Temptations Live Concert 1972 - (Ontario, Canada)

Not the best film, but hey any concert film from this era will do… besides, 8mm film wasn’t the best back then. FYI this is from Night 1. By January 1972, when the album Solid Rock comes out, the lineup evolves into: Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris and Richard Street. They, too, like the second classic line-up, record and release three, consecutive #1 albums: Solid Rock (January 11, 1972), All Directions (July 27, 1972), and Masterpiece (February 21, 1973). It is this line-up that produces their 4th and phenomenally bestselling, Billboard Hot 100 #1 single, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” The song, which is originally recorded on the All Directions album, releases on July 27, 1972, wins three Grammy® Awards, two of which are awarded to The Temptations, at the 15th Annual Grammy® Awards ceremony in 1973: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, Vocal or Instrumental, awarded to The Temptations; Best R&B Instrumental Performance, awarded to The Temptations and Paul Riser; and Best Rhythm & Blues Song, awarded to Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield as songwriters. This incredible market success is followed by their 14th #1 R&B chart album, Masterpiece, that also features the group’s 11th #1 R&B single, “Masterpiece.” This is an incredibly successful period for The Temptations and showcases their new sound, which is less ballad-driven and more what becomes known as a psychedelic soul sound. Some of their lyrics reflect the themes and signs of the time: civil rights’ protests, cultural identity crises, war abroad and national protests, etc.