Special (The Temptations album)

Special is a 1989 studio album from American soul group The Temptations. The album marks the return of Ali-Ollie Woodson as the group’s lead singer following Dennis Edwards’ third and final departure.

Special
Studio album by The Temptations
Released	August 16, 1989 (1989-08-16)
Recorded	1988
Studio	Alpha Studios and Encore Studios (Burbank, California) Ameraycan Studios and Pacifique Studios (North Hollywood, California) United Western Recorders and Studio Masters (Hollywood, California) Bossa Nova Hotel (San Fernando, California) Ground Control Studios (Santa Monica, California) Signa Sound (San Diego, California) Super Disc Inc. (Detroit, Michigan)
Genre	Soul
Length	48:55
Language	English
Label	Motown
Producer	Keith Andes Larry Hatcher Dick Rudolph Michael Sembello Stan Sheppard Jimmy Varner
The Temptations chronology
Together Again (1987) Special (1989) Milestone (1991)

Reception

Editors at AllMusic Guide scored this album three out of five stars, with reviewer Jason Elias characterizing it as "business-as-usual, mid- to late-'80s Temptations release" but writing that this is not a bad thing.^[1]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead singer(s)	Length
1.	"Friends"	Keith Andes, Larry Hatcher, and Chris Jones	Melvin Franklin (spoken word), Ron Tyson, Richard Street, Ali-Ollie Woodson	4:52
2.	"Special"	Stan Sheppard and Jimmy Varner	Woodson	4:30
3.	"All I Want from You"	Stan Sheppard and Aaron Smith	Woodson, Franklin, Tyson, Otis Williams, Street	5:33
4.	"She's Better Than Money"	Andes and Hatcher	Woodson, Franklin	4:28
5.	"One Step at a Time"	Ron Tyson and Dennis Williams	Woodson, WIlliams (spoken word)	5:11

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead singer(s)	Length
1.	"Fill Me Up"	Andes and Hatcher	Woodson	4:18
2.	"Go AHead"	Andes, Hatcher, C. Jones, and Glenn Jones	Williams (spoken word), Woodson, Street	6:36
3.	"Loveline"	Brian O'Doherty	Woodson	3:38
4.	"Soul to Soul"	O'Doherty	Woodson, Tyson	5:17

Bonus track on CD Edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead singer(s)	Length
10.	"O.A.O. Lover"	Williams, Woodson	Woodson	4:59

Personnel

The Temptations

• Melvin Franklin – bass vocals
• Richard Street – second tenor vocals
• Ron Tyson – tenor and falsetto vocals
• Otis Williams – baritone vocals
• Ali-Ollie Woodson – lead vocals, programming (10), arrangements (10)

Musicians

• Keith Andes – keyboards (1), drums (1, 7), rhythm and vocal arrangements (1, 4, 6, 7), all other instruments (4, 6, 7), bass (7)
• Johnny Davis – keyboards (1)
• Larry Hatcher – keyboards (1), drums (1), rhythm and vocal arrangements (1, 4, 6, 7) all other instruments (4, 6, 7), bass (4)
• Jimmy Varner – keyboards (2, 5), drum programming (2, 5), rhythm and vocal arrangements (2, 5)
• Kenneth Crouch – keyboards (3)
• Aaron Smith – keyboards (3), synthesizer programming (3), drum programming (3), rhythm and vocal arrangements (3)
• Brian O'Doherty – programming (8, 9), arrangements (8, 9), rhythm and vocal arrangements (9)
• Michael Sembello – programming (8), arrangements (8)
• Frank LaRosa – programming (9, 10), arrangements (9, 10), rhythm arrangements (9)
• Mike Campbell – guitars (1, 4, 6, 7)
• Charles Fearing – guitars (2, 3, 5)
• Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitars (3)
• Freddie Washington – bass (2, 5)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (2, 3, 5)
• Gerald Albright – saxophone (2, 3)
• David Crawford – flute (5)
• Maceo Parker – saxophone solo (7)
• Stan Sheppard – vocal arrangements (2, 5), rhythm arrangements (5)
• Chris Jones – vocal arrangements (6)

Production and Technical

• Debbie Sandridge – executive producer
• Keith Andes – producer (1, 4, 6, 7)
• Larry Hatcher – producer (1, 4, 6, 7)
• Stan Sheppard – producer (2, 3, 5)
• Jimmy Varner – producer (2, 5)
• Dick Rudolph – producer (8-10)
• Michael Sembello – producer (8-10)
• Eric Camp – recording (1)
• Gary Dobbins – recording (1-7), mixing (1, 3, 4, 6, 7)
• Pat Karamian – recording (1, 6)
• Randy Long – recording (1, 6)
• Jim Michewicz – recording (1, 4, 6)
• Barney Perkins – mixing (2, 5)
• Tony Jackson – recording (6, 7)
• Frank La Rosa – recording (8-10), mixing (8-10)
• Bud Rizzo – recording (8-10), mixing (8-10)
• Hilary Bercovici – mixing (9)
• Joey Schwartz – recording assistant (9, 10)
• Chris Bellman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Gayle Woodard – production coordination
• Jeff Adamoff – art direction
• Bacon / O'Brien – design
• Todd Gray – photography
• Shelly Berger – management
• Billie Bullock – management

Chart performance

Special spent 44 weeks on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, reaching up to 25 on October 28, 1989.^[2]

See also

• List of 1989 albums