All Directions
The Temptations
1972
Album Summary
All Directions is a 1972 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced by Norman Whitfield. It reached number two on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most successful non-collaborative album on the chart, and became their twelfth album to reach number one on the Top R&B Albums chart.
WikipediaThe level of this (the musicianship, the artistry of the lyrics) rises so far above some of the indie crap that had come up in this list so far...
Groovy. Interesting lyrics for 'Run Charlie Run' but a powerful message. 'Papa was a rolling stone' is a phenomenal single from this album and I know it well. Even though this song sits on permanent rotation in my spotify playlist, I enjoyed every second of this version. It holds it's breath in suspense, setting the mood with anticipation. When the lyrics finally fly, it's the most powerful they've ever felt. Love the ending riff for Do Your Thing. This album is criminally short. Such is the nature of the vinyl record.
Maybe because I'm used to their more upbeat songs but this album was a drag. Maybe the songs work on their own but together it was a single melody, slow and depressing.
An incredible album. Many have heard of Papa Was A Rolling Stone, but many of the tracks on this already short album are striking pieces.
this is such a great album. absolute classic soul. all of their voices are incredible. even the 10 min song was perf. MWAH
Funky, surprisingly topical, and filled with the feeling of grooving in the summer in your youth.
Classic - loved hearing papa was a rolling stone. Really funky. And surprised to hear “the ni**as are coming”
I always knew Papa Was a Rolling Stone was a Certified Banger™, and I am very happy to see the rest of the album has no trouble matching it's prowess.
Man, the Temptations... What a wildly schizophrenic band. I feel like most of their albums have the same issue. You'll be grooving along to some truly quality funk and then, all of the sudden, it switches to track after track of doo-wop, Jackson 5 style R&B. Just stick with the monster funk, guys! It's so good when you're just funkin' it up.
A perfect blend of Motown and Funk. Solid 5. Every song is a fucking goddamn gorgeous banger. Run Charlie Run and their cover of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is to die for.
Absolutely fantastic album. Same thing - heard of Temptations but never went through the album. Even the unknown songs are great. And both ends - pure happy funky, to very relaxed and chill R&B motown. Great great great.
Sho’ Nuff it was funky "'Cause funky music sho nuff turn me on" "Look, the niggers are coming" "I watch you go to church on Sunday But you forget all you learned on Monday Well, you see your smiling face can't hide Well well well, how you hate your brother inside" "He came into this world with a mind so clean You took it, molded it, and made it mean" Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone always love this when I hear it a lot of Motown songs of this era and definitely earlier would pretty much be finished before the first vocals in this one love the "whammy" style or whatever you call it although considering the era probably just the production not sure but sounds great had to look it up and it was played by "Wah Wah Watson" so a pedal presumably Shoo-wop-shoo-wop The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face I love every single version of this song but had yet to hear this version, I cant believe that is a guy singing Isaac Hayes - Do Your Thing "version" is a fantastic closer
Quite a lot in here that I had heard without realising what it was, superb album I will definitely return to.
Funky MF! Altså Papa was a rolling Stone er 3 stjerner i sig selv, og så lidt flere numre giver 4-5 stjerner
Classic Motown, "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" & "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" stand out tracks but not much wrong with all of this Album. One for the collection deffo!
I'm discovering as I'm going through this list that I have a previously unknown affinity for funk music. This would be a five star album of it was literally just 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone'. Everything else is just a bonus.
Funky rollercoaster of emotions? Yes please! To think they almost didn't include "Papa" and "Run Charlie Run", and that they expected the album to flop because of these songs, is completely insane. Papa is the only song in this album that I was already familiar with (and love!). Discovering the others was an absolute treat. Was dancing and groovin' from the first track. "Do your Thing" will probably be the soundtrack to those days when I need a little extra motivation from the heavens. And boy does Otis Williamses' baritone voice get me every time. Don't know another voice like it.
This album is timeless, and shows the absolute staying power the Temptations have in the American canon. absolutely stunning.
Strong open with Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On. I normally hate a live track, but this gets the nod. I wasn't expecting social commentary either - this is ace (Run Charlie Run). And despite my much chronicled loathing of overlong songs, Papa Was a Rolling Stone is such an exercise in moody groove, I can't not love it. It gets a bit more old school with Love Woke Me Up, but that's almost a relief after three very different and brilliant tracks. I Ain't Got Nothing shouts back to The Flamingos, and is moody and ace again. The First Time is trad again, and while not the best version of such a lovely song, definitely a great one.
I'll be honest, Run Charlie Run shocked the shit out of me based on the time period. This album bumps, and has no fluff at all.
Was gonna give it 4 stars, but after hearing it again, with the current state of music, I've changed it to a 5
Apart from singles I am not so familiar with the Temptations output in the seventies and had just overlooked this 1972 album. In short, it turned out to be another great Temptations/Whitfield album - with one mega-classic song of twelve minutes - while the other songs, including a cover of a very familiar song - are excellent too, in particular I liked their version of Isaac Hayes' Do Your Thing. Definitely 5 stars.
Wow - that was a storming Motown album, far grittier and sharper than I expected. Hats off to them, that's a brilliant set of songs and amazingly delivered.
The fact that thus album contains the finest ever version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone makes it 5. And Run, Charlie, Run is still confronting today. Inspiring decision to include a politically charged track.
amazing. A+. 10/10. Papa Was A Rolling Stone, and First Time Ever I Saw Your Face were favorites, but ever song is a winner. i mean, it’s The Temptations, come on
Good, led me down a nice path in Spotify after it finished. Better for that than the full album was but still enjoyable.
Loved the vibe on this album. Check out James Blake's cover of "the first time ever i saw your face".
This album restored my life rhythm from the clutches of enveloping bedridden mental isolation. At the onset of their overtly sensual first song, I could tell the whole album was going to radiate a bonafide groove. While listening to Papa Was a Rolling Stone and I Ain’t Got Nothin, I could imagine the lyrics being sung by an old scratchy banjo player with a minimal banjo part (the lush string parts would be missed though) and raspy, saturated singing. “And when he died, all he left us was alone.” The four minute intro to this song was a story in itself. Aside from these two songs, Mother Nature stood out to me as well. This plastic world is sho nuff killing us all!
Yeah great, this version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is an excellent effort.
I'm not into the slower jams, but when it's going (which is most of the album) this is solid. Definitely worth a listen.
The album has some weak songs here and there, but most of the songs are nice and fun to listen to. I also liked the varied topics that were in these songs. Topics like love, having nothing, black power and more. Really Liked it. Favorite songs: - Run Charlie Run - Love Woke me Up This Morning - I Ain't Got Nothing - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face - Do Your Thing
I feel like these guys have been slighted by what music has passed through time, like I only remember the chorus of papa rollin' stone instead of the heartfelt lyrics or the ' first time I ever saw your face' ballad but not the black power run Charlie and the heavier feelings of Mother Nature. and the producing of it. lots of creativity. it's Motown but not the glossy happy. geez does this happen to every genre where the culture that follows only remembers the pop and not the underbrush. when this happens in classical music, we assume it's the 'quality' that keeps certain music above the rest,, but I have always found it more interesting to listen acrooossss and under and now I've talked too much which is not honoring this music.
The Temptations are awesome - sugary poppy doo-wop group turned psychedelia-embracing politically conscious funk superstars! Fave track - "Papa was a Rolling Stone" 12 minutes of prog funk, what's not to love!
Great stuff. Run Charlie Run shocked me - not what I expected from The Temptations... Papa Was a Rolling Stone is a great groove. Love the opening track. This is another album that slowed down a little as it went on. But that seems to just be how the cookie crumbles.
Liked the first half better than the second, but overall a good album. Favorite Track(s): “Papa Was A Rollin Stone”
Expected nothing but fantastic production from Motown! Lyrically intense subject matter but delivered with groove and funk, from beginning to end I was on the edge of my seat wondering where the album will take me next! Always loved their hits, now I know their most acclaimed album.
If this doesn't get you bobbing your head, you're wrong. I read the Wikipedia and "Run Charlie Run" is really interesting. A song about white flight is not something I expected. Plus, the band thought this album was going to flop. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Very fun. I’m not deeply familiar with albums in the R&B genre and I’ll be glad to hear a couple more albums here. I think I developed a deeper appreciation for how they use the vocals and instruments differently from rock. This album had some good variety in the songs too.
classic vibes: from sultry r&b, to funky cruising, to love ballad. an essential listening for anyone who likes montages in movies
Absolutely excellent stuff especially the first three tracks - tailed a little bit but not enough for me to stop this being a four
I learned that Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was a cover! Crazy! Anyway, this album is awesome.
Funky Music sho nuff turns me On Run Charlie Run Papa was a rollin' stone Do your thing Très bon
Вроде просто хороший старый американский рок, одна песня с нвордом. Кое-что добавил к себе в любимые
Really funkeh. Also first song repeat of the 1001 experience as The First time I ever saw your face is a soul classic
I keep getting repeat artists who don’t have a ton of records on the list. But okay. This is good. Better than the last one, more meaningful and soulful. I feel like the vocals are much tighter. The last two tracks are pure gold. Favourite track: “Mother Nature”
I'm not really a listener of The Temptations, but you can't deny how good they are. This album is just an example of that.
AVR. 7,4 TOP 3: 1. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (9.2) 2. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (+7.9) 3. Run Charlie Run (+7.2) TRACKLIST 1. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (+7.9) 2. Run Charlie Run (+7.2) 3. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (+9.2) 4. Love Woke Me Up This Morning (+6.9) 5. I Ain't Got Nothin (+6.9) 6. The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) (+7) 7. Mother Nature (+7,1) 8. Do Your Thing (7)
Especially enjoyed the opening song and Mother Nature. I can see why Papa Was A Rollin' Stone is the most well-known but this album is much more than one good song.
Papa was a rolling stone is an awesome song, but not very listenable. Rest of the album fucking rocks, considering a 5 actually. Do your thing, and run charlie run doesent live up to the others to me, and I'll settle for a 4. Great album though.
Side A here absolutely crushes, including a contender for the best song ever, the full 12 minute version of Papa Was a Rollin Stone. The second half is noticeably a bit lighter and chintzier, though they do a respectable version of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Overall pretty good, but definitely lopsided in its quality
One of their best. I grew up listening to earlier Motown, but this record is right up there with 'What's Going On' in terms of social awareness. I wasn't aware that the Temptations made records such as this, but I'm very glad it's been brought to my attention. The music itself is funky, soulful, and has an excellent grove. All in all, a great record.
Love this. Funky first half, ballad side B. Beautiful arrangements and playing, terrific vocals.
The temptations made the album that they wanted to make, even though they were sure that it would be a commercial failure. The process was right, but their expectation was wrong because this album was a huge success. The funky version of the Temptations is the best version. Their earlier hits were great songs, but this album has so much going on in it. It's incredibly innovative and well-suited to the era in which it was made. This album is like a poppier version of Maggot Brain by Funkadelic 4/5
After a couple very mediocre albums this was finally a pretty nice one again. I like me some quality classic soul and the funk influences meshed pretty nicely. I especially liked Papa Was A Rollin Stone and Mother Nature. the ballad I Aint Got Nothing was pretty boring though. Still, a very enjoyable album.
Love that funky vibe. I didn't expect the social commentary on white flight in Run Charlie Run. I have to keep adjusting my perception of the Temptations. Papa Was A Rolling Stone and I Ain't Got Nothin are top tracks, although I preferred the more funky sounds of the Cloud Nine album overall.
funky perfection Favourite songs: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, I Ain't Got Nothin', The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
A timeless sound. "Mother Nature" is really really good, as is "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Would re-visit.
Ultra smooth! The vocals on these tracks are downright heavenly!! Especially on "The First Time Ever" and "Do Your Thing". "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" still slaps, too!
Really liked the first three tracks - especially their version of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” - best version I’ve heard. Sorta shocked myself into thinking “this is a four?? Maybe even a five?? NFW!” Then I heard the rest of the songs. Probably a coin flip at 3.5. Heads.
O disco é incrível, mas super breve. Tive que ouvir duas vezes para sentir que havia escutado o álbum inteiro.
One absolute banger of a tune that takes up 1/3 of the album. The other 2/3 I could take or leave. Best track: Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
It's been a while since I got a Parliament or a Chic album. This just proves you can never get enough of some good funk.
Great bit of funk and soul. The 12 min papa was a rolling stone is an exceptional track.
Poppa was a rolling stone is a classic. Glad to see the rest of the album holds up as well
There are a lot of great moments on this record. The instrumentation is really great and the singing is incredibly smooth. I really enjoy the horns as well. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, and 5.
It's smooth listening past the first few songs. It starts off abrasive with a bad mix, but gets way better as the album progresses. Overall it's just a good soul album. Favorite track: Love Woke Me Up This Morning
Funky and groovy classics! I was really digging the long version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Can't say I've ever listened to a whole Temptations album but I bet it will be good. Oh wait. This is so funky and political. Not the Temptations that live in my head, masters of the upbeat love song. Obviously Papa Was A Rollin' Stone is a masterpiece. I appreciate the groove, but just a little more energy here and there might have been nice. Faves: Funky Music, Pappa, Do Your Thing.
The only really great song on this album is "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" (I had no idea this was a cover until today) but it's an incredible song and it alone makes this album worthy of being on this list. Any song with the balls to spend nearly 4 minutes of instrumental before the first word is uttered gets points in my book. The rest of the album is entertaining too, but nothing comes close to that one.
Some nice Motown here… some of the songs surprised me from the Temptations, as I haven’t listened to their “deeper cuts” before. But I liked the album. Nothing beats the full version of “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.” Epic!
Oh great, I thought, The Temptations! This will be fun! I was thinking it would be songs like My Girl and Ain't Too Proud to Beg. You know, happy songs with choreo. I forgot that The Temptations could go serious, like twelve minutes of Papa Was a Rolling Stone serious. Run Charlie Run is startling and dark. I Ain't Got Nothin' is for and about lonely people. The songs about finding and having love are even wistful and sad sounding. So, no, not overly fun. But good and interesting.
I was unfamiliar with all these tracks, except Papa Was a Rollin' Stone. I really enjoyed the variety of funk to doo-wop. Good fun!
I mean, I usually like Motown stuff and The Temptations are really good- but this one didn’t seem very special to Me. The standout Track was def Papa was a Rollin Stone, but the rest of the album just kinda blurred in a mellow way. It was good, just not amazing. I can definitely feel the switch from R&B here to Funk with the departure of the 60s into the 70s. *Edit Just listened a bit closer the 2nd time, and wow this album is amazing. Especially all the Side 1 stuff, really really good. Towards the end it kinda teeters but still really good. High 4- not quite a 5. Might change my mind again on listen #3
Íkonísk verk í bland við lágstemmdari lög. Allar 11 mínúturnar og 46 sekúndurnar af Papa was a rollin' stone eru þess virði að hlusta á. Oft.
Definitely not the "My Girl" Temptations. This was much different than I was expecting and much grittier.
I really liked this. Papa Was a Rolling Stone and Love Woke Me Up This Morning were the obvious highlights, but everything was nice and funky. Good stuff.
Such a dynamic and wonderful mix of 70s black American music. Papa was a rolling stone is top tier
Funky as fuck when it needs to be and sad as hell when it can be Lack of stereo separation on the first track made me wanna die but otherwise I loved it
Really good soul and funk vibes! I’d heard a few of the songs off this album before, but really enjoyed this listen!
Didn't know Rollin Stone was 12 minutes and I was surprised by the chorus to Run Charlie. Overall a good listen.
Papa was a Rolling Stone.. Love this song so much, one of the best scenes of the Temptations movie was the recording on this song. Blend of psychedelic soul and funk. The problem the rest of the album is very uneven, some really bad songs. This is a hard album to rate for sure, It's a 3 but since I love Papa was a Rolling Stone so much I'll give a 4.
I guess the inclusion of this album on the list is almost exclusively due to its legendary third track, "Papa Was A Rolling Stone". But it *is* such a fantastic track that I won't argue with Dimery and co about their decision to include the LP the song was actually taken from. Besides, it was nice listening to its longer original version for the first time here--those 11+ minutes just flew by, exactly like the single version repeatedly did for me before... As for the rest of the record, it is generally excellent. Opener "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" (played live here, I think) rides a mean groove, and "Run Charley Run" is a topical cut that's quite powerful as a statement about the housing issues faced by the African-American community at the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement--the songs is a snarling statement for sure, yet one not totally devoid of hope and empathy either. Side two is admittedly less striking than side one, since it only uses slower ballads or far less funky tunes compared to the first half of the album. Some of those laidback or plaintive tunes are nonetheless impressive in their own rights--cuts such as Isaac Hayes' "Do Your Thing", or "I Ain't Got Nothin'" a few tracks before--I could swear that at least one later hip hop act sampled that "shoo-wop, doo wop" vocal hook on it (maybe from a different version of the song), but I can't remember which act it was, unfortunately. The information is probably two clicks away on the internet, so I'll let you do your own research, OK? 😉 Two songs kinda stick out like sore thumbs on that second half, unfortunately: there's the saccharine "Love Woke Me Up This Morning", a solo number for Harris--the youngest member of the vocal band at the time--here relying on his falsetto timbre in an attempt to make a durable impression, but only enhancing the cheesiness of the original composition as he does so. And there's also the quite pointless rendition of Ewan McColl's folk standard "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)"... Because of those two irritating tracks, I can't give the maximum grade to this record. Besides, The Temptations didn't write their own tunes (plus, they extensively used covers for their repertoire), and apart from incredible or groundbreaking performers such as Nina Simone or Johnny Cash, it is something that I will always consider as a significant flaw when it comes to select my own list of all-time greats. But still, this record is a keeper for sure, and not only for the most famous track on it... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 831 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 92 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 42 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 36
Woah what an opener One of the best Motown soul records I’ve heard, definitely worth returning to Way better than their other album I’ve heard
Really great maybe could become a 5 star with a few more listens. Favourite track: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
This is a fine album. Papa Was A Rolling Stone makes it an all-time classic. What a song! What a performance. The rest of the album has some very good performances; Love Woke Me Up This Morning and Mother Nature to name two. 4.5 stars
Another great album by The Temptations. Great stuff. Fav songs: Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, Do Your Thing, Love Woke Me Up This Morning, I Ain't Got Nothin'
Simply incredible. Was not expecting this level of funk in the album, but I love that it was this funky. Favorite track: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
I should have listened to this one more - only did one listen and I enjoyed it, but it didn't blow me away. But i think i didn't give it enough attention