Eddie Kendricks - Eddie Kendricks (1973)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Another early 70's Motown classic.  Kendricks made albums as a solo artist following his departure from the Temptations under the supervision of Frank Wilson (who was also looking after the Four Tops at this point).  "Keep On Truckin'" would establish Eddie in the UK and still is his signature track pop-wise here although later tracks captured the dance crowd..  This set also features "Each Day I Cry A Little" a song that builds in to a real soul classic (One of my favourite vocal performances by this ex-temp). "If You Let Me" was the lead single. Motown tried to cash in on the success of "Truckin'" by commissioning the very similar "Boogie Down" for the next single and building an album around it. 


Tamla Motown - STML 11245 (This is a US Tamla Copy - T 327L)

Eddie Kendricks - People...Hold On (1972)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Eddie Kendricks was one of the stars of the Temptations classic line-up but left the group as Norman Whitfield moved them more towards psychedelic/symphonic soul and the band became only one ingredient of the whole production with lengthy instrumental sections coming to the fore.  He made a couple of solo albums prior to this as he was moved around styles by Motown trying to find the right one for his beautiful falsetto.  Ironically some of the tracks here are more contemporary.  With the underated Frank Wilson producing, there are some real good moments with the title track, "Date With The Rain", "Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind", "Eddie's Love" standing the test of time.  There is some filler material here and whilst those songs are not so strong I think they benefit from Eddie's vocal style and sound.  I'd recommend this.  It seems to be under the radar in the UK where he is best remembered for his Temptations tenure and the later "Keep On Trucking".

This has recently been released on in a CD set of three solo albums - which is worth it for the tracks here alone.


Tamla Motown - STML 11213 (although this is a US copy)

Various - The Motown Sound Volume 2 (1973)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

To my knowledge this series only had two volumes and both held some real gems.  This one includes songs from 1971 to 1973 which,  whilst most people point to the 60's, i see as a golden period for Motown.  This shows the new maturity of the artists, with tracks from Stevie Wonder's "Music of My Mind" Album; New sounds from ex-Temptations David Ruffin "Blood Donors Needed" and Eddie Kendricks "Girl You Need A Change Of Mind"; Syreeta "To Know You Is To Love You" and the first released songs of Valerie Simpson as a vocalist. The stand-out here has to be The Undisputed Truth's version of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" - a Whitfield classic.  This isn't available on CD but as with all Motown, every song will be avalailable on numerous compilations including Greatest Hits packages.

Tamla Motown - STML11237