Masterpiece (The Temptations album)

Masterpiece is a 1973 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced and written by Norman Whitfield.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[3]

Masterpiece
Studio album by The Temptations
Released	February 21, 1973
Recorded	1972–73
Studio	Hitsville USA, Detroit
Genre	Soul, funk, psychedelic soul
Length	42:08
Label	Gordy GS 965
Producer	Norman Whitfield
The Temptations chronology
All Directions (1972) Masterpiece (1973) The Temptations in Japan (1973)
Alternative covers
An alternative re-edition cover

Track listing

All selections written and produced by Norman Whitfield.

Side one

1. "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" – 4:36 (lead singer: Richard Street)
2. "Masterpiece" – 13:49 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin)

Side two

1. "Ma" – 4:46 (lead singers: Richard Street, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin)
2. "Law of the Land" – 5:08 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Richard Street)
3. "Plastic Man" – 5:53 (lead singers: Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street)
4. "Hurry Tomorrow" – 8:06 (lead singer: Damon Harris)

Personnel

Dennis Edwards - vocals (tenor/baritone) Damon Harris - vocals (first tenor/falsetto) Richard Street - vocals (second tenor/baritone) Melvin Franklin - vocals (bass) Otis Williams - vocals (second tenor/baritone) Norman Whitfield - producer, composer Paul Riser - arranger Orson Lewis - engineer Asari Ghraham - creative assistant to Norman Whitfield Des Strobel - design Parvis Sadighian - sculpture (for album cover image) Jim Britt - liner photo

Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers: Earl Van Dyke - piano, organ Johnny Griffith - organ Robert Ward - guitar Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin - guitar Joe Messina - guitar Paul Warren - guitar Robert White - guitar Eddie Willis - guitar Aaron Smith - drums Richard "Pistol" Allen - drums Uriel Jones - drums Andrew Smith - drums Leroy Taylor - bass guitar Bob Babbitt - bass guitar Eddie Watkins Jr. - bass guitar Eddie "Bongo" Brown - bongos, congas Jack Ashford - tambourine, maracas, sticks Jack Brokensha - timpani, vibes, bells, gourd Maurice Davis - trumpet Ted Lucas - harmonica

Singles history

• "Masterpiece" (Vocal)
  • Gordy single 7126, February 1, 1973; *B-side: "Masterpiece" (Instrumental)
• "Plastic Man"
  • Gordy single 7129, May 10, 1973; B-side: "Hurry Tomorrow"
• "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)"
  • Gordy single 7131, July 24, 1973; B-side: "Ma"
• "Law of the Land"
  • Tamla-Motown single TMG-866, 1973 (UK only); B-side: "Run Charlie Run" (from All Directions)

Charts

Album

Chart (1973)	Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)[4]	6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5]	17
Spanish Albums (AFE)[6]	13
UK Albums (OCC)[7]	28
US Billboard 200[8]	7
US Top R&B Albums[9]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)	Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)[10]	51
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11]	47
US Top R&B Albums[12]	15
US Billboard 200[13]	56

Singles

Year	Name	US	US R&B	UK
1973	Masterpiece (Vocal)	7	1	-
	Plastic Man	40	8	-
	Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)	35	2	-
	Law of the Land	-	-	41

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[14]	Gold	100,000*
United States (RIAA)[15]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1973 (U.S.)

References

1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r19822
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 15, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698.
4. "Tous les Albums de l'Artiste choisi". InfoDisc. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
5. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
6. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
7. "The Temptations Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
8. "The Temptations US Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
9. "The Temptations". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
10. "InfoDisc : Les Albums (CD) de 1973 par InfoDisc". 2016-01-10. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
11. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1973. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
12. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
13. "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
14. "French album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece" (in French). InfoDisc. Select THE TEMPTATIONS and click OK. 
15. "American album certifications – The Temptations – Masterpiece". Recording Industry Association of America.