No vocal group is better qualified to pay tribute to R&B's golden era than
the Temptations, who do exactly that on
Back to Front (an album containing mostly covers of soul classics from the '60s and '70s). Some soul connoisseurs will question whether or not the 2007 lineup heard on
Back to Front should even be called
the Temptations;
Otis Williams is the only remaining original member, and the other participants include 1983 arrival
Ron Tyson and three singers who didn't come on board until the '90s (
Terry Weeks) or 2000s (Bruce Williamson and Joe Herndon). But then, lineup changes are nothing new for
the Temptations, who had plenty of them during their '60s and '70s heyday -- and the important thing to remember about
Back to Front is that the disc is quite faithful to the spirit of the pre-'80s
Temptations even though
Williams is the only one who was actually part of the group before the '80s. The Temptations, of course, were synonymous with the Motown sound back in the day, but
Back to Front celebrates classic soul outside of Motown with enthusiastic covers of gems ranging from
Barry White's "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" and
the Emotions' "Don't Ask My Neighbors" to
L.T.D.'s hits "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again" and "Love Ballad." The Temptations of 2007 pay tribute to Stax Records (Motown's most important competitor in the '60s) on
Sam & Dave's "Hold On! I'm Comin'" and
the Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself," and they acknowledge the Philadelphia International/
Gamble & Huff sound on
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody."
Back to Front is not in a class with
the Temptations' most essential '60s and '70s recordings, but it is an enjoyably satisfying tribute to R&B's pre-urban contemporary, pre-hip-hop era. ~ Alex Henderson