This article presents the discography of Motown group The Temptations. They had 37 singles reach the Billboard Top 40 in the US, with four reaching #1. On the R&B singles chart, the group scored a record 71 Top 40 singles, with 15 reaching #1 making them the top male vocal group with the most on that chart.
Albums Studio albums 1964–1976: Gordy Records TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsUSUSR&BAUSCANRPM magazine album chart positions:
The Temptations Wish It Would Rain: Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations: Cloud Nine: Together: Puzzle People: Psychedelic Shack: Sky's the Limit: All Directions: 1990: A Song for You: Wings of Love: Temptations Live!: FINGERJPNSPASWEUKMeet the Temptations196495—————————The Temptations Sing Smokey1965351————————The Temptin' Temptations111————————Gettin' Ready1966121———————40The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul196771———————19The Temptations in a Mellow Mood131————————The Temptations Wish It Would Rain1968131—44——————Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations21—5—————1 RIAA: GoldCloud Nine196941—12—————32 RIAA: GoldTogether286—29—————28Puzzle People51—8——82——20 RIAA: GoldPsychedelic Shack197091—43—————— RIAA: GoldThe Temptations Christmas Card—————————— RIAA: GoldSky's the Limit1971162—73—————— RIAA: GoldSolid Rock1972241———————34All Directions21—26—20—9—19 RIAA: GoldMasterpiece197371———17—13—28 RIAA: Gold1990192985724254613——A Song for You197513177149—62——— RIAA: GoldHouse Party4011————————Wings of Love1976293—4216———32—The Temptations Do The Temptations5310———————— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
1977–1978: Atlantic Records TitleYearPeak chart positionsUSUSR&BHear to Tempt You197711338Bare Back1978—46
1980–1986: Return to Gordy Records TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsUSUSR&BGERNZUKPower19804513———Give Love at Christmas————— RIAA: GoldThe Temptations19811193646——Reunion1982372———Surface Thrills198315919———Back to Basics15230———Truly for You1984553432575Touch Me198514620———To Be Continued...1986744——— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
1987–2004: Motown Records TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsUSUSR&BTogether Again198711212Special198912825Milestone1991—88For Lovers Only1995—43Phoenix Rising1998448 RIAA: PlatinumEar-Resistible20005416Awesome200114027Legacy200416318 "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
2006–2007: New Door Records TitleYearPeak chart positionsUSUSR&BReflections20068014Back to Front200710819
2010–2022: 10/30 International and UME Direct TitleYearPeak chart positionsUSR&BStill Here201048All the Time2018—Temptations 602022—
Live albums TitleYearPeak chart positionsUSUSR&BCANUKTemptations Live!19671012020Live at the Copa1968152——Live at London's Talk of the Town1970215——The Temptations in Japan1973———— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertifications SalesUSUSR&BSCOUKGreatest Hits196651—17 RIAA: 2× PlatinumGreatest Hits II1970152—28 RIAA: GoldAnthology1973655—— RIAA: PlatinumAll the Million Sellers1981———— RIAA: PlatinumGreat Songs and Performances That Inspired the Motown 25th Anniversary T.V. Special1983———— RIAA: GoldThe Temptations 25th Anniversary198614055——Motown's Greatest Hits1992———8Emperors of Soul1994—52——The Ultimate Collection199713760—— RIAA: GoldLost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)1999————20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Temptations, Volume 1 – The '60s200073——— RIAA: Platinum US: 1,342,76120th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Temptations, Vol. 2 – The 70s, 80s, and 90s————The Temptations at Their Very Best2001——5128 BPI: GoldThe Best of the Temptations Christmas10255—My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations2002167———Psychedelic Soul2003————Classic Soul Hits 2008——188The Definitive Collection———— BPI: GoldIcon2010—29—— US: 268,75550th Anniversary – The Singles Collection (1961–1971)2011———— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Soundtrack albums TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsUSUSR&BCANUKTCB196811211 RIAA: GoldThe Temptations Show1969242——On Broadway384—— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Singles As Otis Williams & The Siberians 1958: "Pecos Kid" b/w "All of My Life"
As The Distants 1959: "Come On" b/w "Always" (with The Andantes) 1960: "Open Your Heart" b/w "All Right"
1960s Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Sales AlbumUSUSR&BBEL(WA)CANRPM magazine singles chart positions: "I'll Be in Trouble": "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)": "My Girl": "It's Growing": "Get Ready": "Ain't Too Proud to Beg": "Beauty is Only Skin Deep": "(I Know) I'm Losing You": "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)": "Please Return Your Love to Me": "Cloud Nine": "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me": "Runaway Child, Running Wild": "I'll Try Something New": "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down": "I Can't Get Next to You": "Psychedelic Shack": "Ball of Confusion": "Unite the World": "Just My Imagination": "It's Summer": "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)": "Papa Was a Rolling Stone": "Masterpiece": "Let Your Hair Down: "Heavenly: "You've Got My Soul on Fire: "Happy People": "Shakey Ground": "Glasshouse": "Standing on the Top": "The Motown Song": GERIRENLDUK"Oh Mother of Mine"1961————————Meet the Temptations"Check Yourself"————————"(You're My) Dream Come True"1962—22——————"Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)"(credited as The Pirates)————————Non-album single"Paradise"122———————Meet the Temptations"I Want a Love I Can See"1963————————"Farewell My Love"————————"The Way You Do the Things You Do"1964111—43————"I'll Be in Trouble"3322—28————The Temptin' Temptations"The Girl's Alright with Me"(B-side of "I'll Be In Trouble" )10239——————"Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)"2611—15————"My Girl" 11—8662272 RIAA: 7× Platinum BPI: 3× Platinum IFPI DEN: Gold RMNZ: 5× PlatinumThe Temptations Sing Smokey"It's Growing"1965183—14———45"Since I Lost My Baby"174——————The Temptin' Temptations"You've Got to Earn It"(B-side of "Since I Lost My Baby")12322——————"My Baby"134——————"Don’t Look Back"(B-side of "My Baby")8315——————"Get Ready"1966291—32———10 BPI: SilverGettin' Ready"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"131—32———21 RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold UK: 86,000"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"31—3———18 RIAA: GoldGreatest Hits"(I Know) I'm Losing You"81—33———19 RIAA: GoldWith a Lot o' Soul"All I Need"196782——————"You're My Everything"63—————26 RIAA: Gold"I've Been Good to You"(B-side of "You're My Everything")124———————Gettin' Ready"(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need"143——————With a Lot o' Soul"I Wish It Would Rain"196841—————45 RIAA: GoldThe Temptations Wish It Would Rain"I Truly, Truly Believe"(B-side of "I Wish It Would Rain")11641—————— RIAA: Gold"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"131—49———47 RIAA: Gold"Please Return Your Love to Me"264—26————"Cloud Nine"62—9———15 RIAA: GoldCloud Nine"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"————————Merry Christmas from Motown"Silent Night"(B-side of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer")————————"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)196922472—6—3 RIAA: PlatinumDiana Ross and the Supremes Join the Temptations"Runaway Child, Running Wild"61—12———— RIAA: GoldCloud Nine"I'll Try Something New"(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)258—16————Diana Ross and the Supremes Join the Temptations"Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down"202—34————Puzzle People"I Second That Emotion"(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)———————18Diana Ross and the Supremes Join the Temptations"I Can't Get Next to You"11—11———13 RIAA: PlatinumPuzzle People"The Weight"(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)464——————Together "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
1970s TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertifications SalesAlbumUSUSR&BBEL(FL)BEL(WA)CANGERNLDUK"Psychedelic Shack"197072——5——33 RIAA: GoldPsychedelic Shack"Why (Must We Fall in Love)"(Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations)———————31Together"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"32——5—307 RIAA: Platinum EU: 500,000Greatest Hits II"Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)"338——85———Sky's the Limit"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"197111——72——8 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold UK: 66,000"It's Summer"5129——83———Solid Rock"Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)"188——26——32 RIAA: Gold"Take a Look Around"19723010—————13"Mother Nature"9227——————All Directions"Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" (B-side of "Mother Nature")————————"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"1516131211314 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold"Masterpiece"197371—134121—51 RIAA: GoldMasterpiece"Plastic Man"408——————"Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)"352——————"Law of the Land"———————41"Let Your Hair Down"(instrumentation by Rose Royce)271——44———1990"Heavenly"1974438——52———"You've Got My Soul on Fire"748——47———"Happy People"(instrumentation by The Commodores)401——53———A Song for You"Shakey Ground"(instrumentation by The Eddie Hazel Band)1975261——39———"Glasshouse"379——69———"Keep Holdin' On"1976543—————— House Party"Up the Creek (Without a Paddle)"9421—————— Wings of Love"Who Are You (And What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)"—22—————— The Temptations Do the Temptations"In a Lifetime"1977—21——————Hear to Tempt You"Think for Yourself"1978—58——————"Bare Back"—42——————Bare Back"Ever Ready Love"—31—————— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
1980s TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumUSUSR&BBEL(FL)CANIRENLDUK"Power"198043118——8—Power"Struck by Lightning Twice"—55—————"Take Me Away" —69—————Loving Couples soundtrack"Aiming at Your Heart"19816736—————The Temptations"Oh What a Night"104——————"Standing on the Top" (featuring Rick James)19826662932——53Reunion"More on the Inside"—82—————"Love on My Mind Tonight"19838817—————Surface Thrills"Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy)"—67—————Back to Basics"Sail Away"5413—————"Treat Her Like a Lady"198448225—101612 RMNZ: PlatinumTruly for You"My Love Is True (Truly for You)"1985—14————84"How Can You Say That It's Over"—81—————"Do You Really Love Your Baby"—14————88Touch Me"Touch Me"1986—63—————"A Fine Mess"—63—————To Be Continued..."I'm Fascinated"——————84"Lady Soul"474————— RMNZ: Platinum"To Be Continued..."—25—————"Someone"1987—45—————"I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now"—3————90Together Again"Look What You Started"—8————63"Do You Wanna Go with Me"1988—53—————"All I Want from You"1989—16————71Special"Special"—10————— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
1990s TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumUSUSR&BBEL(FL)CANNLDUK"Soul to Soul"1990—12——34—Special"The Motown Song"(Rod Stewart featuring the Temptations)199110—421—10Vagabond Heart"The Jones'"—41——5869Milestone"Hoops of Fire"1992—68————"Error of Our Ways"1994—86————Emperors of Soul "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Other charted songs TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumUSUSR&B"Silent Night"1995—16Give Love on Christmas Day"Some Enchanted Evening"—40For Lovers Only"Stay"199812028Phoenix Rising"This Is My Promise"1999—54"How Could He Hurt You"—57"I'm Here"2000—40Ear-Resistible "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Notes
References
External links