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{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = Standing on the Top
| name = Standing on the Top
| Cover =
| cover =
| Cover size =
| alt =
| Caption =
| type = single
| Artist = [[The Temptations]]
| artist = [[The Temptations]]
| Album = [[Reunion (The Temptations album)|Reunion]]
| album = [[Reunion (The Temptations album)|Reunion]]
| Released = 1982
| released = 1982
| Format = 7"
| recorded = 1982
| Recorded = 1982
| studio =
| venue =
| Genre = [[Soul music|Soul]], [[Funk]]
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]], [[funk]]
| Length = 4:15
| length = 4:15
| Label = Gordy ([[Motown]]) <br><small>1616 GF</small> <br>Motown ([[UK]])<br><small>TMGT 1623</small>
| label = Gordy ([[Motown]]) <br><small>1616 GF</small> <br>Motown ([[UK]])<br><small>TMGT 1623</small>
| Writer= [[Rick James]]
| Producer = Rick James
| writer = [[Rick James]]
| producer = Rick James
| Last single = "Oh, What a Night"<br/>(1981)
| prev_title = Oh, What a Night
| This single = "'''Standing on the Top'''"<br/>(1982)
| prev_year = 1981
| Next single = "More On The Inside"<br/>(1982)
| next_title = More On The Inside
| next_year = 1982
}}
}}


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==Background==
==Background==
The Temptations, after a brief spell at [[Atlantic Records]] in the late 1970s, resigned with the label that had brought them to stardom, [[Motown]], in 1980. In 1982, reunited with three of their former lead singers, [[David Ruffin]], [[Eddie Kendricks]] and [[Dennis Edwards]] (all of whom had left at some point previously), the group, now a seven-piece act, began a reunion tour. They also recorded a new album together, the aptly-titled [[Reunion (The Temptations album)|''Reunion'']], which was a collaboration of efforts from the likes of [[Berry Gordy]] (Motown's founder), [[Smokey Robinson]] (Motown's vice-president) and punk-[[funk]] star [[Rick James]]. James, who was the cousin of group member [[Melvin Franklin]], had previously used The Temptations as backing vocalists on his [[1981 in music|1981]] hit "[[Super Freak]]".
The Temptations, after a brief spell at [[Atlantic Records]] in the late 1970s, re-signed with [[Motown]], in 1980. In 1982, reunited with three of their former lead singers, [[David Ruffin]], [[Eddie Kendricks]] and [[Dennis Edwards]], the group, now a seven-piece act, began a reunion tour. They also recorded a new album together, the aptly titled [[Reunion (The Temptations album)|''Reunion'']], a collaboration Motown founder [[Berry Gordy]], Motown VP [[Smokey Robinson]] and punk-[[funk]] star [[Rick James]]. The Temptations provided backing vocals on James' [[1981 in music|1981]] hit "[[Super Freak]]".


==Details==
==Details==
"Standing on the Top" was released as the lead single from the group's ''Reunion'' album in April 1982. The album version was almost ten minutes long (9:48) and the single release split the track into two halves; "Part 1" was released as the [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] (4:15) and "Part 2" as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] (5:33). It proved to be The Temptations' biggest hit in several years, making it into the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B top ten]] (#6) and performing well on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|US]] and [[UK Singles Chart|UK Pop Chart]], peaking at #66 and #53, respectively.
"Standing on the Top" was released as the lead single from the group's ''Reunion'' album in April, 1982. The album version was almost ten minutes long (9:48) and the single release split the track into two halves; "Part 1" was released as the [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] (4:15) and "Part 2" as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] (5:33).


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
* Lead vocals by [[David Ruffin]], [[Eddie Kendricks]], [[Melvin Franklin]], [[Dennis Edwards]], [[Richard Street]], [[Glenn Leonard]] and [[Rick James]]
* Lead vocals by [[David Ruffin]], [[Eddie Kendricks]], [[Melvin Franklin]], [[Dennis Edwards]], [[Richard Street]], [[Glenn Leonard]] and [[Rick James]]
* Background vocals by [[Otis Williams]], [[Mary Jane Girls]], David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Glenn Leonard
* Background vocals by [[Otis Williams]], [[Mary Jane Girls]], David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Richard Street and Glenn Leonard
* Clavinet by [[Rick James]]
* Clavinet by Rick James
* Bass by Oscar Alton
* Bass by Oscar Alton
* Drums by Lanise Hughes
* Drums by Lanise Hughes
* Guitar by Tom McDermott
* Guitar by [[Tom McDermott (musician)|Tom McDermott]]
* Keyboards by Erskine Williams
* Keyboards by Erskine Williams
* Synthesizer by Levi Ruffin
* Synthesizer by Levi Ruffin
* "Punk Funk" Horns:
* Saxophone by Chris Powell
** Saxophone by Chris Powell
* Trumpets by Ken Scott and LaMorris Payne
** Trumpets by [[Kenny Scott aka Kenneth Gary Scott who toured with Stone City Band, Gap Band, Teena Marie and more ]] and LaMorris Payne
* Percussion by Nathan Hughes
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Temptations-Reunion/release/2046543|title=The Temptations – Reunion (1982, Vinyl)}}</ref>


==Chart history==
<ref>https://www.discogs.com/The-Temptations-Reunion/release/2046543</ref>
It proved to be one of The Temptations' biggest hits in several years, making it into the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B Top Ten]] (#6), but performing only moderately on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|US]] and [[UK Singles Chart]], peaking at #66 and #53, respectively. In Canada it peaked on the RPM Top 50 at #32 on July 10, 1982.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1982)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|U.K. Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|title=officialcharts.com|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11683/temptations/|website=officialcharts.com|accessdate=June 15, 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|53
|-
|U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=833}}</ref>
|align="center"|66
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Dance Club Songs|Dance/Disco Top 80]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=256}}</ref>
|align="center"|11
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Soul Singles]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=572}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:The Temptations songs]]
[[Category:The Temptations songs]]
[[Category:Gordy Records singles]]
[[Category:Gordy Records singles]]
[[Category:1982 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Rick James]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Rick James]]

Latest revision as of 03:58, 6 December 2024

"Standing on the Top"
Single by The Temptations
from the album Reunion
Released1982
Recorded1982
GenreSoul, funk
Length4:15
LabelGordy (Motown)
1616 GF
Motown (UK)
TMGT 1623
Songwriter(s)Rick James
Producer(s)Rick James
The Temptations singles chronology
"Oh, What a Night"
(1981)
"Standing on the Top"
(1982)
"More On The Inside"
(1982)

"Standing on the Top" is a funk song recorded by the Motown group The Temptations, written and produced by (and featuring) musician Rick James.

Background

[edit]

The Temptations, after a brief spell at Atlantic Records in the late 1970s, re-signed with Motown, in 1980. In 1982, reunited with three of their former lead singers, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards, the group, now a seven-piece act, began a reunion tour. They also recorded a new album together, the aptly titled Reunion, a collaboration Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown VP Smokey Robinson and punk-funk star Rick James. The Temptations provided backing vocals on James' 1981 hit "Super Freak".

Details

[edit]

"Standing on the Top" was released as the lead single from the group's Reunion album in April, 1982. The album version was almost ten minutes long (9:48) and the single release split the track into two halves; "Part 1" was released as the A-side (4:15) and "Part 2" as the B-side (5:33).

Personnel

[edit]

[1]

Chart history

[edit]

It proved to be one of The Temptations' biggest hits in several years, making it into the R&B Top Ten (#6), but performing only moderately on both the US and UK Singles Chart, peaking at #66 and #53, respectively. In Canada it peaked on the RPM Top 50 at #32 on July 10, 1982.

Chart (1982) Peak
position
U.K. Singles Chart[2] 53
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] 66
U.S. Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80[4] 11
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles[5] 3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Temptations – Reunion (1982, Vinyl)".
  2. ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 833.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 256.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 572.