My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations (CD - 2002)

The Temptations include: David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard, Damon Harris, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, Barrington "Bo" Henderson, Theo Peoples, Terry Weeks, Louis Price, Ron Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Harry McGilberry.

Additional personnel includes: Diana Ross & The Supremes, Rick James, Narada Michael Walden, Dennis Coffey, Rose Royce, Eddie "Bongo" Brown, The Andantes.

Producers include: Berry Gordy, William "Smokey" Robinson, Norman Whitfield, Frank Wilson, Nickolas Ashford.

Compilation producers: Harry Weinger, Jeff Moskow.

Recorded between 1962 & 2001. Includes liner notes by Otis Williams.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

At the time of the release of this two-disc Temptations compilation, Motown had in print a five-CD box set, Emperors of Soul; a one-disc Ultimate Collection; and two volumes of the midline-priced 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection on the group (not to mention umpteen older comps). So, this TV-advertised set must have been meant to satisfy the fan for whom The Ultimate Collection wasn't enough, but the box set too much. But it was also meant for fans who had taken notice of the vintage group recently, since it emphasized 1990s recordings, particularly in special mixes, and was highly selective about what older songs were included, opting for the better-remembered ones over an actual hits selection based on chart rankings. That could make it a frustrating set for the long-lived Temptations fan, who would notice that only 26 of the group's 43 R&B Top Ten hits were included among the 36 tracks, especially when there was room on the first disc, which ran less than an hour, for several more songs. The collection was an odd combination of rarities, such as previously unreleased stereo mixes of two early singles ("Dream Come True" and "I Want a Love I Can See"), the Temptations' most famous 1960s hits, and some miscellaneous recordings. Particularly short-changed was the mid-'70s, with only three of the nine consecutive Top Ten R&B hits the Temptations scored from mid-1973 to early 1976 included. Since the group's personnel changed in revolving-door fashion after the early '70s, the result was that much of the second disc sounds like it was made by many different male vocal groups instead of one. While you could see what the compilers were going for here, the album was hardly an ideal Temptations compilation. ~ William Ruhlmann

At the time of the release of the two-disc Temptations compilation My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations, Motown had in print a five-CD box set, Emperors of Soul; a one-disc Ultimate Collection; and two volumes of the midline-priced 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection on the group (not to mention umpteen older comps). So, this TV-advertised set is meant to satisfy the fan for whom The Ultimate Collection wasn't enough but the box set too much. But it's also meant for fans who had taken notice of the vintage group recently, since it emphasizes 1990s recordings, particularly in special mixes, and is highly selective about what older songs are included, opting for the better-remembered ones over an actual hits selection based on chart rankings. The collection is a combination of rarities, such as previously unreleased stereo mixes of two early singles ("Dream Come True" and "I Want a Love I Can See"), the Temptations' most famous 1960s hits, and some miscellaneous recordings. ~ William Ruhlmann

MY GIRL: THE VERY BEST OF THE TEMPTATIONS is a 2-CD, career-spanning compilation that kicks off with the group's first commercial success, 1962's "Dream Come True" and wraps up with the forlorn "Lady," taken from 2001's AWESOME. In-between, there's a wealth of pop and soul milestones that have become indelibly imprinted upon the lexicon of American music. Wrapped in the Temps' trademark harmonies, the '60s hits that rolled off the band's tongues starting with 1964's "The Way You Do The Things You Do" are mind-boggling: "My Girl," "(I Know) I'm Losing You," "I Wish It Would Rain" and "I Can't Get Next To You."

Not surprisingly, The Temptations' talents influenced a wide range of artists to cover their handiwork including The Rolling Stones ("Ain't Too Proud To Beg"), Love And Rockets ("Ball Of Confusion [That's What The World Is Today]"), Peter Tosh ("Don't Look Back") and Etta James ("Shakey Ground"). Equally impressive are the Temps' forays into the world of rock-fueled, psychedelic soul ("Cloud Nine," "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"), slicker, '80s era R&B ("Power") and muscular Rick James-produced fare ("Standing On The Top Pt. 1"). minimize