|
Post by FastNFancy on Sept 3, 2002 23:17:54 GMT -5
I was at Amazon checking out Otis 'new' book. Here are a few reviews:
I Can't Totally Get Next To This, August 22, 2002 Reviewer: Derrick Bogan from USA I am a big fan of the Temptations, both past and current, and I'm proud to see their legacy still carried on. However, after I saw the Temptations movie, I was left with a sour taste for it's surviving member, Otis Williams. I brought this book to see if my hunches were valid, and I am afraid they are. Mr. Williams comes across very pompus,cocky,and disillusioned at times, and I did not particulary appreciate the picture he painted of the late, great Temps, like David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. I was equally mortified when he implied that Dennis Edwards was not worthy of induction into the rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Was it not "Cloud Nine" and "Papa was a Rolling Stone" that garnered the group its first Grammy awards? One must ask, other than being an original member, what did he really contribute? Reading this book, one get's the picture, which he tried very hard to paint, that he was the glue that kept the group together. However,I see the contradiction. listening to him gloat, at times, of how the He and The Temptations virtually put other groups to shame with their live performances, I have to ask, "And what song do you sing lead on? co-lead? If his one-liner in "Can't Get Next To You" (I can make the seasons change, just by waving my hand) is any indication of what he had to offer, it was best that he presumed his prized position in the group- background singer/dancer.
It was sad to read about the death of his son. However, he did not nearly go in depth about the emotional guilt he may have experienced. One get's the impression that the group name and legacy is his life and everything else is secondary. Though I must admit, he looks good for his age and I'm happy he is still around to spread the Temptation legacy, it is also sad to see a 60+ male with nothing else apparently going for him outside of his "celebrity", and I use the term loosely
|
|
|
Post by FastNFancy on Sept 3, 2002 23:23:26 GMT -5
temptations by otis williams, December 30, 2001 Reviewer: A reader from a suburb of detroit, michigan as i was personally associated with all of the original temptations ( elbridge excluded, however ), either initially just watching their rehearsals ( because my sister was dating one of the guitarists who played for the cavaliers and then later the posse )or later when i had the opportunity to do studio vocals ( demo tracks ) for david, then eddie, subsequent to their departure from the temptations, and then perform with them sporadically, in their various configurations - i was a tad disappointed in the ( by comparison ) rather negative characterizations of david and eddie by the author. my friends/colleagues who were in their presence jokingly ( but seriously ) quip that the only thing the author didn't attribute to himself( and melvin ) was a HALO! although it was written from the author's perspective and perhaps he truly perceives what he wrote was, in fact, reality, i assure you ( and MANY others will corroborate ), it is quite skewed in a multiplicity of areas ( specifically, the " choir boy " lifestyle the author attributed to himself. but, on balance, i do appreciate the author sharing the details of his growing up, the relationship with his father and other facts of his growing up which i'm certain, influenced his belief and subsequent behaviors. for "entertainment value ", i give it 4 stars, for accuracy, 2, at best.... --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
|
|
|
Post by FastNFancy on Sept 3, 2002 23:33:44 GMT -5
There are more stories that need to be told, August 7, 2002 Reviewer: blackprincess (see more about me) from Hollis, NY I have been a fan of the Temptations for years, but I have to admit that my loyalty is really to the classic lineup that made the Tempts a household name: Eddie Kendrick, David Ruffin, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams. Not to slight the other singers who have been a part of the group, but these guys always have been my favorites.
Otis Williams' book, TEMPTATIONS, is an interesting read, but really left me wanting to know what the other side of the coin was like. Even though Otis had his own view of what happened with the group (and I'm not implying that he wasn't entitled to that), the trouble is he attempts to belittle the other members by constantly pointing out their faults and ignoring his to the degree that we should have to call him Saint. To me, he painted David, Eddie and Paul, the stars of the group, as talented men but troubled individuals. That may have been true, but for every complimentary thing Otis would say about them, he'd follow it with something negative. I noticed that he did the same thing with certain members of the group that followed after the originals left as well. That mini-series that aired about four years ago that was based on this book only backed up his so-called belief that "No man is bigger than the group" (which was supposedly also Berry Gordy's belief) and made him to look like the sane hero in a world filled with people running amok. Also Otis talked too much about his romantic relationships with certain women...other than his first marriage, I didn't see the need for it to be mentioned. If it didn't have anything to do with the rise of the group, then why bother?
This is the Temptations' story through the eyes of Otis Williams, the remaining original group member who seems to revel in that distinction. But I feel that there were other stories that have yet to be told. Unfortunately Ruffin, Kendrick, Franklin and Paul Williams are no longer here to tell their side, but I feel someone will be able to write a truly unbiased story about this legendary group one day. But I still do recommend this. At the time it was written, Ruffin and Kendrick were still alive, and I wish we could've known what their opinions were of this book, and how they felt about it.
|
|
|
Post by Ruffside on Jul 10, 2003 13:11:11 GMT -5
David & Eddie weren't "Nasty" about it,I've seen them autograph it for some fans,but Eddie did not want to write a book. When Donnie Simpson interviewed Dennis & Eddie,Eddie was not interested in writing "his side" because he had "too much to tell". I didn't read the soft cover,but I don't think I missed anything! ;D
|
|
|
Post by SeainDennis on Jul 10, 2003 14:24:44 GMT -5
I only wished that Eddie did "tell it". I know David was gonna tell it but died before that happened. I read that David's brother, Jimmy is writing a book, so it should be interesting.
|
|
|
Post by Ruffside on Jul 10, 2003 14:59:27 GMT -5
I only wished that Eddie did "tell it". I know David was gonna tell it but died before that happened. I read that David's brother, Jimmy is writing a book, so it should be interesting. Eddie was a private man,keep family secrets,SECRET !
|
|
|
Post by SeainDennis on Jul 10, 2003 15:07:33 GMT -5
Okay! I recall Eddie saying that & that was his choice to do so. But I still wouldn't mind to hear his side of things. No "indepth" details but just facts. It's strange that Eddie was often said to be private but I distinctly recall an interview in the eighties where he talked about his wife Pat & the fact that she was running back & forth to court. I thought was surprising since he's such a private person.
|
|
|
Post by Ruffside on Jul 10, 2003 15:41:29 GMT -5
All I know is that Eddie didn't do interviews at his home,mentioned any family untill the late eighties,like you said,but prior to that,NOTHING on his family.
|
|
|
Post by FastNFancy on Jul 10, 2003 16:15:03 GMT -5
Hey Ruffside and Seain Wasn't that David who said that in Tony's book? Correct me if I am wrong. Seain, I saw that same interview you were speaking of and remember being quite shocked at Eddie's comments about Pat. I had never recall Eddie mentioning not one word about his private life. The only thing I faintly remember is a reference to his children in one of the liner notes or on the back of an album. I can surely understand why he preferred to keep his private life private. That was one of the things I liked about him...he kept his business to himself.
|
|
|
Post by SeainDennis on Jul 10, 2003 16:17:40 GMT -5
But Ruffside, wait a minute! ;D I got an interview that Eddie did at his home in Santa Monica(sorry, I tend to be a little picky! ;D ) But it is interesting one! It called Eddie "one of Hollywood's best-dressed black entertainers". Maybe this is one article that needs to be posted. If only I can get a lousy adapter for my scanner, it'll be on!
|
|
|
Post by Ruffside on Jul 10, 2003 21:30:49 GMT -5
But Ruffside, wait a minute! ;D I got an interview that Eddie did at his home in Santa Monica(sorry, I tend to be a little picky! ;D ) But it is interesting one! It called Eddie "one of Hollywood's best-dressed black entertainers". Maybe this is one article that needs to be posted. If only I can get a lousy adapter for my scanner, it'll be on! Yes,please do,I would LOVE to read it. Eddie was a sharp dresser,sharper than a fresh pack of GEM razor blades! The Tempts never looked better than when Eddie was dressing them !
|
|
|
Post by SeainDennis on Jul 11, 2003 10:14:47 GMT -5
Hey Ruffside! I'll try to type up the interview next week & tell Fast to put it up for me. I have another Tempt interview from back in the day, but wouldn't say which one! That's a surprise! BTW, did you get a chance to hear the last interview that David & Eddie did before they died? I have a book that contains this last interview but I think hearing it might be worthwhile. If you haven't heard it, go to www.soul-patrol.com .
|
|
|
Post by Ruffside on Jul 11, 2003 11:44:00 GMT -5
Yes,I did. Did you see Street Gold?
|
|
|
Post by SeainDennis on Jul 11, 2003 19:00:28 GMT -5
I have it but I haven't had a chance to watch Street Gold yet. But I did see the short version of it called "Legends", that spawned "Street Gold".
|
|
|
Post by Ruffside on Jul 11, 2003 22:01:47 GMT -5
I have it but I haven't had a chance to watch Street Gold yet. But I did see the short version of it called "Legends", that spawned "Street Gold". Do yourself a favor....watch it as soon as possible!
|
|