Studio Album · No. 4

The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul Songwriting Credits by The Temptations

1967 Gordy Records 12 tracks 35 min

Produced by Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson, Frank Wilson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Ivy Jo Hunter

Gordy Records SoulMotownR&B
8%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 1 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 1 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Temptations carries a lyricist or composer credit.

8%
1 trackwritten by The Temptations 11 tracksoutside writers
The Temptations's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist8%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
14
Lyricists
6
Producers
1967
Released
Data Insight

This is an interpreter's record, not a songwriter's. The Temptations wrote almost none of the material; the credits belong to Motown's staff writers, with Norman Whitfield the dominant author and producer across the singles. The lyricist column lists the writers by their common names - Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant, Roger Penzabene, Smokey Robinson - while the composer column carries the legal names where they differ, so Eddie Holland becomes Edward Holland Jr., Smokey Robinson becomes William Robinson, R. Dean Taylor becomes Richard Dean Taylor, and Bobby Rogers becomes Robert Rogers. Only two tracks touch a member's pen: Eddie Kendricks co-wrote 'Don't Send Me Away' with Smokey Robinson. Lead vocals split mainly between David Ruffin's grit and Eddie Kendricks' falsetto, with the Funk Brothers supplying the instrumentation.

The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul is the fifth studio album by the Temptations, released July 17, 1967 on Motown's Gordy label. It captures the group's Classic Five lineup of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams at the moment Norman Whitfield took firm control of their sound. The record is an interpreter's album: the Temptations sing songs built by Motown's staff writers and producers, with Whitfield writing and producing most of the singles alongside collaborators like Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, and Roger Penzabene. It produced three US top-ten pop hits in '(I Know) I'm Losing You,' 'All I Need,' and 'You're My Everything,' backed on record by the Funk Brothers. The album reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the UK Albums Chart, marking the peak of the Ruffin-led era before Whitfield pushed the group toward psychedelic soul.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
(I Know) I'm Losing You #8
Norman WhitfieldEddie HollandCornelius Grant Norman Jesse WhitfieldEdward Holland Jr.Cornelius Grant Norman Whitfield David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
2
Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
Norman WhitfieldCornelius GrantSylvia Moy Norman Jesse WhitfieldCornelius GrantSylvia Moy Norman Whitfield David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
3
All I Need #8
Frank WilsonEddie HollandR. Dean Taylor Frank WilsonEdward Holland Jr.Richard Dean Taylor Frank Wilson David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
4
(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need
Norman WhitfieldEddie Holland Norman Jesse WhitfieldEdward Holland Jr. Norman Whitfield David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
5
No More Water in the Well
Smokey RobinsonWarren MooreBobby Rogers William RobinsonWarren MooreRobert Rogers Smokey Robinson Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)David Ruffin (Backing Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
6
Save My Love for a Rainy Day
Norman WhitfieldRoger Penzabene Norman Jesse WhitfieldRoger Penzabene Norman Whitfield Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)David Ruffin (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
7
Just One Last Look
Brian HollandLamont DozierEddie Holland Brian HollandLamont DozierEdward Holland Jr. Brian HollandLamont Dozier David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
8
Sorry Is a Sorry Word
Eddie HollandIvy Jo Hunter Edward Holland Jr.Ivy Jo Hunter Ivy Jo Hunter David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
9
You're My Everything #6
Norman WhitfieldCornelius GrantRoger Penzabene Norman Jesse WhitfieldCornelius GrantRoger Penzabene Norman Whitfield Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
10
Now That You've Won Me
Smokey Robinson William Robinson Smokey Robinson David Ruffin (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
11
Two Sides to Love
Norman WhitfieldSylvia Moy Norman Jesse WhitfieldSylvia Moy Norman Whitfield Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)David Ruffin (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
12
Don't Send Me Away
Smokey RobinsonEddie Kendricks William RobinsonEdward Kendrick Smokey Robinson Otis Williams (Lead Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Lead Vocals)David Ruffin (Backing Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 25 contributors

NW
Norman Whitfield
Writer · Producer
On this album6 written
NJ
Norman Jesse Whitfield
Writer
On this album6 written
EH
Eddie Holland
Writer
On this album5 written
EH
Edward Holland Jr.
Writer
On this album5 written
SR
Smokey Robinson
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
CG
Cornelius Grant
Writer
On this album3 written
WR
William Robinson
Writer
On this album3 written
RP
Roger Penzabene
Writer
On this album2 written
SM
Sylvia Moy
Writer
On this album2 written
BH
Brian Holland
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
FW
Frank Wilson
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
IJ
Ivy Jo Hunter
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written

More from The Temptations

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Meet the Temptations
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1965 0%
The Temptations Sing Smokey
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1966 17%
Gettin' Ready
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1969 10%
Cloud Nine
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1969 0%
Puzzle People
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1970 0%
Psychedelic Shack
Gordy Records
8 tracksProd. Norman Whitfield
1971 0%
Sky's the Limit
Gordy Records
8 tracksProd. Norman Whitfield
1972 0%
Solid Rock
Gordy Records
8 tracksProd. Norman Whitfield
1972 0%
All Directions
Gordy Records
8 tracksProd. Norman Whitfield
1973 0%
Masterpiece
Gordy Records
6 tracksProd. Norman Whitfield
1975 11%
A Song for You
Gordy Records
9 tracksProd. Jeffrey Bowen

Frequently Asked Questions The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul

Did the Temptations write the songs on With a Lot o' Soul?
Almost none of them. The album is built from songs written by Motown's staff, led by producer Norman Whitfield with collaborators like Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, and Roger Penzabene. The one exception is 'Don't Send Me Away,' co-written by member Eddie Kendricks with Smokey Robinson.
Who produced the album?
Norman Whitfield produced most of it, including all three hit singles. Smokey Robinson, Frank Wilson, the Holland-Dozier team, and Ivy Jo Hunter each produced individual tracks.
What were the hit singles?
'(I Know) I'm Losing You' and 'All I Need' both reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 'You're My Everything' reached number 6. 'I'm Losing You' also topped the US R&B chart.
Who sang lead on the album?
David Ruffin sang lead on most tracks, including 'I'm Losing You' and 'All I Need.' Eddie Kendricks took the lead on 'You're My Everything,' 'Save My Love for a Rainy Day,' and 'Two Sides to Love,' with Paul Williams and the group sharing others.
Who played the instruments?
The Funk Brothers, Motown's in-house Hitsville studio band, provided the instrumentation, as they did across the label's Detroit recordings of this era.
How did the album chart?
It reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the UK Albums Chart, the commercial high point of the David Ruffin-led lineup.
Why are some writer names shown twice under different spellings?
The lyricist credits use the names as commonly published, while the composer credits use legal names where they differ. That is why Eddie Holland also appears as Edward Holland Jr. and Smokey Robinson as William Robinson.

Sources

Wikipedia: The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul MusicBrainz: With a Lot o' Soul (release group) Discogs: The Temptations With A Lot O' Soul (Gordy, 1967) Cover Art Archive: With a Lot o' Soul Cover Art Archive: The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul by The Temptations