the temptations- fading away

The flip side to "Get Ready" that always sounded as cool as the top side.

I don't know, it must have been my parents who bought the "purple record" with the yellow "Gordy circle" at the top and some cryptic writing, "Produced by "Smokey." All I know is that it seems the record was just always THERE. I couldn't have been older than five, but I remember I was always playing this- over and over. I'd play "Get Ready" and then flip it over to play "Fading Away."

In fact, I played this record until I wore the thing out- it became one massive needle scratch coming off of the turntable and still I couldn't stop playing it. "Get Ready" had the bass line that hypnotized me- even that young in my life. "Fading Away" had an almost mystical, mysterious, sparse, dark sound to it. I knew it was supposed to be a sad song, but it didn't make me feel sad at all.

Let's start with the opening: A riff that would be played whenever the chorus was sung, three notes (:02)- dat- da- daaa followed by my favorite thing of all, that little "machine gun" drum pattern that would repeat throughout the song: "rat-TAt -a TAT" ( :06, :16, etc.) In later years, I would come to find out Smokey Robinson produced this song and used that same drum pattern on more than a few other of his songs (The Temptations' "Litttle Miss Sweeness", The Miracles' "My Girl Has Gone" and "Choosey Beggar," Marvin Gaye's "When I Had Your Love" among others.)

Next, the nearly subliminal use of strings on the song just made it sound all the more mystical. The way they would just sort of appear out of nowhere and give the song this sort of upward lift. I had no idea about violins and string sections at the time, but I sured like the sound on this record! Then there was a great thing on the record that did this sort of happy "CHICK!" "CHICK!" riff. I didn't know it was a guitar playing "accent chords" on the 2's and 4's (perhaps by Funk Brother Eddie Willis"

Now, the Temptations. Even the name just seemed like the coolest thing on earth. When Eddie Kendricks sang, I would lean in real close to the turntable because Eddie, well, it was like when a favorite teacher of your buddy is telling you something and you want to catch every last word. Eddie Kendricks on "Fading Away" was working another sort of hypnotist's spell on my ears- that singing was like nothing else I had ever heard. Then, I'd hear these other guys singing along and I had to figure it all out...

David Ruffin, Otis Williams, Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin did this subdued and hushed but kinda gritty singing- "Fading Away..." I liked how they sounded like they were kinda in the distance and helping Eddie sing this song. When it came to the part where they all sang "you changed and it's showing," it was an explosion to me. All of a sudden, the record got a bit livelier and everything came rushing at you. The kicker was a very little bit of vocal gymnastics that I couldn't comprehend altogether but that I found incredible.

Notice that when the guys come to the end of the line "you changed and it's showing" someone is doing this little bit of "uhh-huh"- (at :46, 1:25, 2:09, 2:15, 2:20, 2:25) is it Paul Williams or David Ruffin? I don't know, but that part always made me jump out of my skin. It was just so unexpected. Then notice when the group finishes the line "where is your love going" (or is it "where did your love go?") there's a slight pause and then you hear Melvin Fraknlin doing this little wordless vocal run (:50, 1:35) another moment where I kept asking my Dad, what is that? It was then that I learned about harmony singing and the importance of a good bass singer.

I would say this record was the beginning and the reason for my life-long love affair for Motown and those Detroit studio recordings. The Temptations were an excellent showcase for all those writers, producers and the unbelieveable Funk Brothers studio players. And guess what... I STILL have that "purple record!"

Written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers
Produced by Smokey Robinson

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[1956safari]

Beautiful song.....thanks for posting.

[tomovox]

@1956safari You're welcome! And thanks for the comment!

[pissedoff7771]

THESE WERE THE 5 I DONOT CARE HOW MANY TEMPTS THEY HAD.THESE WERE THE FIVE.BEING 13 I WAS INLOVE WITH EDWARD LIKE EVERY OTHER WOMAN OR GIRL IN AMERICA.GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU EDWARD.I STILL LOVE YOU EDWARD.

[tomovox]

@pissedoff7771 Great comment!

[wiganjoe]

much underated,

[tomovox]

@wiganjoe hopefully not for long- as long as people have you tube to discover this classic!

[gozanelli]

memories of a simpler time, "like smoke from a cigarette," fleeting but memorable

[tomovox]

@crissbiscit How wonderful to read your comment! Yep, you and I had very similar introductions and reactions to this record/song! Even after all these years, "Fading Away" gives me such a special feeling, just like I had all those years ago. Thanks for sharing the memories here!

[crissbiscit]

Memories.. I had a similar experience to you with this record, I found the original Gordy 7" of Get Ready in a long gone second hand shop about twenty years ago. I've still got that even though the thing was completely wrecked when I bought it (10pence). Anyway, I had Get ready a few times probably on various comps, but i'd never heard Fading away. When I played it I felt the same way you did,it blew me away and I played the thing over and over, a very special tune. Toppost - cheers!

[tomovox]

@dencleo Oh yeah, once you hear it, you never can get enough of this song!