The album "1990" by The Temptations was released on December 7, 1973, under the record label 'Gordy', which is a subsidiary of the iconic Motown Records. The album contains nine songs and is the final Temptations LP to feature the group's original lead singer, Dennis Edwards, and the last to feature top-ten hit songs on the Billboard Hot R&B singles chart. This makes it a significant album in the history of The Temptations.
The "1990" album features a futurist's view of the world, drawing on themes from science fiction. It is Danie's departure from psychedelic soul, although the title track, "1990" – a Norman Whitfield-produced psychedelic soul epic about worldwide political turmoil expected to occur in 1990 – ironically provides an extension of The Temptations' earlier Whitfield-produced records, such as 1971's "Sky's the Limit."
The most successful tracks from the album were "Let Your Hair Down" and "Heavenly," both of which reached the top ten of Billboard’s Hot R&B singles chart, with the former becoming The Temptations final R&B number-one hit. Other notable tracks from the album include "Run Charlie Run," "Ain't No Justice," and "I Need You," each showcasing the group's powerful and emotive vocals backed by instrumental arrangements.
The album "1990" is regarded as a clear sonic divergence for The Temptations, marking a change in the group's dynamic as they strayed from their former signature psychedelic soul sound. Despite this shift, the record captures the same soulful essence that has endeared The Temptations to fans across generations.
