All Directions

I thought I'd like this more but no, it's a 2 star. Surprised.

Definitely a departure from their earlier Motown hit driven albums, this has a more ambitious broader sound, with the lyrics in some songs tackling more social issues, Papa was a Rolling Stone is the stand out track, an epic 11 minute Odyssey. Very much an album to come back to.

An album which can’t live up to its first three songs. Such a rapid and shocking nosedive for the remainder!

Expected more upbeat structured songs but this album is filled with funky R&B.

I’m mostly familiar with the Temptations’ older work, but I have a long history with “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”. I love the flow of this album, from the joyous “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” to the delicate “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to the Temptations’ parting advice on this album, “Do Your Thing”.

Just didn't nab my attention

Can't go wrong here

Yo, '70s funk Temptations is THE SHIT! Run Charlie Run is as topical today as it was in '72. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone literally sends chills up my spine when I listen to it. Possibly one of the greatest songs ever performed for so many reasons. Wild to learn that it was the label that pushed the socially conscious vibe. The group was opposed to it, and hoped it would flop so they could get back to singing ballads. Regardless, this is such a strong album that truly deserves to be here.

4.5

This was a nice listen. Have listened to a lot of the temptations, but none of their albums. Always thought they were more of a singles band. I was wrong, well worth a listen and definitely will go back again

GENUINELY GOOD except maybe a tad offensive also why is the one song ELEVEN MINUTES I CANT LISTEN TO THE SAME TUNE FOR SO LONG

Excelente! Vou ouvir mais vezes.

This album was awesome. I hadn’t heard much “funky Temptations” but these guys are fantastic no matter what 💖 Their harmonies are just the best!!! My only gripe is their one song was like 10 minutes long. That kills me 😩

Love the bass singer being used for comedic effect. Run Charley. Would be a five if it were just papa, a tour de force, some of the last kinda drag.

Liked it, relaxing sound, nice instruments. Good all round.

Classico R&B funkettone anni 70. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns me On se non avesse avuto quei umori ogni tanto sarebbe stata molto meglio ma bella. Run Charlie Run forse la conoscevo già,carina Papa Was a Rollin Stone,ok ascolto passivo,no ascolto attivo. Troppo lunga e troppo poco dinamica. Love Woke me up this morning Hit,sembra una roba da sample (Tyler/Kanye) I ain't got Nothin mm,bellina ma c'è qualcosa che mi fa storcere il nose. First time ever i saw your face mi fa venire in mente Brain damage,boh forse il piano Comunque non male però classica "Ballad" R&B/Pop stile You and I. Non brutta però nemmeno particolarmente bella. Mother Nature ganza,strana ma bella. Cori,ritmo,piano,Violini fatti bèn. Bei vocals come al solito Bella perchè diversa dalle classiche songz Do your thing bella. niente da dire,groovy,bei vocals,bel basso,bel piano,bei brass,batteria ci sta,fa il suo Voto finale : 4-

I didn't enjoy it

Funky/souligt, inget är dåligt men inget tar tag i en

De la soul, un peu de funk, assez agréable à écouter, plutôt facile. Des moments assez originaux qui m’ont fait m’arrêter dessus (papa was a rolling stone, longue intro plutôt chouette) et d’autres qui m’ont ennuyée. Instruments chouettes (petits moments de trompette qui m’ont fait du bien)w Plutôt cool de façon globale mais ça n’a pas changé ma vie. À réécouter quand

Having an 11:44 minutes long song on a 34 minutes album is audacious Favorite: Love woke me up this morning

Already listened! By far the most consistent Temptations album, doesn’t have many hits other than Rolling Stone but the tracks are still more than worth your time, especially Mother Nature.

Det ar glimt af noget godt. Et rigtigt al i som udnytter formatet ved at have korte hit agtige numre, men også lige smide 2 langspillere ind. Jeg var underholdt bedre end forventet.

Jeg er ikke fristet

vibe is sooo nice! i loved i ain't got nothin and papa was a rolling stone

"Papa Was A Rolling Stone" is, of course, awesome. The rest is okay.

It weird to read about songs being included at the label's request, and seeing that The Temptations were the vocalists, surrounded by studio musicians. Obviously they're not alone in this, but it may be fair to draw a line from this to Backstreet and NSYNC. Obviously this is better, but I think the marketing forces are the same.

Not bad, pretty chilled out motown type music. It's nice but I don't think I would seek it out, it's just not my kind of thing. I can appreciate their talent though, they are crazy good at what they do.

Funky start - fitting for a sunny day but missing the vocals I associate with them Run Charlie Run - got more real than expected - got to appreciate the honesty Papa was a rolling stone - long version - much groovier Wow, I think I preferred the second half of the album. It's interesting I was expecting more of a Motown with the vocal stylings of My Girl whereas this was much more about the instruments and that kind of groovy, funky sound - I wish I had a better way to describe it.

The extended version of Papa Was a Rolling Stone is a marvel

Yep. Got a a good album here. A worthy addition.

Standout: Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Worth all 11 minutes

Enjoyed this. A nice mix of soul and funk without the wackiness of some funkier albums. Run Charlie Run wasn’t for me (in more ways than one) but other than that definitely enjoyed. Ended up listening to a chunk more temptations afterwards by not paying attention, no bad thing.

Motown, a genre (basically) that I never listen to but is right up my alley. I don't like Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, and the mix on Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On is terrible, but everything else stands out. Favorite track: Love Woke Me Up This Morning

Pretty good album

Gergeous singing, silky instruments, flawless production from front to back. and deeply soulful highlights: Do your thing, papa was a rollin stone lowlights: none

This was a rough listen, not what I expected

1972. Soulful and funky

Papa was a rollin' stone is amazing, the rest is not that special to me.

Cava, maar meer dan Papa Was A Rollin' Stone staat er hier eigenlijk niet op. 2.6

An amazing funky album

This was pretty solid, but nothing stood out too much to me.

Wow! That was absolutely stunning. The Maurice Davis trumpet on Papa was just one of many high points on this album.

Aight

Surprisingly rad.

Can't exactly sing along with all the songs - particularly Run Charlie Run.

Enjoyed the album and was a nice switch up after a lot of rock. Will revisit a few songs but probably not album from start to finish. Switched genres a lot which I didn’t love. First song was favorite

This is a fun Motown album. Papa was a rolling stone was a very funk son. The full 12 min had very cool instrumentals. I loved the wah effects Mother Nature is a great song. The vocals sound very powerful. The rest is nice, but not that interesting or catchy to me. The rest of the album was a little slow and straight up for my taste. Do the Thing is funky and grooving. I dig the horns and bassline.

Lots of great tracks, with a couple of iconic ones. Smooth and funky.

Some good ole classics in there. Enjoyed most of the album. Good stuff

Really strong album top-to-bottom. I didn't love every song, but the album as a whole gives some iconic 70s sound wrapped around some solid ballads, funk, and social protest songs.

I've listened to a lot of funk and R&B from this list, but the Temptations are all soul. This is a pretty emotionally charged album between the obvious Run, Chsrlie, Run and Papa Was a Rolling Stone. My favorite is probably I Ain't Got Nothing, it's such a beautiful song that highlights the vocal group. It's a good album, probably not my favorite of the genre or era, but I did like it a lot.

Sorti en 1972, "All Directions" qui représente un moment charnière dans la discographie des Temptations, s'inscrit dans une période de profonde mutation pour le groupe et pour la musique soul américaine. Le début des années 70 est marqué par l'apogée de la soul psychédélique, un courant musical né à la fin des années 60 qui fusionne la soul, le R&B, le funk naissant et les expérimentations sonores du rock psychédélique et c'est dans ce bouillonnement créatif que le producteur Norman Whitfield qui est fasciné par les textures sonores complexes, les longs formats instrumentaux et les thématiques sociales, enregistre "All Directions". Norman Whitfield va utiliser abondamment les techniques de studio de l'époque (guitares wah-wah omniprésentes, effets de phasing, multipistes pour les batteries) afin de créer des rythmes complexes et syncopés, et de longs passages instrumentaux. Influencé par l'approche "cinématographique" d'Isaac Hayes, Whitfield conçoit des morceaux comme de véritables paysages sonores, où les instruments (basse proéminente, claviers électriques, cuivres incisifs, cordes dramatiques, percussions latines) jouent un rôle aussi crucial que les voix. Cette prédominance instrumentale, marque de fabrique de Whitfield à cette époque, sera d'ailleurs une source majeure de friction avec les Temptations, qui se sentent parfois relégués au second plan. Sur le plan thématique, "All Directions" s'éloigne des chansons d'amour légères qui ont fait la gloire initiale de Motown pour aborder des sujets plus sombres et socialement pertinents. L'album reflète les préoccupations de l'époque : les tensions raciales, la pauvreté, la désintégration de la figure paternelle, les critiques sociales et politiques. Cette orientation vers des paroles plus engagées s'inscrit dans la lignée du mouvement des droits civiques et de l'influence croissante de la contre-culture. "All Directions" est une œuvre emblématique de la soul psychédélique, caractérisée par une fusion audacieuse de styles et une production innovante. Norman Whitfield, en maître d'œuvre, sculpte un son riche et expansif, qui se distingue nettement du "Motown Sound" classique des années 60. L'album explore une palette sonore large, allant du funk brut et hypnotique aux ballades soul plus traditionnelles, en passant par des arrangements orchestraux luxuriants et des expérimentations psychédéliques. "All Directions" a dominé les classements dès sa sortie en juillet 1972. Il a atteint la deuxième place du Billboard 200 aux États-Unis. Son succès ne s'est pas limité aux États-Unis, l'album figurant également dans les classements internationaux, notamment au Royaume-Uni, en France, en Allemagne, au Canada et en Espagne. Le succès de l'album fut largement porté par le single "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Sorti en septembre 1972 dans une version éditée de près de 7 minutes, il a atteint la première place du Billboard Hot 100 et la cinquième place du classement R&B. Le triomphe d'un single aussi long et complexe témoignait d'une évolution des goûts du public et de la programmation radio, s'éloignant du format strict de la pop de 3 minutes. Le couronnement de ce succès fut la triple victoire de "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" aux Grammy Awards en 1973. La chanson remporta les prix de la Meilleure Performance Vocale R&B, de la Meilleure Chanson R&B, et de la Meilleure Performance Instrumentale R&B pour la face B du single. "All Directions" est un album complexe avec une fusion réussie et audacieuse de soul, funk, psychédélisme et d'éléments cinématographiques. La production de Norman Whitfield est magistrale : arrangements ambitieux, utilisation experte des techniques de studio et des talents des Funk Brothers, créant ainsi un son riche, atmosphérique et multi-couches. Malgré les changements de personnel, la performance vocale du groupe reste exceptionnelle. Les Temptations s'adaptent avec brio au nouveau matériel, offrant des voix lead puissantes et variées (la hargne d'Edwards, le fausset de Harris, la douceur de Street, les interjections basses de Franklin) et des harmonies toujours impeccables. La présence de "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", un chef-d'œuvre incontestable et un succès planétaire, ancre solidement l'album. Enfin, la profondeur thématique, abordant des questions sociales complexes et des récits émotionnels allant au-delà de la romance, confère à l'album une résonance particulière. "All Directions" est un disque audacieux, ambitieux et extrêmement réussie. Il s'en sort avec un 3/5 car malgré toutes ses qualités il a tendance à manquer de cohésion entre funk psychédélique intense et ballades traditionnelles.

Increíble. Puro poder del soul y de unos arreglos que me volaban la cabeza con cada canción. Cortito, pero de esos que sin problema podrían durar una hora más y uno seguiría pasándola bomba.

A little funk, a little soul, a little R&B, a little do-wap. This album was all over the place. The Temptations definitely led the way for those who followed. Not their best album, but a few gems here.

Although I did recognize two classics and I know this album was hugely influential, it’s just not my thing.

it wasn’t my favorite temptations album. No huge complaints though.

One extra star for being a bit funky. They walked so we could run or whatever.

I was surprised that I liked parts of this more than I expected to. Maybe an album a day is making it just a bit easier to listen to stuff out of my comfort zone. This is still not my favorite genre but overall I think this would be a great addition to a movie soundtrack and wouldn’t mind having it playing in the background of the right setting. Not sure how much is standard for the time they wrote this, but I heard a lot of familiar sounds which may mean this album had a lot of influence on things I’m hearing 50 years later.

4.5 if I could!

How is this not a perfect record?

Real funky funky 🕺 A couple of bangers in pappa was a rolling stone and my namesake. Powerful story telling around racial equality etc

Almost groovy

Cmon it’s the temptations, of course this shit slapped!

Gritty! A lot of different voices on this one. Way more moody than I thought it would be. I’m sure it was culturally important when it was released!

made it to Motown

Didn't like it that much some songs were good, not rlly my tempo or genre

I had never listened to this album all the way through. The standout, Papa Was a Rolling Stone and a few others are well known and outstanding. But some of the R & B tracks were a bit sleepy.

Some solid songs.

Glad this got me to listen to some deeper cuts beyond the greatest hits I've mostly heard.

Damn that's pretty funky. Very chill vibes. For some reason I really feel this would be a perfect record to go alongside a nice bath. Anyone says "Papa was a Rolling Stone" isn't too long has lost they damn mind however.

Beautiful music. Great harmonies, voices, bass, and meaningful lyrics. Definitely need to listen to more of the temptations.

Nope

This was ok. The Temptations have some good moments among their diverse catalogue and I enjoy their voices (particularly the fella singing bass), but there’s a lot of indifferent stuff too, and I’m usually wary of albums that lean so heavily on cover versions. 2.5 / 3

Nothing special.

Will listen to more. 3.5

Feels like it is paving the way for 70s vocal soul. Not really me but I still enjoyed

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face stopped me in my tracks in a way a new to me song hasn't in a while.

This album seems like it was pretty innovative when it came out, especially for its experimental side. I can see its value, but this genre has never really clicked with me, and I found the album to be average. The more mellow, laid-back tracks were the ones I liked best.

It was ok

Any album that has "Papa was a Rolling Stone" on it deserves at least four stars.

Soulful Funk to get down to. the 12 minute version of Papa was a Rolling Stone is enough to make this an epic album. Masters of tension and release.

This was packed full of dynamite. Short, sweet. This was a tight album and I danced.

I feel like this record was never re-mastered but maybe I’m mistaken. Just saying that the quality is not the best. Overall surprisingly melancholic after it started with the live opening track (a bop.) I did not know that this was where Papa was a rollin‘ stone became popular. An interesting musical snap shot of the 1970s for sure.

Papa was a rolling stone is head and shoulders above everything else, but the rest is decent, and that's a huge song.

Funky af. Favorite song is Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On

When temptations get funky, it's as much a matter of grooving the afterlife of a nightcap as it is calling out the hypocrisies of our social reality. That is, it's about getting real, real, real: 'I watch you go to church on Sunday / But you forget all you learned on Monday'; 'Talkin' about saving souls and all the time leechin'.' It's funky b/c it's no piece of cake to admit as much, let alone sing it w/ urgency and a fire liable to blaze up the entire network that oppresses in the name of god's eternal love. But it's also sweet as can be, especially on 'Love Woke Me Up This Morning' and their exquisite cover of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.' Maybe it's a reckless take, but can you find me a more perfect record? Better, perhaps. But not as seamless.

funky music sho nuff turns me on- 5 run Charlie run- 5 or 6 papa was a Rollin stone- 5 love woke me up this morning- 5 I ain't got nothing- 5 the first time ever i saw your face- 5 mother nature- 5 do your thing- 5

Classic.

Funky. The Temptations were apart of the sound of my childhood in the 80s

Soul, Motown all great music. Classic album

Has good moments - vocals, lyrics, instrumentals. Papa Was a Rolling Stone stands out. Clearly an album that has been sampled heavily, many of the riffs were familiar. But overall it doesn’t grab me.

3/4

North; Northeast; East; Southeast; South; Southwest; West; Northwest.

oh this is the good shit

Amazing the impact Sly and the Family Stone had on music at the time.

Temptations albums always throw me for a loop.

So nostalgic! I got the temptations' cloud nine in my very first day of the generator, and today, 100 (!) Days later, I get another one from them. Can't wait to listen to it and get a small break, from which I will be back with more power! Starts with two high energy soul tracks which sets the tone great for the massive track 3. Papa was a rolling stone. A masterpiece of a track. From the writing, to the vibe, the progression and production, and the incredible vocal delivery. Wow. Track 4 is the perfect continuation to the album. An absolute beautiful romantic song. Perfection from the vocals once again. 5, to continue this trend, just stunning. 6, I new before from Roberta Flack. It's a great song and this rendition is wonderful. Soft and smooth. 7 groovy and souly as hell 8 , wow, the funk. Just great. So much fun What a great album.  Like it even more than the previous one. It starts a bit slow for me, a bit to usual soul, but the kicks an untouchable medley from track 3 to the end. It's a very very very strong 4.5 You know what, I feel good today Lets give it a

hay un cover de Glee de un tema de este álbum (Brittana ❤️)

Oh how fun. The Tempations. I definitely am aware of these guys. I do enjoy this band very much when they come on the speakers. Being able to check out a full album, down for. So far so good. Lots of soul and fun!

Ik begin maar gewoon met zeggen dat ik een klein hekeltje heb aan het bekendste nummer van dit album en dat nummer neemt ook nog netto een derde van het album in beslag. Vroeger keek ik steevast Idols en dan was er in de liverondes altijd wel iemand die dit nummer deed en daar is eigenlijk de haat ontstaan. Zoek maar 'Boris Idols Papa Rolling Stone' op de Joeptoeps. Waarom heb ik dit soort dingen onthouden, verdomme. Ik snap wel dat het in deze lijst staat, maar zelf haal ik er geen gigantische voldoening uit. Maar natuurlijk kan ik het de muzikaliteit wel gewoon waarderen. Ik vind de B-side ook nog niet zo vervelend, hoewel er wel een kleine stijlshift in zit. Het is absoluut geen ramp om dit album een keer uit te zitten. Een keurige 3 sterren.

83/100. A classic soul record packed with tasteful grooves, strong songwriting, and timeless vocal performances. The album blends social commentary with smooth, dynamic production, creating a sound that's both powerful and endlessly listenable.

Solid, funky, groovy, soulful

nice

Solid, got some bangers

Listened on Spotify. This is my second album by The Temptations. The first I listened to was their debut album "The Temptations Sings Smokey", which is a great album. "All Directions" is much more experimental and have some serious themes in the lyrics. The only song I knew before listening was "Papa Was Rolling Stone" which is among my favorite songs. It is a masterpiece! "Run Charlie Run" is lyrically interesting, but not one of my favorites to listen to. Favorites: - Papa Was a Rolling Stone - I Ain't Got Nothing - Mother Earth 7/10

"Every room has a floor." Find this and other revelations in All Directions.

Great hits

Tbh I prefer the shorter version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone. B side is pleasant soul but not my favorite of this era

3.5

I liked the first half of the album a lot but it kind of fizzled out in the back end for me.

some real classics but the ones in between were of variable quality

Didn’t know they sounded like this. Best part of the album: instrumental bits in papa was a rolling stone. Felt like i was in a 70s spy movie. Worst part of the album: 2nd song (i think I am too white to listen to this)

3 estrellas, buen soul

When 1/3 of your album is one song, it better be a good one. Luckily it is!

Mid

Papa was a rollin stone!

Another superb album from The Temptations. Much like Cloud Nine it has a raw and funky sound. If there was a 1001 songs to hear before you die then 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' would be on that list. Fuck it, if the list was 101 songs it would still be on it.

I liked these tunes. Felt like a set of darker songs to me. 7.5/10

Coole Band mit nem coolen Sound auf dem Album. Für fünf Sterne fehlte mir noch ein wenig das "Anregen zur Bewegung"-Gefühl. Aber war top

Chillig, funky, bekomme Lust auf sanftes Kuschelficken. 4/5

Funkier than funk from FunkTown. Loved it!

Some racist title. A lot without Text. Nothing for me.

Rating: 3.5/5 | Favorite Track: Papa Was a Rolling Stone --- Papa Was a Rolling Stone is such a perfect song, I just wish the rest of the album held up as well. It wasn’t a bad listen, just a little forgettable at times.

Solid funk. Papa was a rolling stone was a standout. Not too shabby.

7/10. Wasn't expecting to love this as it's not really my genre but there were some good tracks tbh. 'Run Charlie Run' confronts a heavy topic head on and wastes no words in making it's points, contrasted with the whimsical funk in the background it makes for an uncomfortable yet profound experience. Also 'Love woke me up this morning' had such and ethereal quality to it, that was a great track. The rest was not as exciting for me but I think overall a 7 is fair score.

Much preferred this to Cloud Nine, probably because the funky Temptations suits me more than the psychedelic Temptations.

A lot better than their other inclusion, Cloud Nine - which I had just days ago. “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” alone makes All Directions worth a listen; a bonafide classic.

This is a Sunday afternoon cooking a big meal album

This was fun and had me bouncing a little in my chair.

I was pretty disappointed with this, honestly. I'm surprised because I typically enjoy older R&B. But the first song is mixed so badly it's basically unlistenable (only in the right ear and the vocals are too low in the mix). Run Charlie run has good intent but it's super repetitive. Papa was a rolling stone was long and didn't land the hook as well as I expected. The second half of the album was pretty forgettable. Some good vocals of course, but hopefully the Temptations have a more interesting album on this list. 2/5.

The second Temptations album I've had on this list. Found the previous one (Cloud Nine) surprisingly mediocre apart from the vocals. Hoping this album has aged better and that their sound has evolved significantly since the last album I heard from them. The one song I know from this album (Papa Was a Rollin' Stone) sure slaps so I'm feeling positive going into this one. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On The instrumental feels a bit muted when played in my headset, though I can hear the great groove. Fantastic bassline. Great vocal performances for everyone involved. Really positive and fun track, makes me wanna move along to it. Good. 4/5 Run Charlie Run That's some unexpected bravery and edge. Really gets the point across providing some great commentary. Anti-racism anthem. Great performances all around and a decent instrumental to go on top of it. Good. 4/5. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Glorious instrumental buildup, the strings, the guitar and the brass just does so well at setting the tone. Adding a fantastic, but simple bassline to it is just the icing on the cake. Wonderfully psychedellic while containing a great groove. The lyrics are extremely catchy and fun to sing along to the instrumental stays great throughout. I also think each singer brings his A-game to the track, singing with passion, confidence and charisma. Probably the greatest song ever written about having a deadbeat dad. 5/5 Love Woke Me Up This Morning Feels joyful, really like the sound of this. Blissful and positive track. Generally fantastic vibes. Cheesy, but in a fun way. Great. 4.5/5 I Ain't Got Nothing Smooth. Has a pretty good instrumental. Doesn't really have the greatest energy, feels a bit sleepy. It's very pleasant, just perhaps not as interesting as the other tracks on here. Decent. 3.5/5 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Another slow ballad. Has less going for ir instrumentally than the previous track, thougg I think the lyrics are a bit more compelling. The vocals are definitely subtle, though performed with decent emotion. Comes across as a bit boring. Fine. 3/5 Mother Nature I enjoy the piano and the backing vocals a lot. Passionate main vocals. Great bassline. Fairly unique and inspired soul song. Good. 4/5 Do Your Thing Starts off extremely funky. Has a great groove to it. Great chorus, marvelously produced, really catchy. Oozes swagger, just a smooth enjoyable experience all around. Great. 4.5/5 What an improvement from the last album I've heard from them. Most things here just click immediately and just dound thought out and well constructed. There's a lot more variation when it comes to styles and themes, and the improved production helps immensely. I feel the song writing here is great especially how they're able to implement all members decently well through parts that fit their respective voices and styles. The instrumental really shines in the funkier tracks on the album, but it also really does a great job adding grandness snd texture to songs like "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" and "'Mother Nature". The album is short, concise and gets its point across and every track feels like a worthy inclusion. Genuine surprise. 4/5

The album first increases track by track ("Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On", "Run Charlie Run") and peakes with the great "Papa Was A Rolling Stone". But after that for me it again becomes lamer and lamer.

Not really my style of music. Also a very short album and not very memorable.

Overall just great grooves. Solid throughout and never had me wanting to stop. Papa was a rolling stone is the highlight here.

A nice surprise, not every song is a hit, but overall I liked it

Not my thing but undeniably excellent.

custom_rating: 7

This is a classic album filled with the soulful vocals of Otis Redding and others that combines elements of funk, jazz, and R&B. They share their experiences of being black and how music influenced them. While not something I’d probably add to my playlists I can appreciate this music greatly.

It was okay

I know and appreciate the band, but I'd never heard this album before. I wasn't alone based on the listen counts. Oddly, it opens with a live cut, "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On", (there is no studio version as it's an Edwin Starr track). Then it moves into the studio tracks, including the incredible (and long) "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" which is the key reason why this album made the T1001 list. There are a few clunkers on here ("Love Woke Me Up This Morning", "Mother Nature"). I respect the music, but the album is average beyond the one classic mega hit song.

Would listen again, but not the best Temptations songs

Iconic tunes indeed, but I'm not sure that enjoy every song

Man, the Temps really were off in all directions on this album. Obviously influenced by Marvin’s foray into social commentary while also staying true to their roots.

Really easy to talk at length even just about the crown jewel on this album ("Papa Was A Rolling Stone") but I'm trying to keep it brief; I love The Temptations, I prefer the wall-knocking funk they would show off compared to their '60s bubblegum pop, and this album is a good balance of both. It's a quick one, just over 35 minutes long with an 11-minute epic placed in the middle, and it works extremely well!

Well this isn’t My Girl? Funky not my favorite.

This was extremely groovy. I dug it.

Papa was a Rolling Stone is a great song. This album wanders around some but the skill and sound is undeniable. I feel like The Temptations are the type of band that has some really strong peaks and some valleys that are still pretty solid due to their skill.

This has some great music. Good instrumentation and vocals. Cohesive sound. The producer should probably be the face on the cover. Seems like they were really responsible for the build of this album.

This is not what I thought a Temptations album would be like. I was pleasantly surprised. Very enjoyable listen.

The Temptations' *All Directions* (1972) is a landmark album in the evolution of soul music, blending funk, psychedelic soul, and socially conscious themes. Produced by Norman Whitfield, this record represents a pivotal moment in the group's career and Motown's history. Below is an in-depth review of its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, followed by an analysis of its pros and cons. ## **Lyrics** The lyrics on *All Directions* reflect a mix of social commentary, introspection, and emotional storytelling: - **"Papa Was a Rolling Stone"**: The centerpiece of the album, this 12-minute epic addresses themes of family dysfunction and absentee fatherhood. Its conversational lyrics—where children question their mother about their late father—are poignant and emotionally charged. The song paints a vivid picture of disillusionment while maintaining an air of mystery about the titular character[1][2]. - **"Run Charlie Run"**: This track tackles the sensitive topic of white flight during the civil rights era. Though its message is powerful, its repeated use of racial slurs made it controversial even among the group members[3]. - **"Mother Nature"**: A more traditional soul track with poetic lyrics that reflect on human relationships and environmental metaphors[3]. - **Ballads like "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)"**: These tracks explore love and tenderness but lack the same lyrical depth as the socially conscious songs[1]. Overall, the album's lyrics oscillate between groundbreaking social commentary and standard love ballads. ## **Music** Musically, *All Directions* is a masterclass in blending genres: - The album opens with **"Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On,"** a high-energy funk track that showcases The Temptations' vocal interplay over a live-sounding backdrop. However, the crowd noise occasionally overpowers the music[1]. - **"Papa Was a Rolling Stone"** features an extended instrumental introduction with wah-wah guitars, sweeping strings, and pulsating basslines. This cinematic approach builds tension before the vocals enter, creating an immersive experience[1][2]. - Tracks like **"Do Your Thing"** lean heavily into funk with dramatic horns and groovy rhythms, while others like **"I Ain't Got Nothing"** are more subdued, featuring understated arrangements that emphasize melancholy[1][3]. The musicianship is impeccable throughout, with The Funk Brothers delivering tight performances that elevate every track. ## **Production** Norman Whitfield's production is the backbone of *All Directions*. His ability to craft expansive soundscapes is most evident on "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," where he employs layered instrumentation to create a sense of drama and anticipation. Whitfield's use of long instrumental passages was innovative for Motown at the time, pushing the boundaries of what soul music could be[1][2]. However, some tracks suffer from uneven mixing. For instance: - Ballads like "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" have lush arrangements but feel raw due to inconsistent mixing[3]. - The live feel on "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" adds energy but detracts from clarity when crowd noise overwhelms the music[1]. ## **Themes** Thematically, *All Directions* is ambitious: - **Social Issues**: Tracks like "Run Charlie Run" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" delve into racism, urban decay, and family struggles. These songs reflect the turbulence of early 1970s America. - **Love and Emotion**: Ballads such as "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" focus on personal relationships but lack the thematic weight of the socially conscious tracks. - **Funk and Freedom**: Songs like "Do Your Thing" celebrate individuality and creative expression through their funky grooves. This duality makes the album both socially relevant and emotionally resonant. ## **Influence** *All Directions* had a profound impact on soul music: - "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" became one of The Temptations' signature songs and won three Grammy Awards. Its fusion of funk and psychedelic soul influenced artists like Isaac Hayes and Marvin Gaye[1][2]. - The album marked a departure from Motown's traditional sound toward more experimental production styles. Whitfield's work here paved the way for future explorations in cinematic soul[3]. - Despite its success, tensions between Whitfield and The Temptations grew during its creation. The group felt overshadowed by his production style, which they believed prioritized instrumentation over their vocals[3]. ## **Pros** 1. **Innovative Production**: Norman Whitfield's bold approach set new standards for soul music. 2. **Standout Tracks**: "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Do Your Thing," and "Run Charlie Run" are highlights that showcase The Temptations' versatility. 3. **Social Relevance**: The album's exploration of racism, urban decay, and family dynamics gives it lasting cultural significance. 4. **Musicianship**: The Funk Brothers' performances are exceptional throughout. 5. **Diversity**: The mix of funk-driven tracks and tender ballads demonstrates range. ## **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Cohesion**: The album feels more like a collection of standout tracks than a unified whole. 2. **Controversial Lyrics**: Songs like "Run Charlie Run" include language that alienated some listeners. 3. **Overproduction at Times**: While innovative, Whitfield's heavy-handed production occasionally overshadows The Temptations' vocals. 4. **Uneven Mixing**: Some tracks suffer from raw or unbalanced sound quality. 5. **Short Length**: At just under 40 minutes, the album feels too brief for its ambition. ## Final Thoughts *All Directions* is both a triumph and a turning point for The Temptations. Its bold experimentation with funk and psychedelic soul solidified their legacy as pioneers in Motown's evolution while addressing pressing social issues through music. However, its uneven cohesion and occasional overproduction prevent it from being flawless. Despite these shortcomings, *All Directions* remains essential listening for fans of soul music. It captures a moment when The Temptations—and Motown—were willing to take risks to push boundaries.

Jävla vilket sväng! Nästan så jag börjar gilla funk😁

Not essential, but solid.

Funk, yet smooth.

When I was like 10, my father told me "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was one of the greatest songs ever written. I accepted it as a child often does, unquestioningly. It went in all of my greatest hits mixes, and I occasionally would bring it out around my friends, to show off my musical acumen, as I am a child of the 80s and many of them were unfamiliar. Now, with the wisdom of decades, and my own children becoming teenagers, my belief in the truth of that statement is stronger. Great song. Incredible engineering. As a recording, as a performance, I don't think I could come up with a GOAT list that didn't include it. Rest of the album slaps too.

Some slower, mellow Temptations songs. Pleasant and enjoyable.

This short set of tracks is decent but not quite as boogie-able as other temptations records. Love Woke Me Up This morning is truly gorgeous and is the standout by far.

The first 3 songs are by far my favorites- especially “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone” - all great funk songs. The second half was more R&B, Doo-wop and I thought was not as strong but still liked "The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" and "Mother Nature".

The thing about The Temptations, compared to other similar groups, is how much their music changed across their career. This funky, fat bass, sound is so different from their 60's stuff. I really enjoyed this.

Funky Music Sho Noff Turns Me On - 8/10 Run Charlie Run - 5.5/10 Papa Was A Rolling Stone 4/10 Love Woke Me Up This Morning 8.5/10 I Ain‘t Got Nothing 5.5/10 The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face 5/10 Mother Nature 9/10 Do Your Thing 5.5/10

Great vocals, beautiful and funky songs, incredible productions. Magnificent!!

Nogmaals, best goed

rieeeeeese opener. uffff motown funk sound. run charlie run au geeeilomat. aha stimmt papa was a rolling stone. fuck. jo muemer nöd de huufe dezue sege. afoch geil. es goht sooooo lang hahaha. aber de groove verhebet. lieb progressive soul. lieb alli wo do druff spieled. wah wah gitarre richtig igsetzt. love woke me up this morning mega schöön und mega churz super kontrast. mags. s letst womer vo ihne gha hend isch mer zu fest zweiteilt gsi in funk/soulballade. die findi passt etz ine. LEIDER isch die zweit hälfti wieder wesentlich schwächer au wenns suuuper schöni songs sind jammere uf mega höchem niveau.

the damntations run charlie run kenntmer ja, anschinend hends das nöd umbedingt welle spiele papa qas a rollin stone augad no?? d hits hends gad am ahfang annegfizzt hä joo es isch es sehr grosses und wichtigs lied gsi aber hans doch gnueg lang gfunde love woke me up this morning isch huere schön, au wenn chli weniger "speziell" wie die vorherige lieder ich lieb s SCHUWAPSHWAP" jaa also sie hend chli wieder di glich uufteikig gmacht wie bi cloud nine aber au mither nature isch extrem schöön FUCKING VIERI

Great tracks but seemed short for some reason.

I enjoyed the uptempo funky songs more than the more ballad-y tracks, as I always do, but overall I thought this was a very good listen.

A very pleasant album. Very good production and vocal performance. I did expect a bit more from them, tho this is really good.

Great funk album. I had high hopes seeing it was a Temptations album and they didn’t disappoint. Papa was a Rolling Stone is always longer and better than I remember it. I saved several other songs but could also just go for the ride for the full album again. Real strong 4 but I think there was a bit of a lull from the high energy at a point.

I honestly thought the temptations only ever had the 50’s/60’s boy pop band sound. This album was dope. And the funky guitar in Papa was a rollin’ stone is used in so many movies/tv shows it’s wild that it came from here.

Good pleasant listening

I put the “GRR” in swinger baby! This album starts off with so much funk it’s like from an Austin powers movie. I really didn’t know what to expect because tbh the only temptations song I really know is my girl so I was expecting this to be kinda cheesy but I was pleasantly surprised about the craftsmanship of this album! The production quality is excellent. The variety of musical styles: funk, soul, r&b, jazz are all on display. I had a great time

I was expecting to really like this, but I didn’t all that much. I know the temptations have some good songs so I was disappointed. Maybe there will be a better representation of them on the list.

Such a jam. Absolutely iconic baseline on Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, but I don’t know if it’s fair that it takes up a third of the album. I could’ve gone for more tracks instead. A really good listen and I hope we have more from The Temptations.

It's hard to speak negatively about The Temptations, but I was expecting a little more. Don't get me wrong, their voices are unmatched and the music is super soothing. I think I was just looking for a little more. Papa Was a Rolling Stone is a classic, but it's really just 8 minutes of repeating funky beats smashed into a 3 minute song. I think this review is coming off a little more negative than I anticipated. I did really like it. I just thought it was going to be a five before listening to it.

Probably the best at what they do

This is #day225 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here’s to some early 70s funky psychedelic soul. Like with many albums on the list, I probably wouldn’t have chosen to listen to this one on my own if it weren't for the challenge, but it was fine—pretty groovy, if you will. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone is definitely the album's centerpiece and its biggest gem. It kind of reminded me of Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, given its epicness. I’m giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day226.

All Directions is a strong showing from The Temptations during their psychedelic soul phase. “Run Charlie Run” is catchy with a biting social commentary that still feels relevant, and their version of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” is nothing short of legendary — the atmosphere, the groove, that iconic bassline. It’s a slow burn that totally pays off. The rest of the album doesn’t quite hit the same highs, but there’s still plenty of solid material here. It’s a bold, experimental record that shows just how much The Temptations evolved from their earlier Motown days. Definitely worth a listen if you want to hear a group pushing their sound in new directions. Favorite song: Papa Was a Rollin Stone

This is awesome. Funky and smoooooth

Херь какая то

Really smooth bass-based + drum focused soul album. Lyrics not particularly impressive, but sound is

All the hits and all the fun.

хороший, бодрый и необычный поп / бродвейская по ощущениям музыка

Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - 3/5 Run Charlie Run - 4/5 Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - 5/5 Love Woke Me Up This Morning - 3/5 I Ain't Got Nothin' - 3/5 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 3/5 Mother Nature - 3/5 Do Your Thing - 4/5 Total score: 3.5/5 (rounding down) started strong until they switched to more of a gentle, doo-woppy sound in the middle. not a bad album at all but i prefer the motown funk sound far more

Really not sure. not my thing. highly random at times. Did make me laugh with the lyrics on one track so gave them an extra star. First album where I have struggled to form an opinion.

A great listen. Apart from the unexpected lyrics of Run Charlie Run, the album was a funky delight. Upbeat and soulful vocals. The style seems to leap around all over the place a bit and at first I thought it was very short but I've now realised that Papa was a rollin' stone was missing from the album in Tidal (weird/annoying!) which accounts for it's shortness. I enjoyed it like taking a funky little journey back in time.

cool funk, but some songs are boring

Just pretty good I like the instrumentation and the signing, quality is a bit bad because I don’t think it’s been remastered but that’s not too bad. I like the long song Favourite songs: funky music sho nuff turns me on, papa was a rollin’ stone, love woke me up this morning, the first time I ever saw your face, do your thing. Overall around 7/10

Back half of the album hit better than the front half, but did we really need another version of papa was a rolling stone?

I wish I could give .5 reviews 3.5 I never knew funk could be trancey

Beautiful album

Good album

I really do like the temptations.

This is not the My Girl Temptations it’s edgy with searing social commentary, however, slower songs such a s Love Woke Me Up This Morning were bland and lyrically simple. The gold nugget is Papa Was A Rollin' Stone. A song seared into my brain from the age of 14.

Amazing! Where has this been all my life.

This was very beautiful and I will probably never listen to it again. But now I know how much range The Temptations have, so that's cool. Every single track here felt completely different genre-wise it's kind of insane. All Directions indeed.

концептуально, весь альбом вокруг одного длиннейшего трека. как обычно сон животворящий украл у меня все воспоминания, но в целом повторять не буду

2.5 - not super memorable

Wasn’t a hard listen. It’s a decent album 1001 album worthy: Nah - 55/104

Excellent funky Motown record. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a classic.

If i could give it a 2.5 i'd give it, but i'm more skewing towards a 3. It was definitely funky, but something was missing throughout the lines

The funk tracks massively overshadow all the rest

Heard some Temptations songs before. While I can tell it's a good, well made album it just was background music to me for some reason. I just couldn't pay attention to any of the tracks 2/5

I'm surprised how funky this album started out. Really loved the first track (though I was worried it was about to be a live album, not my favorite). "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" is an absolute tear of a song, but even my jamband-loving self was a little bored with the extended intro and overall length of the song. The album got a little less funky and a lot more soulful as it went on. Overall, it was fine, but I expected to like it more after the first few tracks.

Just My Imagination was released One. Year. Before. THIS. HOW Oh, well, the second half of this album kind of explains it, as it's merely average, and really kind of a let down after the first 3 songs. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is one of the best songs ever written but this isn't a great version. Papa Was a Rolling Stone is around 33% of this record though so I've got to score for that. Thinking back to Cloud 9, the T's always had the funk chops, and that's where they excel.

I'm not a ballad person so I definitely enjoyed the first half more than most of the second half, however, the musicianship and talent is through the roof so overall I enjoyed it all a lot nonetheless.

The lows were meh but the highs were so so good

Funky

3 - Fantastic motown band and album.

[3.5]

Funky, fun and great singles!

Loved this - v enjoyable - listened maybe 3/4 times

It’s good. But not memorable yet. Papa was rolling stone. Is that moment. The whole album is very 70s. It’s good. Not sure I would seek this one out.

Toe tappin

More edgy than I had expected!

This wasn’t a soundtrack for sweet sweet lovemaking like I thought it would be. It has some substance to it. I was not overly impressed with it. There’s some low temple jams, the vocals are good and the band are clearly tight. This album just seems to lack anything that caught my attention. I had the ill fated mind wander while listening. Sometimes that’s good when the music seems to have that intention. This didn’t. I had a choice cut but I forgot what it was and now I’m listening to Blind Melon.

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 👨‍👧‍👦🔄️🪨 Rating: ⬆️➡️⬇️⬅️/5

I guess the clue is in the title - its called All directions and musically it goes all over the place. Papa was a rollin stone is a cinematic classic next to which everything else pales. I think just scrapes a 4 as the funky tunes out weigh the schmaltz.

All Directions Strangely the version of this on Tidal is missing Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, it just goes from track 2 to track 4. It might be a rights issue, but the song is on Tidal on other Temptations albums and compilations. It's a bit annoying to have to skip around to listen to it all in the right order, luckily though it's a fantastic track. It seems like Funky Music Sho’ ‘Nuff Turns Me On is actually fake ‘live’, which is both strange and perplexing, as a proper studio version would be great - it’s an excellent song with superb vocals but this just sounds murky and indistinct and the stereo mix seems a trifle strange too. Run Charlie Run is a great bit of non-singalon funk-soul, and sounds like Funky Music should. Papa is of course a classic, and completely justifies its 11 minutes. Love Woke Me Up This Morning is a classic bit of throwaway Temptations syrupy balladry, the piano is great and as always the vocals are excellent, making a fun confection but one that ultimately doesn’t last long on the tongue/ears. I Ain’t Got Nothing I really loved; great melody, vocals and Shoo-wop-shoo-wops as well as an excellent string arrangement, a nice counter to the rather cloying string arrangements either side. Vocally it’s a fantastic version of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, the piano and bass supporting very nicely, but the strings are a touch too saccharine and I feel like they pull the song under a little. Love the timpani on Mother Nature and another great lead vocal, leading nicely into the superb Do Your Thing Alongside the uniformly fantastic vocals, harmonies and vocal arrangements the Funk Brothers playing is magnificent, but the bass playing is particularly excellent, melodic and rhythmic with a great tone and no hints of overplaying - which you would expect with Bob Babbitt and James Jamerson’s playing. Overall it is a slight oddity in its sense of thrown together unevenness, but with the vocals and playing making up any shortfalls it’s never unlistenable, and in Papa there is one absolute classic and four excellent tracks in Run Charlie Run, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Mother Nature and Do Your Thing. It’s just a shame they didn’t do a proper version of Funky Music to really elevate it. As it is it makes it into the low-mid 4s 🧭🧭🧭🧭 Playlist submission: Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone

I think this one of the better-quality psychedelic funk albums I've heard, although is a little mixed. It always rankles me a bit that there are never any originals on these types of albums, so the band is relying on selecting some, often hitherto lesser-known, tracks. In the case of 'Papa was a Rollin Stone', they didn't even want to record it, but for the insistence of Norman Whitfield. I always marvel at the intro for nearly 4 minutes, fundamentally based around a few repeating bass notes - and it still could go on for another three and not feel too long. The album feels an album of two halves with the Whitfield-led live funk sound for the first three tracks (but half of the album in terms of length); moving mainly into balladry for the second half, which I assume is a band-led decision. Aside from P-WARS I'm not sure I could term anything as superb. But quite an enjoyable listen nonetheless.

3.5/5

The entire album is only 34 minutes and almost 12 minutes is Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Not mad about it, though.

thinking about a 5 for this…

Pre-listening thoughts: I… guess… you… say… what. could. make. me. feel. this. way…? what’s that? Wrong album? Oops Post/during listening thoughts: okay temptations I didn’t know you could get funky like that! Run Charlie Run was pretty starkly different from that opener! Papa Was a Rolling Stone is good but too long for my taste (funny considering I just gave the Gershwin songbook a 5. I’m a hypocrite). This is good but I wish they leaned into that funk sound more. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Funky Music…, I Ain’t Got Nothin’, Mother Nature Least fav tracks: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face

Très solide album de soul/RnB avec quelques hits. J'étais un peu incertain si la production plus gritty fittais bien avec les chansons. En général c'est un type de production que j'aime mais j'associe les Temptations a un son plus "clean" . Un bon album, je réécouterais

Vraiment, bon, sonne la bombe, une réalisation super interessante. Probablement mon best album a date.

Pas pire pantoute. Rien de trop négatif à dire. Plusieurs bons moments. P-ê un peu inégal.

C'est très bon mais c'est pas très bon.

Motown at it's finest. What's not to love.

Uuuu yeeaaaaa

I can definitely vibe to this, but not something I would want to listen to all the time

can not remember much

Couldn't be arsed with this, especially not an 11 minute version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Forgettable enough.

Not the most memorable, don't think I'll go for it again. I didn't hate it.

Ok

Close to a 3

Love this album

Sensitive and soulful song writing. There were a couple low points for me but overall, this is a great album.

Strong theme throughout and some nice love ballada

EXCELLENT - 5 Star It's just Motown!

Funky and fun

Lots of fun instrumentals, I saved two of the songs. Not something I would listen to a ton but I had a good time.

There’s no denying the funk on this album is absolutely top-tier, it grooves hard and keeps you hooked. But when it leans more into the R&B/soul side, I find my interest drifting a bit. That’s just personal taste, though, because the talent and production here are undeniable. All Directions is a well-crafted album with some standout moments, even if it doesn’t fully keep me locked in the whole way through.

Soul defined!

Variable as an album, with not everything successful, but some great Motown along the way, and that version of Papa was a Rollin' Stone is insanely good.

Fav: Love Woke Me Up This Morning Least Fav: Run Charlie Run

Fairly disappointing. Way too much funk. Maybe a victim of their own previous success

I really expected to like this one more, but it just didn't grab me. Seems like a lot of 70s era Motown struggled to find the groove they had in the 60s.

Not for me. I listened to it but that’s about all I can positively say.

So far, my favorite album from the 1001generator. Five Stars! Makes me dance like a 1960s Go Go girl!

Big groovin, need more funk

Absolutely brilliant. The famous Funk Brothers (band) are all here, creating sleek, tight, filthy funk. String arrangement are sublime. Lyrics are astounding. Of course, the 12 minute cover of Papa Was A Rolling Stone is here, and it is one of the greatest songs and performances ever recorded. The other songs here are powerful and often brazen. This album is unabashedly Black. All vocals are 100% on point. And the soft songs are lush and soul full. I'd never listened to this 35 minute masterpiece of an album. And I'm glad I have it now. 5 of 5 stars.

7.5/10. It's not tempting, but it is quite nice, and soulful. The listening experience is quite pleasant.

Sometimes you stumble on to something that ticks all the boxes. "All Directions" is that kind of album for me. Has funky ass instrumental sections, the vocals are raw and powerful, slower jams, uptempo cuts, and I'm a sucker for doo-wop, no matter the naysayers! This album is a new favorite!

First time listener, a few standouts but not sure I’d come back.

Full of epic songs, the Temptations finally arrived to be first class, even though they hovered around that level throughout their existence. 4.5/5

DISCONE

Great Motown classic full of groovy and deep "dirty" funky and soulful tracks. Usually not my favorite type of music but this one I really enjoyed.

All I know of the Temptations in the '70s is the GREAT "Psychedelic Soul" 2 CD compilation, which has Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On and Papa Was a Rolling Stone from this album. Turns out those are the two best songs on this album, and of course "Papa" is the song that revitalized the Temps career. There's nothing wrong with the rest of the record (although I friggin hate "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" no matter who does it; side note: the same guy who wrote that also wrote "Dirty Old Town" by the Pogues, which is a trip), but none of it is incredibly compelling. The chilled funk of "Do your thing" is pretty bad-ass I have to admit. One other note on "Papa": as a young music snob I used to dismiss "simple" music that only had a couple of chords. I've since learned better. A song having only two or three (or even one!) chords isn't bad simply BECAUSE it only has a couple chords. "Papa" essentially rides on one chord for 11 minutes, but it GROOVES. It's propelled forward by something other than chordal development. The single edit of the song is seven minutes, but even the 11 minute version doesn't seem long, somehow. I think the initial lyrics kick you between the eyes a little bit and make you want to know more about the narrator(s) and what the deal was with papa. They give you just enough and don't wrap it in a bow. It's a velvet box lined with coarse sandpaper and we're lucky to have it.

I never knew Papa was a Rolling Stine was such a long song.

Loved the funk, side A is perfect, side B gets slower and less interesting but finishes strong

Classic, loved it.

Great album

Cerebral. all i have to say.

interesting socially aware songs in amongst. the standard soul. The 12 minute version of Papa was a rolling stone' needs editing.

Pretty fun most of the time. Will I listen to again: 25%

I was in a more modern earth based Star Wars battle and I was the perceived bad guy. I kept switching between young man to adult. Somewhere di osaurs were involved and I took cover with a man who wa tedto trade books. Things became too much about how fleeting life is when thinking about how on this planet goats lived to be 500

I have an issue with albums like this. I liked it, but its significance isn't immediately apparent to me, so I read the Wikipedia article. When albums have basically no information in the article like this one, I still don't know why it's on the list. So the only place left to look is the book, and the book never says either... Anyway, this was OK. We'll call it a 3

Reminds me of playing LittleBigPlanet (I Ain't Got Nothin' was in the third game I think). Very jazzy, mellow and energetic at the same time. Accidentally listened to it twice in a row without realizing it (thanks Spotify).

This was actually a really good album that I loved listening to!

Pleasant funk but nothing special

Papa was a rollin' stone made me want to walk down the road and pretend to be in a spy movie. The lyrics to Run Charlie Run nearly made me spit out my coffee. Otherwise a pleasant but entirely forgettable funky album

9/10. Classic. Tons of talent and lots of fun.

so groovy and so fun - that funky soul with elements of modern RnB is so beautiful and so much fun to listen to.

This was wonderful. Not sure why but I was surprised how much I enjoyed this album!

Soul, Harmony with just a touch of funk and lyrics that meant something to the time.

There’s some good hard funk in the beginning, but I don’t really know where to fully categorize this—half groove, half something else.

Got bored honestly. Second song takes you back to a different place and time I don’t want to go back to. Or maybe nothing has changed at all.

Pretty good...social commentary, but I prefer ballads on my Temptations.

Pretty groovy, sufficiently soulful and and a fun enough listen. Plus, it's interesting to see the influence of psychedelia on R&B, which was getting grittier and rockier, but a bit too soft, broad and commercial for one's tastes.

Papa was a rollin stone is one of the GOAT but the rest is a bit of a generic mixed bag.......

The Temptations are a great listen. There is something really fun about how masterfully they vocalize and harmonize with such heart and energy. Another great album from 1972. Love the funk grove right out of the gate, but I love the soulful groove on the closing, "Do your thing!"

nice enough

Some songs I liked, some I didn’t. Not much flow to the album. I’ve never been a huge Motown type fan, but I recognize the talent and quality of music. Great vocals and bass.

Well this album was a decision. Clearly trying to find something different and unexpected. Don't really know if it works, but a for effort.

I've listened to my fair share of The Temptations, and their songs are generally too funky, and groovy to pass on. I had too much fun with this album. Favorite Song: "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone".

The Temptations are a great listen. There is something really fun about how masterfully they vocalize and harmonize with such heart and energy. Another great album from 1972. Love the funk grove right out of the gate, but I love the soulful groove on the closing, "Do your thing!"

Funk, soul, pop. I like the funk. I can believe deserves more than 3 stars but it’s all I have right now.

The first few tracks on the album were very funky and energetic but the tempo slowed as the album went on but still kept up the funk and soul sound

Some bangers!

‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ rules

Really fab listen. The harmonies on the vocals are superb and the overall vocal sound heavenly. The real boy bands in my opinion. Absolutely brilliant. As for papa was a rolling stone .....🫠😍

2.8 3x

I have enjoyed the Temptations for most of my life but I must confess that I’ve always heard the greatest hits. Listening to this album reduced my enthusiasm. This is all over the place, no coherence… there are of course some classic songs on here especially Papa was a rolling stone - 11 minute version… that in itself is worthy of listening to the whole album.

It's ok. Feet in two camps, but luckily I like both. I could do with a single direction instead of all of them though. It's not all killer, but Papa was a Rolling Stone is a classic. Three stars.

Like the first breath of spring after a long winter, this is an album that whispers to the heart, caresses the soul, and takes you on a journey in every direction, the healing power of which will linger with you long after the music fades.

Great album, the Temptations are much more varied than I realized.

A lot cooler than I remembered the Temptations being. I mean, less fluffy than I remembered

Super funky. I love the long, drawn-out songs and time they take in papa was a rolling stone. Just overall cool

Felt like I was watching a 70s cop show in the background at times haha. “Papa’s a Rolling Stone” especially sounded like the score to something like Starsky and Hutch. The opening track definitely was my favourite, straight funky jam

Very pleasant for a morning sunrise drive