All Directions
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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All Directions
- Artist: The Temptations
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1972 07
- Total Time: 33:33
- Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Review
A monster album, the one that put them back in the spotlight and signaled that Norman Whitfield had saved the day. Damon Harris had replaced Eddie Kendricks, and there were many doubters convinced the band was finished. Instead, Whitfield revitalized them via the majestic single, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Despite its length, Whitfield's decision to open with an extensive, multi-layered musical suite and tease listeners was a master stroke. By the time Dennis Edwards' voice came rushing in, no one would dare turn it off. The single, as well as "Law Of The Land" and others, ended the funeral arrangements that had been prepared for The Temptations. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi| All Digital (2000 Album by Ars Nova) | |
| All Directions (2007 Album by The Donnis Trio) |
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All Directions
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| All Directions | ||||
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| Studio album by The Temptations | ||||
| Released | July 27, 1972 | |||
| Recorded | 1972 | |||
| Genre | Soul/Funk/Psychedelic soul | |||
| Length | 33:33 | |||
| Label | Gordy GS 962 |
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| Producer | Norman Whitfield | |||
| The Temptations chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
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All Directions is a 1972 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced by Norman Whitfield.
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Contents
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Overview and background
The LP features the #1 hit "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", a twelve-minute cover of a Whitfield-produced Undisputed Truth single. "Papa" won three Grammy Awards in 1973: Best R&B Performance by a Group for the Temptations, Best R&B Instrumental Performance for Whitfield and arranger/conductor Paul Riser's instrumental version of "Papa" on the single's b-side, and Best R&B Song for Whitfield and lyricist Barrett Strong. All Directions was Strong's final LP as the Temptations' lyricist; Strong in fact had no direct involvement in the album as both of his compositions for it -- "Papa was a Rollin' Stone" and "Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On", were both covers (originally by The Undisputed Truth and Edwin Starr, respectively). Strong left Motown to re-start his career as a recording artist.
According to group leader Otis Williams, the Temptations fought "tooth and nail" not to record "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" or "Run Charlie Run", a socially conscious Black power track (dealing primarily with the phenomenon of white flight) that called for them to repeatedly call out, in an affected Caucasian accent, "the niggers are comin'!" The group was certain that "Papa" and All Directions would flop, and that they would be back to singing ballads like "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" again. Although the first single, "Mother Nature", charted at number 92 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, "Papa" was a number-one hit and is today one of the Temptations' signature songs.
Also included on All Directions are the Edwin Starr cover "Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On" (the b-side to "Mother Nature", a Top 30 R&B hit), the Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell cover "Love Woke Me Up Early This Morning", and "I Ain't Got Nothin'", a rare lead showcase for Otis Williams.
Track listing
All music composed by Norman Whitfield.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On" | Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield | Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Run Charlie Run" | C. Maurice King, Jan Forman | Edwards, Street, Harris, Franklin | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | Strong, Whitfield | Edwards, Street, Harris, Franklin | 11:45 |
| 4. | "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" | Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson | Harris | 2:22 |
| 5. | "I Ain't Got Nothin'" | C. Maurice King, Evans King | Williams, Franklin | 3:33 |
| 6. | "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" | Ewan MacColl | Street | 4:11 |
| 7. | "Mother Nature" | Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris | Edwards | 3:08 |
| 8. | "Do Your Thing" | Isaac Hayes | Street, Harris, Franklin | 3:30 |
Personnel
- Dennis Edwards: vocals
- Damon Harris: vocals
- Richard Street: vocals
- Melvin Franklin: vocals
- Otis Williams: vocals
- The Andantes: Additional background vocals on "Love Woke Me Up This Morning"
- Norman Whitfield: producer
- The Funk Brothers: instrumentation
Chart and singles history
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| All Directions |
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| "Mother Nature" |
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| "Funky Music Sho' Nuff Turns Me On" |
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| "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone [Vocal]" |
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References
See also
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