It was 1980 and The Temptations were in a bad place. After dominating the music charts for more than a decade and a half, they appeared to be headed for the “oldies” circuit. The group had left Motown (and parted with lead singer Dennis Edwards) three years earlier for not-so-greener pastures at Atlantic Records. Two somewhat faceless, unsuccessful albums later, there were a lot of questions about whether the most popular male vocal group in the world was essentially done.
Fortunately, Otis Williams and company reunited with Motown honcho Berry Gordy, Jr., re-signing in 1980. And this time, Gordy made sure that they had a hit to return with, co-writing a song about men he saw around the world who sought influence more than anything else. Add to it a funky beat and Melvin Franklin’s memorable opening, and you had the makings of a smash hit and a return to the top for The Temptations.
The song was “Power,” and it resonates now as much as it did in 1980. Check it out below. It is our latest SoulTracks Looks Back.
