Studio Album · No. 5

Cloud Nine Songwriting Credits by The Temptations

1969 Gordy Records 10 tracks 35 min

Produced by Norman Whitfield

Gordy Records Psychedelic SoulFunkMotown
10%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 1 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 1 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Temptations carries a lyricist or composer credit.

10%
1 trackwritten by The Temptations 9 tracksoutside writers
The Temptations's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist10%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
9
Lyricists
1
Producers
500,000+
US Copies Sold
1969
Released
Data Insight

Cloud Nine is a producer's and writer's record wearing a vocal group's name. The Temptations interpret; the new psychedelic-soul era is authored by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, who wrote and Whitfield produced the bulk of the album, including both hit singles. Whitfield's legal name Norman Jesse Whitfield sits in the composer column against his common credit, while Strong is credited under his own name. The outside material, the Goffin-King 'Hey Girl' and the Raleigh-Linden 'Love Is a Hurtin' Thing,' marks the few tracks not from the Whitfield-Strong pen, and 'I Gotta Find a Way' widens the writing room to Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant, and group member Eddie Kendricks.

Cloud Nine is the ninth studio album by The Temptations, released February 17, 1969 on Motown's Gordy label. It is the record where producer Norman Whitfield turned the group toward psychedelic soul, trading the polished ballad style of the David Ruffin years for gritty funk, social commentary, and extended arrangements shaped by Sly and the Family Stone. It is also the first Temptations album to feature Dennis Edwards, who replaced Ruffin in the lineup alongside Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams. The title track won the Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, the first Grammy Award ever won by both The Temptations and Motown Records. The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and produced the hits 'Cloud Nine' and 'Run Away Child, Running Wild,' cementing the Whitfield-led sound that defined the group into the early 1970s.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Cloud Nine #6
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
2
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
3
Run Away Child, Running Wild #6
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
4
Love Is a Hurtin' Thing
Ben RaleighDave Linden Ben RaleighDave Linden Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
5
Hey Girl
Gerry GoffinCarole King Gerald GoffinCarole King Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
6
Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
7
I Need Your Lovin'
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
8
Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
9
I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back)
Norman WhitfieldBarrett StrongEddie HollandCornelius GrantEddie Kendricks Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett StrongEdward Holland Jr.Cornelius GrantEdward Kendricks Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
10
Gonna Keep on Tryin' till I Win Your Love
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 18 contributors

NW
Norman Whitfield
Writer · Producer
On this album8 written
BS
Barrett Strong
Writer
On this album8 written
NJ
Norman Jesse Whitfield
Writer
On this album8 written
BR
Ben Raleigh
Writer
On this album1 written
CK
Carole King
Writer
On this album1 written
CG
Cornelius Grant
Writer
On this album1 written
DL
Dave Linden
Writer
On this album1 written
EH
Eddie Holland
Writer
On this album1 written
EK
Eddie Kendricks
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
EH
Edward Holland Jr.
Writer
On this album1 written
EK
Edward Kendricks
Writer
On this album1 written
GG
Gerald Goffin
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Cloud Nine

Who wrote 'Cloud Nine'?
'Cloud Nine' was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, the songwriting team behind The Temptations' psychedelic-soul era. Whitfield also produced it.
Why is Cloud Nine important in Motown history?
The title track won the Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, the first Grammy Award ever won by both The Temptations and Motown Records.
Is this the first Temptations album with Dennis Edwards?
Yes. Cloud Nine is the first Temptations album to feature Dennis Edwards, who replaced David Ruffin in the group's lineup.
What is 'psychedelic soul' and how does this album fit?
Psychedelic soul blends soul and funk with the studio experimentation and social themes of late-1960s rock. Producer Norman Whitfield launched the group's psychedelic-soul run with the title track and 'Run Away Child, Running Wild.'
Did The Temptations write the songs on Cloud Nine?
Mostly no. The Temptations were the performers; the core new material was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, with a few tracks from outside writers and one co-written with Eddie Kendricks.
What were the hit singles from Cloud Nine?
'Cloud Nine' reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 R&B, and 'Run Away Child, Running Wild' also hit No. 6 pop and No. 1 R&B.
Who plays the instruments on Cloud Nine?
The backing was played by Motown's house band, the Funk Brothers, under Norman Whitfield's production, while the five Temptations handled the vocals.

Sources

Wikipedia: Cloud Nine (The Temptations album) Wikipedia: Cloud Nine (The Temptations song) MusicBrainz: Cloud Nine (release group) Cover Art Archive: Cloud Nine Classic Motown: Cloud Nine, The Temptations uDiscoverMusic: Cloud Nine, the story behind the song Cover Art Archive: Cloud Nine by The Temptations