Diana Ross & The Supremes Join the Temptations
| Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations | |||||
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| Studio album by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations | |||||
| Released | November 8, 1968 | ||||
| Recorded | May 3, 1968 - September 13, 1968 | ||||
| Genre | Pop, R&B, soul | ||||
| Length | 33:26 | ||||
| Label |
Motown MS 679 |
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| Producer |
Frank Wilson Smokey Robinson Al Cleveland Henry Cosby Terry "Buzzy" Johnson Nickolas Ashford Deke Richards |
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| Diana Ross & the Supremes chronology | |||||
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| Temptations chronology | |||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Rolling Stone |
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Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations is, as the title implies, a collaborative album combining Motown's two best selling groups, Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations. Issued by Motown in late 1968 to coincide with the broadcast of the Supremes/Temptations TCB television special, the album was a success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200. Originally the lead single was to have been "The Impossible Dream" as featured in the climax to the TV spectacular TCB. However, it was decided to release "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" as a single instead even though it wasn't featured on TCB. This became a number-two hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts, and the follow-up, "I'll Try Something New", was a Top 30 hit. A third single, "I Second That Emotion", was released exclusively in the United Kingdom, where it became a Top 20 hit.
However, a true reflection of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"'s popularity was that it was certified platinum and was the #1 single on both Cash Box and Record World (three weeks). By rights, this should be credited as yet another #1 single for both Diana Ross and The Supremes and the Temptations. Interestingly enough, it was produced by Frank Wilson and Nick Ashford - without his songwriting partner-wife Valerie Simpson.
Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations marks the first on-record appearance of new Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards, who was brought in as David Ruffin's replacement in July 1968.
This was an unbelievably successful time for Motown. During December 1968, the label had 5 of the Top 10 singles in one week including "Love Child" by Diana Ross and The Supremes, "Cloud Nine by the Temptations, "I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye, "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder and, of course, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me by arguably the first soul/pop super group, Diana Ross and The Supremes with the Temptations. Not only that, but the corresponding albums, by each individual artists ranked in the Top 10, TCB, Diana Ross & The Supremes Join the Temptations by the respective groups held down the #1 and #2 albums. "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations, "Love Child" by Diana Ross and The Supremes, For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder, M.P.G. and Time Out by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles which featured the lightening speed growth of the soon to be Top 10 single, "Baby, Baby Don't Cry".
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