A Song for You (The Temptations album)


A Song for You is a 1975 album by The Temptations. It features two R&B #1 hits: "Happy People", and "Shakey Ground", one of the group's final R&B #1 songs.

Music and lyrics

The album features then-lead singer Dennis Edwards on the title track written by Leon Russell. Also featured are Richard Street and Melvin Franklin on the track "Firefly".
A Song for You features a familiar device of the time used to exhibit the versatility of 1970s soul groups: one side features up-tempo cuts and the other side focuses on ballads. Several songs on side one such as "Glass House" and "Shakey Ground" featured P-Funk-backed dance grooves and even a writing credit for former Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, while side two had tracks such as "I'm a Bachelor" and "Memories", which showcased a more subdued style of soul.

Release and reception

This album, while it was initially panned by the Rolling Stone Record Guide, proved its worth, going gold and winning the 1976 American Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album. This was also the final album by Eddie Kendricks's replacement Damon Harris, who was let go after this album. He would rejoin his Young Tempts bandmates as Impact.

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Happy People" – 3:38
  2. "Glasshouse" – 3:54
  3. "Shakey Ground" – 4:03
  4. "The Prophet" – 4:28
  5. "Happy People" – 2:57

    Side two

  6. "A Song for You" – 4:40
  7. "Memories" – 6:01
  8. "I'm a Bachelor" – 4:21
  9. "Firefly" – 4:02

    Personnel