“Camouflage” – Performed by The Temptations (1962 & 1967)

The Original Temptations

The Temptations – Camouflage (Recorded February 1962)

The Classic Temptations

The Temptations – Camouflage (Recorded March 1967)

This month’s posting theme here at OSML has been “Motown Covers Motown.” I am still keeping within this theme, but have made it even more specific for the rest of this month,  posting on The Temptations covering The Temptations. Yes you read it right.  The Tempts have re-recorded songs they made in one incarnation and redone them with a slightly different group line up during their Motown tenure.

This first example is one that you may not be familiar with since BOTH of these songs languished in the “Vault” of unreleased material until the release of the “Motown Lost and Found Series” in 1999.  These two songs come from the marvelous 1999 CD release entitled “Lost and Found:You’ve Got to Earn It (1962-1968)” which contains 19 previously unreleased Temptations studio tracks and one live track. If you don’t own this set and are a classic Temptations fan you must get a copy. When I first played it I felt like I had gone back in time and was listening to a new Temptations LP in the sixties.  IMHO all of these studio cuts could have been hits!

Of course I hate to sound like a broken record on this issue but I just don’t understand the “Motown Vault’s” existence: this music should ALL be released to the public. A few years back we fans had to get together a petition to get Eddie Kendrick’s Motown/Tamla  solo music re-released on CD and our efforts paid off — plus we received some bonus “Vault” material that was simple superb! (A sincere thank you to Mr. Harry Weinger – Mr. Weinger you are a Prince!)  But I digress (Can you tell how much I live Eddie K.? )  😉

In addition to the Temptations’ Lost and Found set there were also CDs released on Smokey Robinson & The Miracles; The Four Tops;  Martha & The Vandellas in the series.  But more often than not after release these gems go out of print so I always grab vault releases as soon after they come out as I can afford to buy them —  and I recommend you do the same.

This song “Camouflage” was written by Berry Gordy.  In fact both versions were produced by Berry Gordy. But alas they remained unheard by the public for forty years!? Wonder why? What do you think? Let’s discuss it after you vote.