The Temptations - At Their Very Best (CD)

All Music Guide

From the sweetness of their early material produced by Smokey Robinson in the early '60s through the darker, angrier funk hits with Norman Whitfield at the end of the decade, the Temptations were Motown's steadiest group. The classic early lineup of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin arguably made one of the greatest vocal groups in pop history, while the later incarnation, with ex-Contour Dennis Edwards replacing the tragic Ruffin, is equally as impressive. This collection covers their whole career and easily features a dozen classic hits. One wishes the tracks were presented chronologically, however, and since there are similar packages of Temptations' hits out there that are set up that way, this collection can't be considered a best first choice.

- Steve Leggett, All Music Guide