus as he hits the end of luv-in’ just right.
ALBUM GRADE: C
Trying out a new sound on the big hits musta taxed the Temptations’ energy. Anyways, despite my grips, this album was another monster for them.
#1 R&B for 13 weeks and even hit #4 on the pop charts, their best showing yet there. (Not counting their duet albums with the Supremes).
Song Scores
Cloud Nine: 9/10
I Heard It Through The Grapevine: 3/10
Runaway Child, Running Wild: 9/10
Love Is A Hurtin' Thing: 5/10
Hey Girl: 7/10
Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go?): 7/10
I Need Your Lovin': 7/10
Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me: 6/10
I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back): 6/10
Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love: 5/10