Who is the Lead Singer

[Ageing Face]

Hi All,

Can anyone out there please help me find out who is the lead singer on The Temptations “It’s Summer”.

I think it’s Paul Williams, my missus thinks it’s Eddie Kendricks with David Ruffin in the middle verse & the stuff I can find on line credits Dennis Edwards & Melvin Franklin. 
The label doesn’t help, because the Jobette copyright is 1968 & the Motown trademark is 1971.

Any help would be much appreciated 

Cheers

[Chalky]

Its supposed to be Edwards on lead.  Williams, Kendricks and Ruffin weren’t with the group at the time. 

[Ageing Face]

21 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Its supposed to be Edwards on lead.  Williams, Kendricks and Ruffin weren’t with the group at the time. 

I know, it’s the 1968 bit that’s throwing me, plus I just don’t think it sounds like him. 
One of the things I read on line was that it was the “Solid Rock“ album version was the last to feature Paul Williams’ voice, but it didn’t mention him as lead singer inferring he was really ill at that point, the more I read, the less I’m sure.

[Eddie Hubbard]

Dennis Edwards on the single ,Melvin Franklin on the different LP version .Its probably c 1968 because Gladys Knight cut it that year .

[Chalky]

37 minutes ago, Ageing Face said:

I know, it’s the 1968 bit that’s throwing me, plus I just don’t think it sounds like him. 
One of the things I read on line was that it was the “Solid Rock“ album version was the last to feature Paul Williams’ voice, but it didn’t mention him as lead singer inferring he was really ill at that point, the more I read, the less I’m sure.

Doesn’t sound like Edwards tbf on the above video, its certainly not Franklin as you can hear him behind

[Chalky]

It's Summer (Barrett Strong-Norman Whitfield) published Jobete 15-Jun-68

Gladys Knight & The Pips; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 23-Apr-68 ; produced by Norman Whitfield

08-Aug-68; 45 (M): Soul S 35047 B
Sep-69; LP (S): Soul SS713 The Nitty Gritty
May-93; CD (S): Spectrum 550 074 2 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling [UK]
06-Nov-06; CD (S): Motown 984 1939 Silk 'N' Soul / The Nitty Gritty [UK]
03-Oct-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0009708-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 8 1968

The Temptations; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 31-Jan-70 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; [v1, lead Mel Franklin]

06-Mar-70; LP (S): Gordy S947 Psychedelic Shack
07-May-70; 45 (M): Gordy G 7099 B
23-Oct-00; CD (S): Motown 159 445 2 Psychedelic Shack / All Directions [UK]
27-Jun-08; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0011056-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 10 1970
07-Oct-11; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0154942-02 50th Anniversary | The Singles Collection 1961-1971

The Temptations; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 24-May-71 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; arranged by Jerry Long ; [v2, lead Dennis Edwards]

24-Jun-71; 45 (M): Gordy G 7109F A
Oct-71; LP (S): Tamla Motown STML11191 Motown Chartbusters Volume 6 [UK]
07-Jan-72; LP (S): Gordy G961L Solid Rock
13-Apr-92; CD: Motown MOTD 5480 Solid Rock
16-Feb-93; CD (M): Rhino R2 71180 Hum Along And Dance
20-Sep-94; CD (S): Motown 530 338 2 Emperors Of Soul
02-Nov-98; CD (S): Spectrum 554 149 2 Motown Chartbusters Volume 6 [UK]
02-Aug-99; CD: Spectrum 530 795 2 My Girl [UK]
09-Dec-08; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0011579-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11A 1971
07-Oct-11; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0154942-02 50th Anniversary | The Singles Collection 1961-1971

[Ageing Face]

2 minutes ago, Chalky said:

It's Summer (Barrett Strong-Norman Whitfield) published Jobete 15-Jun-68

Gladys Knight & The Pips; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 23-Apr-68 ; produced by Norman Whitfield

08-Aug-68; 45 (M): Soul S 35047 B
Sep-69; LP (S): Soul SS713 The Nitty Gritty
May-93; CD (S): Spectrum 550 074 2 You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling [UK]
06-Nov-06; CD (S): Motown 984 1939 Silk 'N' Soul / The Nitty Gritty [UK]
03-Oct-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0009708-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 8 1968

The Temptations; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 31-Jan-70 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; [v1, lead Mel Franklin]

06-Mar-70; LP (S): Gordy S947 Psychedelic Shack
07-May-70; 45 (M): Gordy G 7099 B
23-Oct-00; CD (S): Motown 159 445 2 Psychedelic Shack / All Directions [UK]
27-Jun-08; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0011056-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 10 1970
07-Oct-11; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0154942-02 50th Anniversary | The Singles Collection 1961-1971

The Temptations; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 24-May-71 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; arranged by Jerry Long ; [v2, lead Dennis Edwards]

24-Jun-71; 45 (M): Gordy G 7109F A
Oct-71; LP (S): Tamla Motown STML11191 Motown Chartbusters Volume 6 [UK]
07-Jan-72; LP (S): Gordy G961L Solid Rock
13-Apr-92; CD: Motown MOTD 5480 Solid Rock
16-Feb-93; CD (M): Rhino R2 71180 Hum Along And Dance
20-Sep-94; CD (S): Motown 530 338 2 Emperors Of Soul
02-Nov-98; CD (S): Spectrum 554 149 2 Motown Chartbusters Volume 6 [UK]
02-Aug-99; CD: Spectrum 530 795 2 My Girl [UK]
09-Dec-08; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0011579-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11A 1971
07-Oct-11; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0154942-02 50th Anniversary | The Singles Collection 1961-1971

Perfect that settles it. So me and the missus are both wrong 

[Owd Codger]

Yes that version is Dennis.

Whitfield was re-recording lots of his back catalogue...but to do it on the same group...too far.

He did the same with "Ain't no sun since you've been gone" on Gladys Knight & Pips.

[Robbk]

Yes, the single version must be Dennis Edwards.  The raspy parts give it away.  The only other possibility would have been Paul Williams, but the raspy parts sound exactly like Edwards, because Williams would have been even more gravelly, and with a slightly deeper tone.  Dennis' forays into falsetto are an unexpected pleasure, to say the least.  I never knew his voice was that versatile.  That situation reminds me of The Contours' Billy Gordon's mellow singing on the lead on "That Day She Needed me".  It was a totally unexpected change from his normal baritone style.

[Guest]

Reading the information on this thread. This version only has the contributions of four Temptations? Was this the only track cut as a quartet? I'm sure I saw The Temtations perform 'It's Summer' on British television in 1972(ish). Possible 'Top of The Pops'.