Released: February 1983
This is a fairly nondescript album. It features some of music’s biggest session musicians (Jeff Porcaro, Fredde Washington, John Robinson, Paul Jackson, Paulinho da Costa, etc.), so that explains the sometimes anonymous feel of this LP.
The title track is a stab at early 80s new wave inflected rock. It’s alright all things considered. And let me tell ya, from the very first note “Love on My Mind Tonight” is all up in your face with early 80s adult contemporary sounds.
“One Man Woman” is some good funkiness even if the Temptations start rapping around the three-minute mark. Ah well, at least this song has all the Temptations participating instead of sitting back and letting Dennis Edwards sing all the lead, which apparently has become the norm for the group in the early 1980s.
Hey, they heard me complaining and Richard Street gets the lead vocal on “Show Me Your Love”. It’s more standard, competently performed adult contemporary balladry.
This nondescript album abruptly stops its stealthy ways on “The Seeker”.
Easily the album’s best song since its lyrics are about a grownup hippie who had protested and sought the dream back in ‘68. Then in ‘73 he got a haircut and a job. Nonetheless ten years later in 1983 he’s still seeking the truth of peace, love, and happiness much to the chagrin of people calling him “a seeker who’s dreaming his life away.”
As someone who woulda been a cynical hippie myself back in the day, I identify with this corny song.
“What a Way to Put It” veers more into R&B, which is unsurprising since its one of two songs on this LP co-produced by the group itself. (The rest of the album was produced by Dennis Lambert and Steve Barri).
Next up, we have… oh no… no… noooooo…
The Temptations threw their hat into the physical exercise craze of the early 1980s. Exemplified by Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” it seemed everyone had to make a song about exercise between 1981 and 1984. Considering how bad things could have been “Bringyourbodyhere (Exercise Chant)” is not too terrible. This was the other song co-produced by the Temptations and the group democratically shares vocals throughout the mid-tempo funk jam.
Despite my Andre the Giant GIF, I regret to inform everyone that I find this song charming. I won’t go so far as to call it good, but I can’t hate it.
It took the whole album, but we finally get a bad song: “Made In America”. At least it’s not offensively bad, just not worth listening to.
ALBUM GRADE: C
I had no high hopes with this album, but it’s better than I remembered being when I listened to it a few years ago. Besides “The Seeker” nothing here leaps out at you, but nothing is garbage either. Just a bunch of average and/or solid songs. You could certainly do worse.
And Lord knows the Temptations had and would do worse.
Song Scores
Surface Thrills: 5.5/10
Love on My Mind Tonight: 6/10
One Man Woman: 6.5/10
Show Me Your Love: 5/10
The Seeker: 7/10
What a Way to Put It: 6/10
Bringyourbodyhere (Exercise Chant): 6/10
Made In America: 4/10