Released: November 1975
The impossible has been done. For the first time since 1964, the Temptations released a studio album that did not reach #1 or #2 on the R&B chart. In fact, House Party didn’t even reach the top 10 as it stalled out at #11. A stunning development for the Emperors of Soul.
Well, I can’t blame the public for skipping out on House Party.
It’s a collection of songs recorded over the course of 1974 and 1975 without any real cohesion. Motown just found some shit and threw it together. There are five different production teams overseeing the nine songs, so if you want incoherence, you got it here.
Oh and this LP marked the first appearance of tenor Glenn Leonard, who replaced Damon Harris.
The opening track “Keep Holdin’ On” was produced by old Motown friend Brian Holland who co-wrote it with his brother Eddie Holland. It’s the first of many serviceable funky R&B songs that are fine in the moment, but leave no real impression on your brain. Somehow it reached #3 on the R&B singles chart, a factor of name-recognition more than quality, I suppose.
Other songs in this vein: “It's Just a Matter of Time”, “You Can't Stop a Man in Love”, and “World of You, Love, and Music”. You know, almost all the entire first side of the album.
I don’t want to leave the wrong impression. None of these songs are bad whatsoever. They also aren’t all that distinctive. They’re competently performed and executed 70s funky R&B.
Unfortunately Side One does end with a song that’s actually bland. “What You Need Most (I Do Best of All)” kind of stinks and is not the best introduction to the vocals of Glenn Leonard.
Thankfully Side Two does open up with a legit good song in “Ways of a Grown-Up Man”, which was co-written and produced by Steve Cropper. (He played guitar on innumerable Stax records and was a member of Booker T. & the MGs.) The production by Cropper is some deep sludge funk made even more sludgy by Melvin Franklin getting the lead vocal and showing off his bass vocals.
Hope you really enjoyed that break, cuz the album then goes back to being largely pleasant but undistinguished. Although, “If I Don't Love You This Way” does have some slight charm to it.
ALBUM SCORE: C-
You can see why the public wasn’t storming the gates to get this LP. The definition of just a tad below average music that won’t excite anyone to become a fan of the Temptations, but for old fans it’s got some decent fare.
Song Scores
Keep Holdin' On: 6.5/10
It's Just a Matter of Time: 6.5/10
You Can't Stop a Man in Love: 6.5/10
World of You, Love, and Music: 6.5/10
What You Need Most (I Do Best of All): 4/10
Ways of a Grown-Up Man: 7/10
Johnny Porter: 5/10
Darling, Stand by Me (Song for My Woman): 5/10
If I Don't Love You This Way: 6.5/10