Masterpiece (The Temptations album)

Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Studio album by The Temptations
Released	February 21, 1973
Recorded	1972–73
Studio	Hitsville USA, Detroit
Genre	Soul, funk, psychedelic soul
Length	42:08
Label	Gordy; GS 965
Producer	Norman Whitfield
The Temptations chronology
Alternative covers
	An alternative re-edition cover

Masterpiece is a 1973 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced and written by Norman Whitfield.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+^[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[3]

Track listing

All selections written and produced by Norman Whitfield.

Side one

"Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" – 4:36 (lead singer: Richard Street)
"Masterpiece" – 13:49 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin)

Side two

"Ma" – 4:46 (lead singers: Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin)
"Law of the Land" – 5:08 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Richard Street)
"Plastic Man" – 5:53 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street)
"Hurry Tomorrow" – 8:06 (lead singer: Damon Harris)

Personnel

Dennis Edwards - vocals (tenor/baritone)
Damon Harris - vocals (first tenor/falsetto)
Richard Street - vocals (second tenor/baritone)
Melvin Franklin - vocals (bass)
Otis Williams - vocals (second tenor/baritone)
Norman Whitfield - producer, composer
Paul Riser - arranger
Orson Lewis - engineer
Asari Ghraham - creative assistant to Norman Whitfield
Des Strobel - design
Parvis Sadighian - sculpture (for album cover image)
Jim Britt - liner photo

Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers:
- Earl Van Dyke - piano, organ
- Johnny Griffith - organ
- Robert Ward - guitar
- Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin - guitar
- Joe Messina - guitar
- Paul Warren - guitar
- Robert White - guitar
- Eddie Willis - guitar
- Aaron Smith - drums
- Richard "Pistol" Allen - drums
- Uriel Jones - drums
- Andrew Smith - drums
- Leroy Taylor - bass guitar
- Bob Babbitt - bass guitar
- Eddie Watkins Jr. - bass guitar
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown - bongos, congas
- Jack Ashford - tambourine, maracas, sticks
- Jack Brokensha - timpani, vibes, bells, gourd
- Maurice Davis - trumpet
- Ted Lucas - harmonica

Singles history

"Masterpiece" (Vocal)
- Gordy single 7126, February 1, 1973; *B-side: "Masterpiece" (Instrumental)
"Plastic Man"
- Gordy single 7129, May 10, 1973; B-side: "Hurry Tomorrow"
"Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)"
- Gordy single 7131, July 24, 1973; B-side: "Ma"
"Law of the Land"
- Tamla-Motown single TMG-866, 1973 (UK only); B-side: "Run Charlie Run" (from All Directions)

Charts

Album

Chart (1973)	Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)^[4]	6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[5]	17
Spanish Albums (AFE)^[6]	13
UK Albums (OCC)^[7]	28
US Billboard 200^[8]	7
US Top R&B Albums^[9]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)	Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)^[10]	51
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[11]	47
US Top R&B Albums^[12]	15
US Billboard 200^[13]	56

Singles

Year	Name	US	US R&B	UK
1973	Masterpiece (Vocal)	7	1	-
	Plastic Man	40	8	-
	Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)	35	2	-
	Law of the Land	-	-	41

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)^[14]	Gold	100,000^*
United States (RIAA)^[15]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r19822
^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 15, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698.
^ "Tous les Albums de l'Artiste choisi". InfoDisc. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
^ "The Temptations Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
^ "The Temptations US Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
^ "The Temptations". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
^ "InfoDisc : Les Albums (CD) de 1973 par InfoDisc". 2016-01-10. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1973. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
^ "French album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in French). InfoDisc. Select THE TEMPTATIONS and click OK.
^ "American album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece". Recording Industry Association of America.

This 1970s R&B/soul album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] ttps://www.allmusic.com/album/r19822

[CG-2] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 15, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[3] Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698.

[4] "Tous les Albums de l'Artiste choisi". InfoDisc. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

[ac_Germany4_The_Temptations-5] "Offiziellecharts.de – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

[6] Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[7] "The Temptations Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

[VPb-8] "The Temptations US Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

[9] "The Temptations". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.

[10] "InfoDisc : Les Albums (CD) de 1973 par InfoDisc". 2016-01-10. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.

[11] "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1973. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.

[12] "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.

[13] "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.

[FranceThe_TemptationsMasterpiecealbumCertRef-14] "French album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in French). InfoDisc. Select THE TEMPTATIONS and click OK.

[United_StatesThe_TemptationsMasterpiecealbumCertRef-15] "American album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece". Recording Industry Association of America.

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v t e The Temptations
Otis Williams Ron Tyson Terry Weeks Tony Grant Jawan Jackson Melvin Franklin Eddie Kendricks Paul Williams Elbridge Bryant David Ruffin Dennis Edwards Ricky Owens Richard Street Damon Harris Glenn Leonard Louis Price Ali-Ollie Woodson Theo Peoples Harry McGilberry Barrington "Bo" Henderson Ray Davis G. C. Cameron Joe Herndon Bruce Williamson Larry Braggs Willie Green Mario Corbino
Studio albums	Meet the Temptations The Temptations Sing Smokey The Temptin' Temptations Gettin' Ready The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul The Temptations Wish It Would Rain Cloud Nine Puzzle People Psychedelic Shack Sky's the Limit Solid Rock All Directions Masterpiece 1990 A Song for You House Party Wings of Love The Temptations Do the Temptations Hear to Tempt You Bare Back Power The Temptations Reunion Surface Thrills Back to Basics Truly for You Touch Me To Be Continued... Together Again Special Milestone Phoenix Rising Ear-Resistible Awesome Legacy Still Here Temptations 60
Cover albums	The Temptations in a Mellow Mood For Lovers Only Reflections Back to Front All the Time
Live albums	Temptations Live! Live at the Copa Live at London's Talk of the Town The Temptations in Japan
Other albums	Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations TCB The Temptations Show Together On Broadway The Temptations Christmas Card Give Love at Christmas Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)
Compilations	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits II Anthology Emperors of Soul The Ultimate Collection My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations Psychedelic Soul
Singles (US/UK Top 10)	"My Girl" "Get Ready" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" "(I Know) I'm Losing You" "All I Need" "You're My Everything" "I Wish It Would Rain" "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" "Cloud Nine" "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" "Run Away Child, Running Wild" "I Can't Get Next to You" "Psychedelic Shack" "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "Masterpiece" "Let Your Hair Down" "Happy People" "Shakey Ground" "Treat Her Like a Lady" "The Motown Song" "My Girl" (reissue)
Related	Band members The Temptations (miniseries) Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations Discography The Supremes The Undisputed Truth Smokey Robinson Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong Sly Stone George Clinton
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