All Directions

4/5

A classical album with amazing songs such as "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" (still covered by so many artists) and "Mother Nature" (note to self: a green song not to forget). I love the funky atmosphere and the caleidoscopic way of playing, this band was able to create a splendid, vivid and intense soundscape.

Great stuff. Odd sequencing, imo. Every dong is a jam or a make out session

Dobre w huj , papa was a Rolling Stones

first 2 songs were ok then it picked up and became great

“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” remains one of the quintessential songs of the 70s, but there’s plenty more to enjoy on this record. Incredible harmonies and tight musicianship abound.

About to get my funk on. Hmmmmm Run Charlie Run has some interesting lyrics. Papa Was a Rollin Stone was a pretty epic slow build up that had my foot tapping the whole time. Also a third of the total album which is hilarious. Holy hell I Ain't Got Nothin' is the schu-wap schu-wap song I have heard that so many times before. Little bit of Jazz, little bit of funk, some great singing form the group. This is a 3.5 for me because there were a couple songs that didn't do much for me. But Do your Thing and Rollin Stone carried it into a 4

8.5/10

Fav song: Love woke me up this morning; papa was a rolling stone.

Wayyyy different than I expected—solid.

Kuvittelin alkuun että koko levy ratsastaa Papa was a… -kappaleen maineella, mutta tämähän oli kunnon levy! 4/5

Funkkisklassikko, eikä syyttä. Papa was a rollin' stonea jaksaa aina kuunnella koko lähes 12 min matkan. 4/5

I'm a big fan of the Motown sound so I really liked this

Nice and soulful Album 4 out of 5

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone highlights this out with the do-wop, in with the funk, version of the Temptations. They had so many albums, so many songs, so many iterations of who they were over the years that it's hard to separate who did what when, but bottom line, it's the Temps. Sit down, stand up, dance, sing along, whatever strikes your fancy. For any fan of the group, this is one of their many must listen albums.

Love the funk

Side 1 mega stark, side 2 mit Längen. Schlusstrack wieder super. Inhaltlich stark

Добар албум. Допада ми се музика, аранжман, гитарски ефекти, веома је јасно раздвојен сваки сегмент и могу да се одвојено фокусирам и на гитару и ефекте, и на бубњеве и на бас. Хармонија добра. 8/10 рецимо

01) Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - 8,0 02) Run Charlie Run - 7,0 03) Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - 10,0 04) Love Woke Me Up This Morning - 7,5 05) I Ain't Got Nothin' - 8,5 06) The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 7,5 07) Mother Nature - 8,5 08) Do Your Thing - 8,0 TOTAL: - 8,13 (81/100)

This ain’t the happy songs of the temptations. It’s reflective of the changing musical nature and state of the country.

So damn funky

Didn’t really know any of this material from them. Different than I expected. I enjoyed it.

Banger -Chill

Very cool

The beat was fresh and the vibe was funky!

Really cool. Chill, relaxed, good.

oh! the temptations are trying to murder me! this album, all directions, has the temptations at their finest. to me, they are most well known for their romantic, dreamy love songs. those are here in spades! and gosh they are full-bodied, beautiful songs. but that's not all! the temptations said funk rights!! and their funk is positively banging. that funk and soul combo in "papa was a rollin' stone" absolutely destroys me because of its smoothness. the symphony instrumental is a great way to open the song, and then i'm clapping along like nobody's business. with "run charlie run," i was shocked at its presence, because that isn't a typical temptations-like song, but i'm not mad about it. and to learn otis williams was so reluctant to record that song! but its second spot is significant. they could've hid this track on the second half of the album. i love its inclusion because the temptations are black and have something to say.

🙏🤌

I'm thrilled to have discovered this album. The musical quality is simply impressive. 'All Directions' is an outstanding example of Motown's legacy, infusing a touch of funk that makes it not just soulful but downright funky at times. There's a hint of Isaac Hayes' 'Shaft' in there. It's hard to miss the iconic sound of the wah-wah guitar, which plays a significant role in shaping this groove.

This album was excellent! I loved it and it is the very reason I undertook this challenge. This is the first album in the challenge I am grateful for being introduced to. Live track 2 and 3 the most! So much groove! Just knocked this back to 4.

Has moments where it lost me, but on the whole this is a damn lovely album. Fav track: love woke me up this morning

A pearl of a funk record. Effortless shifts in style and subject but always completely engaging. Would just have a big grin any time this came on. Four and a half. Fave track: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

nice vibe, funky ass fadafakas.

Impressions: My mom loves disco and 70s music in general but I always hated them, I guess she’s listening to the wrong artists and albums. I never thought I would enjoy this. The only problem is that it’s too short. Favorite Tracks: Run Charlie Run, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, Mother Nature, Do Your Thing Rating: 4/5

Great vibe, feels of an era with Donny Hathaway Live and Bill Withers. Feels like a great album to have on in the background

It was good!

Highlights: - Papa was a Rollin’ Stone - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Mother Nature I'm terrible at rating things, especially music, and this is the first album, so I would take it with a grain of salt. I don't usually listen to R&B music, but I liked this well enough; I listened twice.

"Papa was a rolling stone" the long play version is great.

Aw hell yeah

The occasional drop of the N-word was a bit jarring, but those were different times. However, it has "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone". What's not to like?

really nice songs but some shaky singing on the b side, which i did not expect, given that i though they were known for their vocals

Very smooth. I had never heard Run Charlie Run before and it was a little jarring.

Wild album in that one song takes up over a third of the runtime, outside of the truly great "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" it feels like a disjointed EP...

The only Temptations album I own is the Temptations anthology triple LP set that contains all the essential tracks from their long illustrious career. All Directions from 1972 contains their epic, Papa Was A Rolling Stone along with some other worthy tracks that show they weren't just a hit single group. Overall, the album seems very short (apart from the over 11 min of Papa), but strong on material, too bad you're left wanting to hear more.

Funky and mellow!

My favourite dance has its origins in Papa Was A Rolling Stone by the Temptations so I have to like this.

I'm not sure what it says about me that my favourite of the album was genuinely Run Charlie Run...

Nice to see this as a start of the week. Only really know Papa, so a good album to listen to first. Yeah it was great liked it very much. Surprised by First Time didn't know they'd done it as well, but lots have.

Good shit!

Good album. Made me feel very white.

Interesting listen, definitely split into two halves. One half is the typical Temptations sound you kind of expect from them (tracks 4-7) of ballads with those smooth vocals and safe instrumentals, but the other tracks (1-3 plus the closer written by album project alumni Isaac Hayes) have an uncharacteristic edge to them. Very interesting stuff, I love the clearly most famous centerpiece track Papa Was A Rolling Stone, and the other tracks with that edge. Other than that, I mean nothing that really blew me away but they’ve got a classic spectacular sound. Great record in my books.

Solid R&B, wanted more funk after track 2, but still a great listen

Very nice. This album is gold solely for "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," which is a masterpiece of a song. The rest of the songs are just nice to have.

Imagine being the bass player for the Temptations. Playing the same sequence of six notes on Papa Was a Rollin' Stone over and over again, in rehearsals and then during the 12 minutes of recording the song. And then it becomes a huge hit, so you have to play those same six notes over and over again through rehearsal after rehearsal, concert after concert, until they are burned into your neural pathways. I bet he wanted to add a little flourish here or there but the rest of the band told him no. Poor guy. It probably drove him insane eventually. Either that or they maybe they had to replace their bass player every year or so. Anyway, it's a great album. The song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is so beautiful. I've heard it many times growing up and it was more my parents' style of easy listening song, not mine. But now I can really appreciate just what a tender and beautiful song it is. 4 stars.

An exploration of the ‘70s soul genre from all angles

Can't go wrong with this classic

First listen Saved 5/8 Top track: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone is just an amazing song! Mother Nature also pretty great! Also, Do Your Thing! Was on the Shaft album, but a funky little cover here! Great production! Temptations really embracing the direction of Soul / Funk into the 70’s! Giving it a 3.7 for Papa*

Lekkere glijers, mooie muziek. Hoogtepunten: Run Charlie Run The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Favourite tracks: papa was a rolling stone; I ain't got nothing; run Charlie run; funky music sho nuff turns me on; do your thing

Got the juice

From the first seconds of the opening track you know this isn't going to be My Girl-esque Temptations. This is funkier, grittier (and less successful?) Temptations. You can feel the era, the pre-funk era edginess, and then you have the full 11m45 second brilliance of Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Which they didn't write, or want to record (ironically as their Papas were not Rolling Stones). Lonely glimpse of musical brilliance & history.

Very funky album, not my usual taste but I enjoyed

Awesome! Funky, but with focus on the vocals. Loved it

When I was in my early 20s I worked on a factory floor where funk and r&b was played every day all day from cassettes over a PA. Even though I was, and am a metal head I always liked a good chunk of what I heard on that floor. And this album was played a lot and it's really a great record. It swings back and forth between funk and r&b in a natural way. My only complaint is that it's actually too short. I would love about 15 more minutes.

4.0

Slept on the bus, but was fire beats.

In a music landscape full of massive productions with multi-layered instrumentals and loud guitar riffs, All Directions is surprisingly stripped back and minimalist. The first word that came to mind when I listened to it is "delicate". It's orchestral yet not overwhelming, moving yet not overly sentimental, and most importantly its groovy and funky while not being silly.

Un album profond et personnel. L’introduction de Papa Was a Rolling Stone est une leçon d’anticipation

Smooth

Fantastic

What a vibe, I need to listen to more r&b/Motown albums because this was super fun. Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone and Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On were my favorite tracks.

Didn't realise how long papa was a rolling stone was thank god for radio edits

hi temptations

Funky

Wow, not what I was expecting! I think I’ve only listened to ‘My Girl’ before so I thought I was in for a album full of do-wop. Instead, some really great soul/funk! My fave is the opening track ‘Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On’.

Papa was a rollin stone is a classic, but the rest of the album was fully new to me. It was a pleasant surprise. Nice voices, and strong texts. Especially on Run Charlie Run, which I had to look up for some extra background story.

The Temptations are indeed the Sultans of Soul. Papa Was A Rolling Stone by itself would elevate this album to a three star rating but there are at least three other songs that are essential. Funky Music, Run Freddie Run and Do Your Thing are all worthy songs.

This album was really great, I don't think there was a song that felt out of place in this album.

Very good R&B/Soul album. I am a child for laughing at run Charlie run, though.

Quite good: had a nice vibe to it with me bopping along throughout the album, in all honesty I don't remember the end at all. It wasn't bad neither did it stand out to me as being perfection, wouldn't complain if I had to listen to it again.

This one was enjoyable and provocative at times. Good album but one of the songs needs caution exercised depending on who's listening.

I Like it more than I thought I would. I ain't got nothin' has a certain quality I can't explain which makes it special for me 🤔

It’s solid, I really like the first time songs then side 2 is okay but other than do your thing at the end it’s nothing amazing still though nice stuff 4/5

This was good!

first time listening

This is all-over awesome; but what's with the awfully flat rendition of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'? Give me Roberta Flack's any day.

Smooth

3.5

Love the vocal interplay throughout

Funky

60'er funk, soul'et, poppet, groovy

A very solid album. Papa was a Rollin’ Stone is the obvious standout, but there’s nothing weak here.

It was pretty good!

Some archaic-sounding production and mixing drag down this pretty inspired project. 7/10

This album surprised me. I didn't expect the socio-political songs -- Papa Was A Rollin' Stone and Run Charlie Run. That's a nice change a pace for the Temptations. Other songs are better than I would have expected. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On ... a great live track with a groove! Do Your Thing is good soul music. The rest of the tracks are more typical of the group, and so not as interesting to me.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (3) 2 - Do Your Thing (8) 3 - I Ain't Got Nothin' (5)

Classic sound of my youth. Always loved this band.

2-ой раз здесь эти ребята и я все больше ловлю себя на мысли что я хочу винил с ними. Все звучит сочно, живо и приятно. С одной стороны, альбом не вовлекает настолько чтобы поглотить тебя, с другой стороны я случайно проморгал концовку альбома и еще минут 20-30 слушал другие треки на спотифае. Поэтому, мне кажется это хороший знак музыки

Smooth, relaxing

I’m sure I said this in my last Temptations review as well as here, but I still can’t seem to differentiate between The Temptations and The Foundations in my head. Once again, I found myself wondering if Build Me Up Buttercup would be on this album. Obviously, it was not. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Run Charlie Run, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone This was a very enjoyable album. The vocals are so wide in variety from the lowest lows up to the softest falsettos. Run Charlie Run gives a jarring insight into the racism that black people deal with - it is very blunt with its lyrics, but it uses this well to get its point across. The music was funky and fun a lot of the time, and I’m always going to enjoy a nice bass line in a song. Overall, a very enjoyable album. Possibly not an album I’ll be returning to as it’s a little too far away from my preferred genres, but still an enjoyable listen nonetheless.

Any Temptations album is great. And this has Papa Was A Rolling Stone, which is an all time great, but this is far from their best album.

I love the vibe of this record. And the production is super clean

Papa was a rolling stone is a jam!

Really good

A really enjoyable funk/soul record, but so short that I blinked twice and it was over (it's merely over 30 minutes long) - It'll probably be one of the shortest album in the 1001 albums challenge.

This shit thrives. Music with a pulsing beat. To not dance during the entire run time of the album would be a very impressive feat. Instrumentation and timing all blend together to make a perfectly funky beat. Vocals from numerous different members create a increasingly elevating and beautiful harmony. Thoroughly enjoyable, but can get a little slow and repetitive at times. Also, I’m inclined to say that the buildup in “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” is perfect. 4/5

'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' is a stone-cold classic. 'Love Woke Me Up This Morning' is beautiful and if I ever get married I'm including it in the mix.

These dudes can really harmonize. I actually own Cloud Nine on vinyl and I'm really loving this album from them.

Good stuff

not my jam, but undeniable influence

I like it.

Listening to this made me realize just how important The Temptations were to modern music. Good stuff.

These guys really churned out the work. Loved the big band touches. And the long versions.

Pretty solid!!! I thought I didn’t know the album, but in fact know quite a bit of them’

Cooler and funkier than I was expecting!

Great and unexpected album, really goes to a lot of different places politically and pop wise. All the while deeply funky.

Could get 5 just for that amazing centre piece, dropped to 4 because it isn't quite enough

Tough call between 4 and 5. Awesome album, no skips and a save

I love those numbers where each singer drops in for his little bit. I just realised that's where MCing came from.

Man, I totally forgot about “Run Charley Run.”

Papa was a rollin' stone is a song that I've heard before by The Temptations but the rest were new to me. It's a soul album with funky tunes. There's some Shaft vibes and overall it's a "cool" album.

I'm still not entirely sold on funk, but this album seems special. The groove on the Papa Was a Rolling Stone just takes me away to some other place long before the song even properly starts. And yet, to all of the complaints about the supposedly weaker B-side, I have to admit that I actually find it more enjoyable to the first half. That is due mostly to my immediate love for Mother Nature - a song with beautiful timeless lyrics. It could easily be a 5 star album, but I'm still not that captivated by the rest of the songs - they are beautiful but maybe just not that interesting after all this time? 4/5

This can’t be the same band that did My Girl!

Muy bueno

Highlight tracks: Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, Love Woke Me Up This Morning Some movie soundtrack vibes Very catchy hooks & riffs A lot of wah in a good way Short and sweet - just under 35 mins 4/5

Very good Album with some classic songs

Standout: I Ain't Got Nothin', all instrumentals (guitar! bass!)

I like the funky psychedelic guitar heavy sound. Norman Whitfields arranging on Papa was a Rolling Stone is so good.

I have to admit, I always kind of saw The Temptations like fluff, but this album is hard! They sound amazing, the songs are killer, especially Papa was a Rolling Stone, and the Motown sound is downplayed for some epic song variety. Run Charlie Run definitely caught me off-guard. The album comes in like a lion and ends like a lamb. I understand why artists and bands want to show that softer side, but after Papa, the soul is quieter. Thankfully, Do Your Thing sticks the landing. Great album!

Extreme talent. Some of the best!

musically it’s a masterpiece even if it wasn’t all my personal taste

Brilliant album, Papa was a Rollin’ Stone is one of the greatest songs of all time. One or two mediocre tracks but all in all great.

Papa Was A Rollin' Stone a bit of a meme for me, but still good. Enjoyed the vocal harmonies on I Ain't Got Notin'

So many classics on one album, and I never knew The Temptations sang several of these. Definitely worth listening to, but I doubt I'll be dusting this one off to play frequently. These have become songs for movie soundtracks, but as an album, it just feels so dated.

Would have been 3.5 but The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is so good I’m bumping it to 4.0

I have never listened an album like this before so it was a different journey but definietly a good one!

One of the better albums so far

I like it, nice background music

Psychedelic soul, what a nice genre! I wasn't aware of this album before and I really enjoyed it. That early 70s brass sound is always so much appreciated. Vocals were something too!

Bra

Quite extraordinary to hear the journey The Temptations made - the socially conscious tracks married with callbacks to earlier soulful numbers. It’s almost disjointed as an album but I guess that’s all directions. The quality of the artists keeps this interesting.

Very funky. Knew this album already. Great bass playing by Jamerson, great tunes.

It’s good, but it doesn’t feel like a full album to me. Opening with a live track and then literally 1/3 of this album is the lead single. Motown really milking it.

this one’s really good, i like it a lot! just good music, very love-centric. 7.5/10

Here for 'Papa was a Rolling Stone' - that bass line. Been my earworm all day.

Banging album. Funky and filthy. Prime cuts: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, Do Your Thing

4/5. First half is solid. Second half has some sleepers but overall a great listen.

The Temptations are one of the best Motown groups. Their wide vocal range and ability to make songs feel so many different ways is amazing. Papa was a rolling stone is a groovy funk filled song. And then first time ever I saw your face is a really well done cover and always a beautiful song. Very much enjoyed this album and all of its components. Wish it was longer. 8.3/10

I only know a few Temptations songs, and one of them is on this album, so I am looking forward to listening to more of their stuff today. The Temptations are a Soul/Funk/R&B five piece vocal group. At the time of the recording of this album, the group consisted of: Dennis Edwards (tenor) , Damon Harris (tenor) , Richard Street (baritone) , Melvin Franklin (bass) , and Otis Williams (tenor). The melding of all of these voices turned into some amazing music! When I first heard Richard Street's voice in the song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, I could have swore it was a female singer because his voice was so high and smooth. Also, Melvin Franklin's deep bassy voice laced throughout the album just heightens the music that much more! Of course, the one song everyone should know off of this record is Papa Was A Rollin' Stone. This rendition of the song is almost 12 minutes long, but it certainly doesn't feel it. What a story it tells of a father who is a deadbeat drunk. Another song that shocked the hell out of me was Run Charlie Run. A song that pulls no punches, and sings about a still, sadly, relevant and hot topic, racism. Do Your Thing, and Mother Nature are both awesome, funky songs. Overall a teriffic album. Glad I listened, will probably add it to the collection. Favourite songs: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, Do Your Thing, Mother Nature Least favourite song: if forced to pick, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 4/5

A strana je bomba, Papa Was a Rollin' Stone is the vibe y'all! Zbog A strane i jednog dijela B strane ide četvorka, inače bi bila trojka ko kuća.

Papa Was a Rolling Stone is a great song.

I like this cover - I like the idea of posing people on, in, and around a tree. Like, yeah, this is just how we hang out. When we're not playing music, we tend to hang out in, on, and around a tree. Anyway, Papa Was a Rollin' Stone deserves at least 4 stars alone. But even without it, this is some pretty strong soul funk, if that's a thing. I'd listen again.

This whips. Almost twelve minutes of 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' is badass, and there's a great version of one of Ewan Maccoll's loveliest tunes. I love it when O.G. soul and blues guys got funky - Lee Dorsey, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, even 'the Parliaments' took a turn. More, more, more!

This is funking great. You'd have to be pretty funked in the head to not enjoy at least part of this motherfunker. First half is definitely the tempo setter, but I quite liked, "I Ain't Got Nothin'," which fell right in the middle. It had me at the first "shoo-bada-bop." That one Temptation could get right down there in those baritone registers, huh? I found myself wondering what kind of person would find that seductive. Like that's a very special person that's moved in that way by a voice that's deeper than the Oak Ridge Boy who does the "oom-boppa-mow-mow" part of "Elvira." I guess there's truly a lid for every pot. Good record.

Fun stuff, will get some more listens for sure!

Filled with Soul some funky,and grocery R n B, bringing the Temptations into the 70’s.

So different than the kind of music I associate this band with!

Great album, a bit awkward at times, but very funky and groovy.

Some absolute classic songs here.

Socially conscious and far less sugary than 60s Temptations.

81/100: Very fun album, very soul-y and super energetic. Few songs can get away with being as long as “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” but that song is so damn good it easily gets away with it; in fact, I went back and listened to it multiple times after finishing the album. This album is super interesting in that I think it really encapsulates the, excuse me, soul of soul as a genre. Listening to the songs on this album, I found myself feeling simultaneously on top of the world and deeply sad, each equally in part because of the other. I don’t have the words to explain how that could be the case, but I think the answer lies within the appeal of soul.

Great album and I'm glad the band relented and went ahead with recording "Run, Charlie, Run" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"

I'm a sucker for this kinda thing. The harmonies, the horns, the strings. 12 minute of Papa was a Rolling Stones. Epic funk/Soul.

Man this is such a classic

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

Very enjoyable listen. Fav track: Papa Was A Rollin Stone

Stellar

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'

There are long songs

Great songs, seems like they're genuinely exploring and pushing themselves. "Papa Was a Rollin Stone" sounded great - despite having heard it many times, I appreciated it anew.

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

Really great maybe could become a 5 star with a few more listens. Favourite track: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face

The funky rhythmic first half is fantastic. The falsetto tear jerkers not so much.

Solid early 70s soul.

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

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

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.

Didn't know Rollin Stone was 12 minutes and I was surprised by the chorus to Run Charlie. Overall a good listen.

Really good soul and funk vibes! I’d heard a few of the songs off this album before, but really enjoyed this listen!

Nice

Good stuff

Soul y funk. Demasiadas canciones lentas para llegar al 5...

Leuk album. 'Papa was a Rolling Stone' is echt een topper

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

7/15/2022 - ALBUM #169 Today's Album: "All Directions" by The Temptations - This was a really easy album to enjoy and listen to. Coming straight out of the early 70s, the fusion of R&B, soul, and funk that this album exudes is very much emblematic of the experimentation being done by groups of the time like Earth, Wind, and Fire. From what I was able to gather, this was quite a departure for this group, who were mainly labeled as 60s balladeers with songs like ‘My Girl’. If this is true, than this album is truly a stunning achievement, as the band is able to fit the developing, gritty R&B vibe of the time pretty well for a first attempt. The track Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone is a 12 minute epic detailing the story of a runaway father and does so with so much color and control of sound. The bassline is simple, but unrelenting in its pushyness and the warbly guitar mixed with angelic synths give a really cool psychedelic-soul atmosphere before the track picks up with some claps and building strings. When the vocalist finally comes in, the depiction of a low-income single-parent household is so visceral and strong and I really love the way the instruments play with what’s going on lyrically instead of staying stagnant. It is a great demonstration of the production of this album as well, as the heavy bassline, tapping hi-hat, and detailed vocals somehow all feel really balanced and spaced out. This is followed up with the beautiful ballad, Loe Wokee Me Up This Morning, which like many of the tracks on this album, could have been a fairly enjoyable, but boring vocal performance had it not been for the life breathed into it by creative and generous instrumentals. Other tracks like this include I Ain’t Got Nothin’, which is lifed up by lush strings and some really fun background vocals and Mother Nature, which has a truly lush bass sound and very smooth woodwinds/strings. There are definitely moments on this album that I wasn’t a huge fan of, like the poorly aged Run Charlie Run’s excessive use of the N-word (even if it is in protest of it), and the somewhat lackadaisical and uninteresting The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, but I think this album still offered enough really interesting moments to chew on to make up for the lacking moments. Overall, this album is pivotal in the development of the R&B, soul/funk genre and was a huge milestone in the career of this band. Give this one a listen if you like Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder, or if you enjoy Marvin Gaye, but wish there was a bit more of a punch to it. Highlights: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, Love Woke Me Up This Morning, Mother Nature Do Your Thing Score: 7.5/10 An increasingly important album in the evolution of ‘black’ music in the early 70s

Got classic

Fun and funky album. Really enjoyed.

Such a dynamic and wonderful mix of 70s black American music. Papa was a rolling stone is top tier

Solid P-Funk style

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.

very enjoyable.

Super cool

Definitely not the "My Girl" Temptations. This was much different than I was expecting and much grittier.

Very lush full funk sound with the strings. I like it a lot 👍

Funky songs

Good album. First three or four tracks are highlights

Lovely sounding album with smash good feeling song Papa Was a Rollin Stone. Solid.

Was dreading this, but was actually quality.

Pure delicious funk. Fave: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone.

bara snilld basically

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Run Charlie run

not what i was expecting - way cooler

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Funky and groovy classics! I was really digging the long version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Like the first time you hear Bob Saget do standup

groovy.

"Papa was a rolling stone" was my favorite

Fun and groovy

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

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.

Run Charlie run wand papa was a rolling stone were awesome. Rest was great

It’s so easy/nice listening to them

Poppa was a rolling stone is a classic. Glad to see the rest of the album holds up as well

Stone cold classic.

Great listen classic funk

Lovely groove. Especially liked "Papa was a rolling stone"

Great bit of funk and soul. The 12 min papa was a rolling stone is an exceptional track.

Interesting back story on "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (12 min) & "Run Charlie Run".

Cool, funky, edgy, emotional, powerful. I can dig it!

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.

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

8/10

O disco é incrível, mas super breve. Tive que ouvir duas vezes para sentir que havia escutado o álbum inteiro.

Très Bon. À garder dans ma liste potentiel de vinyles à acheter.

fun

more funky than I was expecting from The Temptations

Soul y funk. Demasiadas canciones lentas para llegar al 5...

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.

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!

A timeless sound. "Mother Nature" is really really good, as is "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Would re-visit.

Papa was a rolling stone is absolute classic. This entire album is extremely solid.

funky perfection Favourite songs: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, I Ain't Got Nothin', The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face

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.

Just lush. A great band at their very best.

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.

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

Love this. Funky first half, ballad side B. Beautiful arrangements and playing, terrific vocals.

Soul. Funk

Smooth and classic civil rights tunes

Een lekkere jazz

Really fun, funky listen. Crazy that Papa almost didn't get made, that song is so so good Saved: Run Charlie Run, Papa Was A Rollin' Stone*, I Ain't Got Nothin', Mother Nature

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.

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

Great soul/funk from July 27/72 and length 33:33 :))

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.

It’s the temptations!

This album is worth the listen. A classic not only due to age but quality

Funky as funk

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.

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)

Love it! Great album and that album cover; perfect.

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.

First album - 9th July 2021

Enjoyed funk, beats. Good vocals.

Slows down quite a lot in the middle, but otherwise very good.

Short album, full of classics.

Terrrrrrrrrrible

Very funky album has a lot to say about race and segregation. Beats are great.

Excellent. Especially the funky 'a-side' really appreciate the political songs.

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”

Really funkeh. Also first song repeat of the 1001 experience as The First time I ever saw your face is a soul classic

i really am enjoying this. a good blend of funk and rock. good stuff.

Amazing!!

Вроде просто хороший старый американский рок, одна песня с нвордом. Кое-что добавил к себе в любимые

Funky Music sho nuff turns me On Run Charlie Run Papa was a rollin' stone Do your thing Très bon

I learned that Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was a cover! Crazy! Anyway, this album is awesome.

Funky, funny and warm. A total surprise and an amazing album.

Absolutely excellent stuff especially the first three tracks - tailed a little bit but not enough for me to stop this being a four

70s Temptations were cool as fuck

Classic soul

Classic. Forgot what a variety they had!

classic vibes: from sultry r&b, to funky cruising, to love ballad. an essential listening for anyone who likes montages in movies

Good R&B. 12 minute version of Papa was a Rolling Stone!

Papa was a rollin stone

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.

Short and to the point, nice.

Loved this album. It was great work music - it's peppy while still being soothing.

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.

Bien. Sin más.

Oki

Smooth 4.3*

Really nice to have in the background. Might listen to again

Bloody good

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.

Liked the first half better than the second, but overall a good album. Favorite Track(s): “Papa Was A Rollin Stone”

I really enjoyed the album!

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.

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!

Funky

Papa Was a Rollin Stone is a Magnum Opus. The rest of the album is funky good.

Fantastic music. Always makes me think of my dad and his love for old soul.

LOVE IT!!!

Funky. And I recognised a few songs so can see why it’s here.