Wings of Love is a 1976 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, co-produced by Jeffrey Bowen and Berry Gordy.
Background Producer Jeffrey Bowen preferred Dennis Edwards to the rest of the group, and wanted to produce an Edwards solo album instead of a group album. As a result, Bowen de-emphasized the rest of the group's vocals and placed them at levels far below Edwards' leads, prompting his dismissal as the Temptations' producer after this album's release. Unsurprisingly, Edwards sings lead on all but one of the songs on the album; "China Doll" has Richard Street taking the lead vocal.
Release The album was an unsuccessful release, both commercially and critically. Wings of Love's only single, "Up the Creek (Without a Paddle)" was co-written by Sly Stone, the inspiration for many of the Temptations' late 1960s/early 1970s "psychedelic soul" records; because of tax reasons, he could not take a publishing credit on the song. Stone and other members of the Family Stone appear on "Up the Creek", as well as "Sweet Gypsy Jane" and "China Doll"
Track listing All tracks produced by Jeffrey Bowen and Berry Gordy
Personnel Dennis Edwards - tenor/baritone vocals Glenn Leonard - first tenor/falsetto vocals Richard Street - second tenor vocals Melvin Franklin - bass vocals Otis Williams - baritone vocals Sly Stone, Truman Thomas - clavinet, organ and ARP Freddie Stewart - bass, guitar William "Billy Bass" Nelson - bass, guitar Rusty Allen - bass Ollie E. Brown - drums, percussion Pat Rizzo, Steve Madaio - trumpet Donald Charles Baldwin - Moog, Moog programming, keyboards, rhythm and vocal arrangements
Charts Chart (1976)Peak positionFinnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)16US Billboard 20029
References