Broken Base: Between the various lineup changes and stylistic changes, this is inevitable.
The Classic Motown Sound vs. the Psychedelic Soul direction (and by extension, Smokey Robinson vs Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong)
David Ruffin vs. Dennis Edwards vs. Ali-Ollie Woodson (ironically, the two former were friends in real life, and the two latter toured together after both had left the group).
In 1971, the Temptations recorded "Smiling Faces Sometimes" for their Sky's the Limit album, but did not release it as a single. Later that year, the Undisputed Truth, a studio project of Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield (who'd also written the song and produced the Temptations' version), recorded their own version and had a #3 Hot 100 hit with it.
Conversely, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was originally recorded by the Undisputed Truth in 1972. Their version wasn't a hit, but the same year, Whitfield recorded another version with the Temptations, and that version went on to reach #1 in the United States.
The Temptations had a #29 hit with "Get Ready" in 1966. In 1970, Rare Earth, a rare rock band signed to Motown, took their cover to #4 and it became the best known version of the song.
After fans heard "War" on Psychedelic Shack and embraced the Protest Song, they sent letters asking Motown to make it a single. But the label were afraid of alienating the group's conservative fans, so Edwin Starr re-recorded it, and it's now his Signature Song.
David Ruffin was initially hired as a backing singer, but his beautiful voice and magnetic charisma made him a fan-favourite within less than a year.
Melvin Franklin, fondly recalled by most for his impressive bass vocals as well as his Nice Guy reputation.
Richard Street tends to be well liked by fans as his energy and voice helped transition the group out of the Classic 5/Hall of Fame 6 era and anchored the lineup through many changes. His history with the group also helps in this regard.
Among later members, Ali-Ollie Woodson as his powerful voice transformed the group's sound and modernized it going into the 1980s. Unfortunately, his battles with cancer cut his tenure short.
Former Parliament Funkadelic member Ray Davis is also well-regarded, and more than a few wish he had stayed on board after Franklin’s death.
Fan Nickname: The "Classic 5", referring to the lineup from 1964 to 1968; "Classic 5+One" or "HOF 6" referring to the Classic Five and Ruffin's replacement Dennis Edwards, the six members who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Growing the Beard: Initially struggling to make an impact commercially, the group hit their stride in 1964, when not only was Ruffin hired, but Smokey Robinson took over songwriting and production.
At the group's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, the then-surviving members inducted (Ruffin, Kendricks, Edwards, Otis, and Franklin) sang one of Paul's signature songs, "Don't Look Back", in his memory at the stand.
Dennis later hired Paul's son, who is noted for greatly resembling his late father physically and vocally, and guiding him in much same way Sr guided him when he first joined the Temptations.
Moment of Awesome: When the group announced they were replacing David, many were skeptical. Not only did they do so successfully, but their first single without Ruffin, "Cloud Nine", won Motown its first Grammy.
"I Wish It Would Rain", a song expressing the narrator's grief over his lover leaving him for another man. Becomes that much sadder when you learn the song's lyricist Rodger Penzabene based it on his wife having an affair and committed suicide (on New Year's Eve, no less) a week after the single's release.
"Since I Lost My Baby", another song about a lost love, was actually written by Smokey Robinson after his wife Claudette suffered a miscarriage.
The fact that almost all the members from the classic hits died prematurely.
