Norman Whitfield (1943-2008) RIP

The rise and success of the Temptations is inseparably linked with the name Norman Whitfield. Whitfield, who established himself at Motown quite early as indispensable composer, arranger and producer, was not only responsible for the typical Motown Sound, he stood for the musical development of the Temptations of the pure doo-wop group the Soul Funk Act. Incorporating psychdelischer elements inspired by the psychedelic rock sound of the 1967 became stronger, culminating in the album 1970 Temptations album, Psychedelic Shack ', which is also the namesake for Whitfield's very own soul-funk style, Psychdelic Soul simultaneously' should be.

Whitfield and - on Stax page - Isaac Hayes were the first who wanted to get away from the comfortable 3 minutes format for soul songs, and called for artists and audiences alike, because suddenly Soul was opulent, sprawling and sometimes even symphonic. Good 6 years old - of, I Know I'm Losing You 'to' Heavenly '- took the Temptations-Whitfield-Psychdelic Soul era, and at that time were Whifields arrangements increasingly insane, his experiment seemed limitless and the ideas that he and the tempts could not realize, he lived with other acts such as Edwin Starr, the Undisputed Truth or Rare Earth from. But why rezensieren precisely 1990, which was the least successful of the reign of Whitfield tempts? Because it's one of these real treasures buried this time, and also the last collaboration between Whitfield and the Temptations was. Because it despite - was the increasing tensions between Whitfield and the group one of the best albums in their canon, and because it works with, Let Your Hair Down ',' Is not No Justice ', You've Got - or perhaps because My Soul On Fire 'and' Zoom 'four Groove contains beads that make clear why Whtifield productions in Hip Hop were later so much and so often sampled.

Its all great solo success (without Motown) with Rosey Royce on his own label was to come, but with 1990 'was a collaboration to an end one of the most successful and creative was the whole black music.