AMG Review of Number 1's: The Temptations

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

Released in early 2007 as part of Universal's extensive and cheaply packaged Number 1's: Temptations series (see also: volumes dedicated to James Brown and Marvin Gaye), this disc compiles 19 number one R&B singles from the Temptations. It's worth mentioning that some of the inclusions -- "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "You're My Everything," "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," "Ball of Confusion" -- were number ones on the ~Cash Box chart, rather than the ~Billboard chart (the usual source), and 1998's "Stay" is a bit of a stretch since it topped ~Billboard's Urban Adult Contemporary chart. Nothing can argue against the set as a decent introduction to the group, even though several great singles -- such as "Cloud Nine" -- peaked below the top spots.