THE TEMPTATIONS’ LP, ‘The Temptations Wish It Would Rain‘ was the 7th Motown studio album the group recorded for the Gordy label. The LP was released in April, 1968. It was the final release from the group’s “Classic-5” era, during whichDavid Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williamsconstituted the Temptations’ lineup. ‘Wish It Would Rain’ also marks the last Temptations solo album to focus on the classic “Motown Sound“, and the last to feature production fromSmokey Robinson. Included on ‘Wish It Would Rain’ are the hit singles “I Wish It Would Rain” and “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)“, both featuring Ruffin on lead vocals and co-written by Motown writerRoger Penzabene, who committed suicide on New Years Eve1967 because of the breakup described in these two songs. “I Wish It Would Rain’s” b-side, “I Truly, Truly Believe”, is a rare solo showcase for Franklin, the group’s bass singer. The third single, “Please Return Your Love to Me“, features Kendricks on lead, and was released in July after Ruffin’s departure. The song’s b-side, “How Could I Forget” (led by Paul Williams), is not included here, because it was newly recorded on June 29 to accompany the a-side. The album’s producers were credited toNorman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson, Henry Cosby, Harvey Fuqua, Deke Richards, andJohnny Bristol. The LP was recorded in 1967 and completed in March 1968. (Sources: WiKipedia; AllMusic)
