"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | ||||
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Single by the Temptations | ||||
from the album All Directions | ||||
Released | September 28, 1972 | |||
Recorded | May 15, June 14, June 22 and June 28, 1972 | |||
Studio | Detroit, Michigan, Hitsville USA (Studio A) | |||
Genre | Psychedelic soul | |||
Length |
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Label | Gordy G 7121 | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Official audio | ||||
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (album mix)" on YouTube |
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (Remix 1987)" | |
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Single by the Temptations | |
Released | 1987 |
Genre | Soul |
Label | Motown |
Songwriter(s) |
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"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a song performed by Motown recording act The Undisputed Truth. It was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1971, and released as a single in May 1972. It 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).
In 1972, Whitfield remade the song into a 12-minute track for the Temptations, which was included on their 1972 album All Directions. The shorter 7" single release of this Temptations 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' versions of the song have been enduring and influential soul classics. 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 "Papa" 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).
Last Updated: July 26, 2021