cover image Deliver Us from Temptation: The Tragic and Shocking Story of the Temptations and Motown

Deliver Us from Temptation: The Tragic and Shocking Story of the Temptations and Motown

Tony Turner. Thunder's Mouth Press, $22.95 (254pp) ISBN 978-1-56025-034-0

Turner and Aria continue the account of Motown that began in their 1990 collaboration about the Supremes, All That Glittered , with an uneven and occasionally bitchy tell-all on the Temptations. Turner, a one-time road manager for the original group, focuses on two members in particular: David Ruffin, who died under mysterious circumstances in June 1991, and Eddie Kendrick, who died of lung cancer as this book was being prepared for publication. The Temptations' story as related by Turner is as tawdry as it is familiar: young, talented individuals become superstars over night, can't handle the fame and are sucked down into a world of excess that ruins their talent. The Temptations--who eventually split into two groups each claiming the name and competing bitterly for performance dates--spent years trying to recapture their past glory. According to Turner, Motown founder Berry Gordy is to blame for much of the Temptations' difficulties as well as those of other groups because of his capriciousness in making or breaking star talent. Photos not seen by PW (Nov.)