A Song for You (The Temptations album)

A Song for You is a 1975 album by The Temptations. It features two R&B #1 hits: "Happy People" (originally intended for recording by its authors, The Commodores), and "Shakey Ground", one of the group's final R&B #1 songs.

The album features then-lead singer Dennis Edwards on the title track written by Leon Russell. Also featured are Richard Street and Melvin Franklin on the track "Firefly".

A Song for You features a familiar device of the time used to exhibit the versatility of 1970s soul groups: one side features up-tempo cuts and the other side focuses on ballads. Several songs on side one such as "Glass House" and "Shakey Ground" featured P-Funk-backed dance grooves and even a writing credit for former Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, while side two had tracks such as "I'm a Bachelor" and "Memories", which showcased a more subdued style of soul.

This album, while it was initially panned by the Rolling Stone Record Guide, proved its worth, going gold (selling over 500,000 copies) and winning the 1976 American Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album. This was also the final album by Eddie Kendricks's replacement Damon Harris, who was let go after this album. He would rejoin his Young Tempts bandmates as Impact.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]

Track listing

Side one

"Happy People" - 3:38 (lead singer: Dennis Edwards)
"Glasshouse" - 3:54 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Richard Street, Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin)
"Shakey Ground" - 4:03 (lead singer: Dennis Edwards)
"The Prophet" - 4:28 (lead singer: Melvin Franklin)
"Happy People" (Instrumental) - 2:57

Side two

"A Song for You" - 4:40 (lead singer: Dennis Edwards)
"Memories" - 6:01 (lead singer: Dennis Edwards)
"I'm a Bachelor" - 4:21 (lead singer: Dennis Edwards)
"Firefly" - 4:02 (lead singers: Richard Street, Melvin Franklin)

Personnel

Dennis Edwards: vocals
Damon Harris: vocals
Richard Street: vocals
Melvin Franklin: vocals
Otis Williams: vocals
Berry Gordy: producer
Jeffrey Bowen: producer
Donald Charles Baldwin: co-songwriter: ("Happy People", "Memories"), piano, clavinet, Moog, soprano saxophone solo on "Shakey Ground"
The Commodores: tape loop on "Happy People"
Lionel Richie: co-songwriter: ("Happy People")
Eddie Hazel: co-songwriter: ("Shakey Ground"), guitar
Melvin "Wah-Wah" Ragin: guitar
Ollie Brown, James Gadsen, Zachary Frazier: drums
William "Billy Bass" Nelson: bass guitar

References

↑ Allmusic review

The Temptations

Otis Williams Ron Tyson Terry Weeks Larry Braggs Willie Green Melvin Franklin Eddie Kendricks Paul Williams Elbridge Bryant David Ruffin Dennis Edwards Ricky Owens Richard Street Damon Harris Glenn Leonard Louis Price Ali-Ollie Woodson Theo Peoples Harry McGilberry Barrington "Bo" Henderson Ray Davis G. C. Cameron Joe Herndon Bruce Williamson Pre-Temptations: Kel Osbourne Wiley Waller James "Pee-Wee" Crawford Vernon Plain Arthur Walton Albert "Mooch" Harrell

Production	Berry Gordy Smokey Robinson Norman Whitfield Jeffrey Bowen Richard Perry Isaias Gamboa (music producer) Narada Michael Walden

Studio albums	Meet the Temptations The Temptations Sing Smokey The Temptin' Temptations Gettin' Ready The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul The Temptations Wish It Would Rain Cloud Nine Puzzle People Psychedelic Shack Sky's the Limit Solid Rock All Directions Masterpiece 1990 A Song for You House Party Wings of Love The Temptations Do the Temptations Bare Back Hear to Tempt You Power The Temptations Reunion Surface Thrills Back to Basics Truly for You Touch Me To Be Continued... Together Again Special Milestone Phoenix Rising Ear-Resistible Awesome Legacy Still Here

Cover albums	The Temptations in a Mellow Mood For Lovers Only Reflections Back to Front

Live albums	Temptations Live! Live at the Copa Live at London's Talk of the Town The Temptations in Japan

Other albums	Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations TCB The Temptations Show Together On Broadway The Temptations Christmas Card Give Love at Christmas Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)

Compilations	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits II Anthology Emperors of Soul The Ultimate Collection My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations Psychedelic Soul

Singles (US/UK Top 10)	"My Girl" "Get Ready" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" "(I Know) I'm Losing You" "All I Need" "You're My Everything" "I Wish It Would Rain" "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" "Cloud Nine" "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" "Run Away Child, Running Wild" "I Can't Get Next to You" "Psychedelic Shack" "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "Masterpiece" "Let Your Hair Down" "Happy People" "Shakey Ground" "The Motown Song" "My Girl" (reissue)

Filmography	Save the Children Happy New Year The Temptations Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Discography	Albums Songs

Related persons	The Supremes Barrett Strong Sly Stone George Clinton

See also	Motown Records Psychedelic soul

Book Category

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