Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an iconic American singer and songwriter known for his falsetto voice and role in the Temptations. Born Edward James Kendrick on December 17, 1939, in Union Springs, Alabama, he rose to fame in the Motown era before pursuing a successful solo career.
Kendricks grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, after his family relocated there. He met Paul Williams in their church choir during the late 1940s. In 1955, they formed the doo-wop group the Cavaliers with friends, later renaming to the Primes after moving to Detroit under manager Milton Jenkins.
Kendricks co-founded the Temptations, serving as first tenor and lead on hits like "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "Get Ready," and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)." He arranged many vocals and managed wardrobe, including their signature purple suits. The group won a Grammy for "Cloud Nine" in 1969, with Kendricks earning four nominations total.
After leaving the Temptations in 1971 due to business and personal issues, Kendricks topped charts with "Keep On Truckin'" and hit number two with "Boogie Down" in the 1970s. He released nine albums on Tamla, showcasing his falsetto mastery.
Kendricks occasionally reunited with the Temptations and was portrayed by Terron Brooks in the 1998 NBC miniseries. He died on October 5, 1992, in Birmingham, Alabama, at age 52 from lung cancer.
All By Myself
Written-By – L. Ware, P. Holloway
3:30
A2 This Used To Be The Home Of Johnnie Mae
Written-By – L. Caston, S. Small
5:40
A3 I Did It All For You
Written-By – F. Wilson, J. Webb
2:58
A4 It's So Hard For Me To Say Good-Bye
Written-By – F. Wilson, P. Sawyer
3:08
B1 Something's Burning
Written-By – M. Davis
4:27
B2 Can I
Written-By – H. Davis, H. Griffith
6:12
B3 Didn't We
Written-By – J. Webb
3:09
Label: Tamla – TS309
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Boogie Down
Written-By – Anita Poree, Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
3:40
A2 Tell Her Love Has Felt The Need
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
4:30
A3 Son Of Sagittarius
Written-By – Anita Poree, Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
3:41
A4 Boogie Down
Written-By – Anita Poree, Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
7:07
B1 Hooked On Your Love
Written-By – Don Daniels, Frank Wilson, Terri McFaddin
3:30
B2 Honey Brown
Written-By – Don Daniels, Frank Wilson, Terri McFaddin
5:18
B3 You Are The Melody Of My Life
Written-By – Don Daniels, Terri McFaddin
4:00
B4 Trust Your Heart
Written-By – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston, Terri McFaddin
4:13
B5 Girl Of My Dreams
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
3:28
B6 Loving You The Second Time Around
Written-By – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston, Pam Sawyer
3:12
Label: Tamla – T 330V1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
Eddie Kendricks
Written-By – Donald Daniels, Terri McFaddin
3:02
A2 Darling Come Back Home
Written-By – Frank Wilson, Kathy Wakefield, King Errisson
4:07
A3 Each Day I Cry A Little
Written-By – Leonard Caston, Terri McFaddin
7:14
A4 Can't Help What I Am
Written-By – Frank Wilson, Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
4:24
B1 Keep On Truckin'
Written-By – Anita Poree, Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
8:02
B2 Any Day Now
Written-By – Bob Hilliard, Burt Bacharach
5:09
B3 Not On The Outside
Written-By – Larry Roberts, Sylvia Robinson
4:35
B4 Where Do You Go (Baby)
Written-By – Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer
3:24
Label: Tamla – T 327L
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
For You
Written-By – Leonard Caston
4:57
A2 One Tear
Written-By – Leonard Caston
4:00
A3 Shoeshine Boy
Written-By – Harry Booker, Linda Allen
3:14
A4 Deep And Quiet Love
Written-By – Frank Wilson, Kathy Wakefield
5:34
B1 Let Yourself Go
Written-By – Mbaji, Harold Clayton, Leonard Caston, Sigidi
5:45
B2 If
Written-By – David Gates
3:09
B3 If You Think (You Can)
Written-By – Barbara Dickerson, Leonard Caston
3:59
B4 Time In A Bottle
Written-By – Jim Croce
2:59
Label: Tamla – T6 335S1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
Goin' Up In Smoke
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris
4:30
A2 The Newness Is Gone
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris
4:40
A3 Sweet Tenderoni
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris
4:15
A4 Born Again
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris
3:26
A5 Don't You Want Light
Arranged By – T.G. Conway
Written-By – Brian Evans, Donald Harmon, John Faison
3:47
B1 Music Man
Arranged By – Ronald Kersey
Written-By – Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellmon, Reginald Turner, Victor Drayton
4:43
B2 Thanks For The Memories
Arranged By – T.G. Conway
Written-By – Bruce Gray, Philip Hurtt
4:56
B3 To You From Me
Arranged By – Jack Faith
Written-By – Bruce Gray, Frank Snowdon, Mike Holden, T.G. Conway
3:00
B4 Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow
Arranged By, Written-By – Ronald Kersey
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris
3:53
B5 Skeleton In Your Closet
Arranged By – Norman Harris, Ronald Kersey
Written-By – Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellmon, Reginald Turner, Victor Drayton
2:36
Label: Tamla – T6-346S1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
He's A Friend
Hes A Friend He s A Friend
A1 He's A Friend
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Bruce Gray, T.G. Conway
4:36
A2 A Part Of Me
Arranged By – Vince Montana
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Tyron Presson
3:16
A3 I Won't Take No
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Tyron Presson
2:55
A4 Never Gonna Leave You
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Allan Felder, Bruce Gray, T.G. Conway
4:08
A5 Get It While It's Hot
Arranged By – T.G. Conway
Written-By – Michael Holden, Theodore Life
3:09
B1 Chains
Arranged By – T.G. Conway
Written-By – Allan Felder, Walter Sigler, Norman Harris, Ronald Tyson
3:23
B2 The Sweeter You Treat Her
Arranged By – Norman Harris
Written-By – Buddy Turner, Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellmon, Victor Drayton
4:53
B3 It's Not What You Got
Arranged By – T.G. Conway
Written-By – Allan Felder, T.G. Conway
4:07
B4 On My Way Home
Arranged By – Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey
Written-By – Buddy Turner, Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellmon, Victor Drayton
3:49
B5 All Of My Love
Arranged By – Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey
Written-By – Allan Felder, Bruce Gray
2:46
Label: Tamla – T6 343S1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Philly, Disco
Love Keys
Written-By – Brian Holland, Eddie Holland
4:06
A2 I'm In Need Of Love
Written-By – Lou Courtney
3:52
A3 I Don't Need Nobody Else
Written-By – Lou Courtney
3:50
A4 Old Home Town
Written-By – David Pomeranz
3:49
A5 Bernadette
Written-By – Stuart Mitchell
3:55
B1 You Can't Stop My Loving
Written-By – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
3:40
B2 Never Alone
Written-By – Rod Harrison, Ronn Matlock
4:19
B3 Hot
Written-By – Eric Robinson, Victor Orsborn
3:30
B4 Looking For Love
Written-By – Randy Richards
5:50
B5 In Love We're One
Written-By – Eric Robinson, Victor Orsborn
4:27
Label: Atlantic – SD 19294
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk
People...Hold On
Producer – Frank Wilson
Written-By – F. Wilson
3:10
A2 Let Me Run Into Your Lonely Heart
Producer – Frank Wilson
Written-By – A. Poree, F. Wilson
2:59
A3 Day By Day
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – L. Caston, T. McFaddin
3:07
A4 Girl You Need A Change Of Mind
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – A. Poree, L. Caston
7:30
A5 Someday We'll Have A Better World
Producer – Frank Wilson
Written-By – N. Toney
3:35
B1 My People...Hold On
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – A. Poree, L. Caston
5:40
B2 Date With The Rain
Producer – Bobby Miller
Written-By – R. Miller
2:42
B3 Eddie's Love
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – A. Poree, L. Caston
3:20
B4 I'm On The Sideline
Producer – Frank Wilson
Written-By – P. McClendon
2:56
B5 Just Memories
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – A. Poree, L. Caston
5:50
Label: Tamla – T315L
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Slick
Written-By – Leonard Caston, Ronald Matlock
5:07
A2 Baby
Written-By – Leonard Caston, Terri McFaddin
3:52
A3 I Want To Live (My Life With You)
Written-By – Diane Goosby, Leonard Caston
3:42
A4 You Got It
Written-By – Leonard Caston, Terri McFaddin
3:25
A5 Intimate Friends
Written-By – Gary Glenn
5:49
B1 Diamond Girl
Written-By – Jim Seals - Dash Cofts
4:25
B2 Then Came You
Written-By – Diane Goosby, Leonard Caston
7:31
B3 I'll Have To Let You Go
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
4:34
B4 California Woman
Alto Saxophone – Larry Nozero
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
3:31
Label: Tamla – T6-356S1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Ballad
Slick (1977) is the ninth and final Tamla label studio album by former Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks, produced by Leonard Caston. Despite lack of promotion due to his imminent departure from Motown, the album delivers smooth, soulful, and sometimes spacey, mid-tempo R&B grooves. It reached No. 47 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart.
The album, produced by Leonard Caston, maintains the high-quality, polished R&B sound Kendricks was known for, featuring a mix of mellow, sophisticated soul and dance-oriented tracks.
Key Tracks:-
"Intimate Friends": Widely considered the album's standout "summertime slow jam," highly valued in the soul and R&B community.
"Then Came You": Described as a "surreal and spacey" track that creates a trance-like atmosphere for the listener.
"Something Shady (Is Going On)": A funky opener that highlights the collaboration between Kendricks and Terrell.
"California Woman": A groove-heavy track that rounds out the album's mix of cinematic soul and dance-floor ready tunes.
Features distinctive, high-tenor vocals from Kendricks with guest backing vocals from former Supreme, Jean Terrell (credited as Jean Thompson).
While it did not achieve the commercial success of his earlier work, Slick is considered a strong, overlooked entry in his catalog, representing a mature phase of his solo career before moving to Arista Records.
Something More
Written-By – B. Matthes, P. Adams
6:03
A2 I Just Want To Be The One In Your Life
Written-By – D. Walsh, M. Price
4:49
A3 Your Love Has Been So Good To Me
Written-By – R. Matlock
4:32
B1 I Never Used To Dance
Written-By – J. Calloway, L. Burgess, S. Davenport
4:29
B2 I Can't Let You Walk Away
Written-By – B. Carhee, P. Adams
4:21
B3 Something More
Written-By – L. Johnson, R. Jacobs, S. Martin
5:16
B4 No Wonder (I Can't Get Over You)
Written-By – M. Stokes, R. Matlock
3:25
Label: Arista – AB 4250
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
The Hit Man
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
3:22
A2 Happy
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
5:13
A3 Get The Cream Off The Top
Producer – Brian Holland, Holland/Dozier/Holland Productions Inc.
Written-By – Brian Holland, Eddie Holland
3:04
A4 Body Talk
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Frank Wilson, Kathy Wakefield
6:41
B1 Fortune Teller
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Barrett Strong
3:32
B2 Skippin' Work Today
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – J. Christopher Fox
4:35
B3 You Loved Me Then
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
2:30
B4 I've Got To Be
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
7:48
Label: Tamla – T6-338S1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Vintage '78
Written-By – G. Perry, S. Barnes, S. Stein
4:09
A2 The Best Of Strangers Now
Written-By – K. Potger, T. Macaulay
3:49
A3 Don't Underestimate The Power Of Love
Written-By – M. Steals & M. Steals
4:26
A4 Ain't No Smoke Without Fire
Written-By – D. Bugatti, F. Musker
5:58
A5 If It Takes All Night
Written-By – D. Forman
4:09
B1 One Of The Poorest People
Written-By – T.A. Brown
4:14
B2 Whip
Written-By – E. Matthew, N. Dolph
4:00
B3 Your Wish Is My Command
Written-By – G. Stephens, T. Macaulay
4:07
B4 Maybe I'm A Fool To Love You
Written-By – E. Faulkner, S. Wood
4:02
B5 Love, Love, Love
Written-By – M. Weiner
2:41
Label: Arista – AB 4170
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco