Cloud Nine (The Temptations album)

Cloud Nine is a studio album by the American soul/R&B group The Temptations, released on Gordy Records in February 1969. It marked a significant shift in the group's sound, incorporating elements of psychedelic soul and funk, largely influenced by Sly & the Family Stone.

The album features the title track, "Cloud Nine," which became a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. This song, along with other tracks on the album, showcased the grittier vocals of Dennis Edwards, who had replaced David Ruffin in 1968.

Cloud Nine also incorporated socially conscious themes into the Temptations' music, addressing issues like poverty, drug abuse, and the Vietnam War. This was a departure from the group's earlier, more romantic and dance-oriented material.

The album's production utilized innovative studio techniques for the time, including heavy use of echo, phasing, and other effects, contributing to its psychedelic feel. Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong were the primary producers and songwriters on Cloud Nine, shaping the group's new direction.

While the change in sound was initially met with mixed reactions from some fans who preferred the classic Temptations sound, Cloud Nine ultimately proved to be a commercial success and a critical turning point in the group's career, ushering in their "psychedelic soul" era. The album is considered a landmark release in the development of soul music and its integration of funk and psychedelic influences.