"Isn't She Pretty" is a 1961 song recorded by The Temptations, and written by group members Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams, as well as Motown's founder Berry Gordy. It was Gordy's first production with the group, and intended for released on the Miracle label, but it was shelved due to the label closing, as well as the fact that the Motown execs thought the song sounded a little too dated.[1] It was finally released as the B-side for the group's 1962 single "Dream Come True", their first on the Gordy label imprint.[2]
This is the first of the small handful of pre-psychedelic era songs the group recorded (and the second one released) that had more than two members singing lead at one point. A lot of the song's lead is performed as an ensemble piece, but each member get a chance to also be heard outfront throughout the song.[3] On the song's first verse the entire group sings the lead vocal in unison harmony. Afterwards Elbridge "Al" Bryant and Paul Williams swap leads on the first half of the 2nd and 3rd verses;[1]Eddie Kendricks and Melvin Franklin swap leads on the bridge; Otis Williams gets a line near the end ("She's a doll, now hey…"). It mainly showcases the lead vocals of tenor Bryant, as his ad-libs on the choruses made him the most prominent out front, but technically (group baritone) Paul Williams could also be considered the main lead as he portrays the narrator, who's telling his friends about a beautiful unrequited love:
She's the kind of girl all of my life, now. (That I'd say) I've wanted to be my wife.
However….
Everytime she comes near me... (response: "what'd you say") My words just-a disappear! (response: "That's super bad now.")
On the bridge, Franklin, the group's bass, is in the role of another potential beau that decides to ask the woman if he could be her man. Kendricks (as either the girl or as another friend) shoots him down: "No, you don't rate" ("Why")/"You ain't got just what it takes at all." Kendricks's soaring falsetto voice is also prominently heard, and not just in the background, as he delivers several ad-libs of his own throughout the recording.
Receptionedit
Both sides of the single received a lot of airplay on local Detroit stations, but this b-side never charted nationally (although it was a regional hit). Because of this, and due to the A-side (led by Kendricks) becoming an R&B hit, Paul would be regulated to B-sides until 1963, and it prevented Al from getting any more main leads on the Temptations singles. None of Paul's leads on the A-side would make the Billboard and Cash Box charts, and by 1965 he would be replaced as the group's main lead by, Bryant's successor, David Ruffin. However Paul Williams would finally get a hit on both the Hot 100 and Hot R&B charts with 1965's "Don't Look Back".
Personneledit
Lead & Background vocals by Al Bryant (verses; choruses; ad-libs), Paul Williams (verses; choruses), Eddie Kendricks (verses; choruses; bridge; ad-libs), Melvin Franklin (verses; choruses; bridge), and Otis Williams (verses; choruses)
^Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. ISBN0-8154-1218-5.
^The Temptations - 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1961-1971 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
January 01, 1970
pretty, 1961, song, recorded, temptations, written, group, members, eddie, kendricks, otis, williams, well, motown, founder, berry, gordy, gordy, first, production, with, group, intended, released, miracle, label, shelved, label, closing, well, fact, that, mot. Isn t She Pretty is a 1961 song recorded by The Temptations and written by group members Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams as well as Motown s founder Berry Gordy It was Gordy s first production with the group and intended for released on the Miracle label but it was shelved due to the label closing as well as the fact that the Motown execs thought the song sounded a little too dated 1 It was finally released as the B side for the group s 1962 single Dream Come True their first on the Gordy label imprint 2 Isn t She Pretty Single by The Temptationsfrom the album Meet the TemptationsA side Dream Come True ReleasedMarch 16 1962RecordedHitsville USA October 23 1961GenreSoul R amp B Doo wop PopLength2 45LabelGordyG 7001Songwriter s Berry Gordy Jr Eddie Kendricks Otis WilliamsProducer s Berry GordyThe Temptations singles chronology Check Yourself 1961 Dream Come True Isn t She Pretty 1962 Paradise Slow Down Heart 1962 Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Recording 1 2 Reception 2 Personnel 3 NotesOverview editRecording edit This is the first of the small handful of pre psychedelic era songs the group recorded and the second one released that had more than two members singing lead at one point A lot of the song s lead is performed as an ensemble piece but each member get a chance to also be heard outfront throughout the song 3 On the song s first verse the entire group sings the lead vocal in unison harmony Afterwards Elbridge Al Bryant and Paul Williams swap leads on the first half of the 2nd and 3rd verses 1 Eddie Kendricks and Melvin Franklin swap leads on the bridge Otis Williams gets a line near the end She s a doll now hey It mainly showcases the lead vocals of tenor Bryant as his ad libs on the choruses made him the most prominent out front but technically group baritone Paul Williams could also be considered the main lead as he portrays the narrator who s telling his friends about a beautiful unrequited love She s the kind of girl all of my life now That I d say I ve wanted to be my wife However Everytime she comes near me response what d you say My words just a disappear response That s super bad now On the bridge Franklin the group s bass is in the role of another potential beau that decides to ask the woman if he could be her man Kendricks as either the girl or as another friend shoots him down No you don t rate Why You ain t got just what it takes at all Kendricks s soaring falsetto voice is also prominently heard and not just in the background as he delivers several ad libs of his own throughout the recording Reception edit Both sides of the single received a lot of airplay on local Detroit stations but this b side never charted nationally although it was a regional hit Because of this and due to the A side led by Kendricks becoming an R amp B hit Paul would be regulated to B sides until 1963 and it prevented Al from getting any more main leads on the Temptations singles None of Paul s leads on the A side would make the Billboard and Cash Box charts and by 1965 he would be replaced as the group s main lead by Bryant s successor David Ruffin However Paul Williams would finally get a hit on both the Hot 100 and Hot R amp B charts with 1965 s Don t Look Back Personnel editLead amp Background vocals by Al Bryant verses choruses ad libs Paul Williams verses choruses Eddie Kendricks verses choruses bridge ad libs Melvin Franklin verses choruses bridge and Otis Williams verses choruses Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersNotes edit a b Isn t She Pretty AllMusic Williams Otis and Romanowski Patricia 1988 updated 2002 Temptations Lanham MD Cooper Square ISBN 0 8154 1218 5 The Temptations 50th Anniversary The Singles Collection 1961 1971 CD liner notes New York Hip O Select Motown Universal Records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isn 27t She Pretty amp oldid 1028430165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
