| "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US single of the Undisputed Truth recording | ||||
| Single by the Undisputed Truth | ||||
| from the album Law of the Land | ||||
| B-side | "Friendship Train" | |||
| Released | May 9, 1972 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 3:25 | |||
| Label | Gordy | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
| The Undisputed Truth singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US single of the Temptations recording | ||||
| Single by the Temptations | ||||
| from the album All Directions | ||||
| B-side | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (instrumental) | |||
| Released | September 28, 1972 | |||
| Recorded | May 15, June 14, June 22 and 28, 1972 | |||
| Studio | Hitsville USA (Studio A), Detroit, Michigan | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Gordy (G 7121) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
| The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (11:45 version) on YouTube | ||||
| "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (Remix 1987)" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by the Temptations | |
| Released | 1987 |
| Genre | Soul |
| Label | Motown |
| Songwriter(s) | |
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a song originally performed by Motown recording act the Undisputed Truth in 1972, though it became much better known after a Grammy-award winning cover by the Temptations was issued later the same year. This latter version of the song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1971. Whitfield produced the original Undisputed Truth version, which was released as a single in May 1972. This version of the song peaked at number 63 on the Pop Charts and number 24 on the R&B Charts. The song was included on the Undisputed Truth's album Law of the Land (1973).
Later in 1972, Whitfield cut a different version of the song, turning it into a 12-minute track for the Temptations. This version was included on their 1972 album All Directions. The edited 7-inch single release of this Temptations track was issued in September 1972, and this version was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards in 1973. While the original Undisputed Truth version of the song has been largely forgotten, the Temptations' version of the song has been regarded as an enduring and influential soul classic. The full-length album version was ranked number 169 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, one of the group's three songs on the list. In retrospect, the Temptations' Otis Williams considers the song to be the last real classic the group recorded (it would be the Temptations' last number one hit and would win them their second and final Grammy Award in a competitive category).
- ^ Dimery, Robert (2011). Hachette UK (ed.). 1001 Songs: You Must Hear Before You Die. "this seven-minute single (a U.S. No. 1) and its near-twelve-minute album version remain the apex of the psychedelic soul era."
- ^ Clifford, Tyler. "Local legendary Motown Sound trumpeter Maurice Davis dies at the age of 71". Wxyz.com. The E.W. Scripps Co. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
Maurice Davis was involved in producer Norman Whitfield's transition of the Motown Sound into a psychedelic soul label. Whitfield placed much emphasize [sic] on instrumentation over vocals, which allowed Davis and the Funk Brothers to shine. The Temptations were a major element in this endeavor, including the production of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone.
- ^ "100 Greatest Funk Songs". Digital Dream Door. August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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