The Temptations in a Mellow Mood

Studio album by The Temptations

Released

November 27, 1967

Recorded

1966-67

Genre

Pop

Length

38:35

Label

Motown
GS 924

Producer

Frank Wilson, Jeffrey Bowen

The Temptations chronology

The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul
(1967)

The Temptations in a Mellow Mood
(1967)

The Temptations Wish It Would Rain
(1968)

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Allmusic

The Temptations in a Mellow Mood is the sixth studio album by The Temptations for the Motown label released in 1967. Composed primarily of pop standards such as "Ol' Man River" and "For Once in My Life" (later a major hit for Motown labelmate Stevie Wonder), and similar songs written by Holland-Dozier-Holland and other Motown staff songwriters, the Mellow Mood album was part of Motown chief Berry Gordy's crossover plans for the group. Gordy wanted the Temptations, already the most popular male group among black audiences, to attract a large white fanbase and be able to secure playdates at supper clubs like the Copacabana, where the group had first performed in the summer of 1967.

The Temptations themselves, and Paul Williams in particular, were worried about appearing as sell-outs to their black fans and the radio DJs who had made them popular in the first place. However, both pop and soul fans responded to the Mellow Mood album, and the Temptations reached Gordy's desired goal of crossing over to white audiences. "Ol' Man River" was already present in the Temptations' performance repertoire as bass Melvin Franklin's solo spot, and "For Once in My Life" soon became a solo showcase for Williams, who performed a particularly acclaimed version of the song for the TCB television special in late 1968. The group would revisit the idea of an album of pop standards in 1995 with For Lovers Only.

Superscripts denote main lead singers for each track: (a) David Ruffin, (b) Eddie Kendricks, (c) Paul Williams, (d) Melvin Franklin, (e) Otis Williams, (f) Temptations ensemble.

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