Background Sky's the Limit (The Temptations album)

during of 1970, year unite world released , imagination recorded, paul williams had been in , out of hospital care, complications both alcoholism , sickle-cell disease caused him become ill. richard street, former bandmate of otis williams in distants , current lead singer of motown s monitors, proposed replacement paul williams.

eddie kendricks began withdraw group; regularly quarreled either otis williams or best friend melvin franklin, , fights became violent. kendricks began spending more time friend david ruffin, former lead singer of temptations. ruffin had been fired act in june 1968 because of unprofessional behavior , perceived ego problems, , kendricks member continued alliance ruffin. in fact, kendricks suggested more once ruffin should invited group, idea other members objected to. fall of 1970, kendricks decided should leave group , go solo.

during november 1970 engagement @ copacabana nightclub in new york city, tensions came head. otis williams mother had died, , voice cracked onstage during performance, drawing kendricks ire. attempting avoid yet fight, williams , melvin franklin left copa after show, infuriating kendricks point left , didn t return next show. rift became irreparable @ point, , mutually agreed parties involved kendricks leaving temptations.

smiling faces planned third single sky s limit, when eddie kendricks, song s lead singer, quit group in late winter of 1971, whitfield had shift plans. smiling faces given undisputed truth, recording of song became top 5 pop hit, while temptations, reduced quartet while searching kendricks replacement, re-recorded s summer , psychedelic shack album, single. m exception rule sky s limit issued s summer s b-side.

kendricks arranged solo deal motown s tamla label, , go on have hits such keep on truckin (1973) , boogie down (1974), while paul williams retired stage , assisted temptations choreography until committing suicide in 1973.