The Temptations

The Supremes may have moved more product, but it was the Temptations who showed that a Motown act could do anything they set their pitch-perfect pipes to. Who else but the Temptations could release the peerless teen love ballad "My Girl" and the cinematic, psychedelic funk of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"? They could be soft and sensual, gruff and grounded, or raw and rocking -- and pull each off beautifully. The grim reaper and drugs have not been kind to the Temptations, and only one original member carries on in their name. Their last few recordings can't match the brilliance of their 1960s to mid-1970s releases, but the band's sound remains more soulful than any young, ultraslick vocal group out there.