Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Listened 26/1/21
I feel like these guys have been slighted by what music has passed through time, like I only remember the chorus of papa rollin' stone instead of the heartfelt lyrics or the ' first time I ever saw your face' ballad but not the black power run Charlie and the heavier feelings of Mother Nature. and the producing of it. lots of creativity. it's Motown but not the glossy happy. geez does this happen to every genre where the culture that follows only remembers the pop and not the underbrush. when this happens in classical music, we assume it's the 'quality' that keeps certain music above the rest,, but I have always found it more interesting to listen acrooossss and under and now I've talked too much which is not honoring this music.
Pretty good nice variation while keeping the same sound and lyrical content is nice
The album has some weak songs here and there, but most of the songs are nice and fun to listen to. I also liked the varied topics that were in these songs. Topics like love, having nothing, black power and more. Really Liked it. Favorite songs: - Run Charlie Run - Love Woke me Up This Morning - I Ain't Got Nothing - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face - Do Your Thing
I'm not into the slower jams, but when it's going (which is most of the album) this is solid. Definitely worth a listen.
Soul! Fun!
Yeah great, this version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is an excellent effort.
This album restored my life rhythm from the clutches of enveloping bedridden mental isolation. At the onset of their overtly sensual first song, I could tell the whole album was going to radiate a bonafide groove. While listening to Papa Was a Rolling Stone and I Ain’t Got Nothin, I could imagine the lyrics being sung by an old scratchy banjo player with a minimal banjo part (the lush string parts would be missed though) and raspy, saturated singing. “And when he died, all he left us was alone.” The four minute intro to this song was a story in itself. Aside from these two songs, Mother Nature stood out to me as well. This plastic world is sho nuff killing us all!
Loved the vibe on this album. Check out James Blake's cover of "the first time ever i saw your face".
Classic funk album
I do like the sound of funky music
Good, led me down a nice path in Spotify after it finished. Better for that than the full album was but still enjoyable.
Lots of good soul, including Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Nice and easy, good vibes
Great album, lots of covers but all done in that great temptations groove
They may have gotten sick and tired of being the choral singers of Norman Whitfield but, by All Directions, The Temptations still proved adept at capturing an audience with their by now patented psychedelic soul. Mainly anchored by the gargantuan Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, All Directions became the crystallization of what they had been pushing and pushed towards in the dawn of the 70s as they both planted a flag with their peak and a seed for what was to come, which was the repudiation of such adventurous things. Favorites: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Mother Nature, Do Your Thing.
Great mood music for weekend mornings!
okay r&b/soul. chill and relaxing
A succulent temptation, Norman Whitfield displays his mastery here
Higher lows but lower highs than Cloud Nine. There’s nothing so bad as that album’s rendition of “Heard It Through The Grapevine,” but this album’s best song, the legendary “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” is nowhere near the level of Cloud Nine’s “Runaway Child, Running Wild,” which is in my opinion is The Temptations’ best song. Also, the ballads on the B-side are in general MUCH worse than on Cloud Nine, and generally this album is pretty unimpressive. 6.7/10
I'm not sure if this is fair, but I'll say it anyway: The Temptations is at its best on any hits or singles collection.
Some great tracks but also half of it is just not great and would want to skip them if listening again.
This was fine. I preferred the funkier songs.
alright
The Temptations are obviously an incredible band with a history of killer singles. I’m not sure if this album warrants a must listen though. I enjoyed listening but I probably won’t come back to it.
As the title implies, an uneven mixed bag, but I enjoy the vocal performances and Papa Was a Rollin Stone is phenomenal.
Decent.
6/10
Nice! 3.25 rounded down to 3.
carried by one song
2.5
First track was an absolute jam, and I was expecting to really enjoy this album. Sadly the album didn't keep up the momentum; "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" was enjoyable enough, but it felt like 11 minutes of build-up only to ... not really go anywhere. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" cover isn't as good as the Roberta Flack version that came out around the same time, the vocals just don't hold up and there were a couple of notes that felt slightly off. The last two tracks were definitely back on form and were much more enjoyable again. Definitely a group that are at their best doing funk, not a fan of their forays into ballads. Some decent tracks here that I'd happily listen to again, but not an album I'm going to revisit.
I knew this band probably solely for the song, my girl, but they've got some pretty decent stuff. I wasn't sure how to categorize them; musically, It seems mostly like pop with some funk and soul influence, but then that got me thinking about how historically pop music might have been defined as white pop music. Anyway, pretty good stuff, but I wasn't blown away. Strong 3 though
I had no idea the temptations transitioned to this style in the 70s. Cool to hear them more laid back. Fun funk, soul work in the vein of Marvin Gaye.
1. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (★★★⯨☆) 2. Run Charlie Run (★★★☆☆) 3. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (★★★☆☆) -Un poco extensa... 4. Love Woke Me Up This Morning (★★☆☆☆) 5. I Ain't Got Nothin' (★★★★★) -Fav 6. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (★★⯨☆☆) 7. Mother Nature (★★★☆☆) 8. Do Your Thing (★★★☆☆) -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (3)
Good
Enjoyed that
ff
This one’s hard for me. I, personally, thoroughly enjoyed this. I see from other reviews this doesn’t do it for many. My husband wants to immediately turn the dial. But for me and MY taste, it’s in the pocket. That being said, it’s derivative af. All Directions is right. They grabbed from all directions, like Sly and the Family, and made it theirs. And while their cover of Pappa was a Rolling Stone is epic… great covers rarely make a great album. So 3. Boolean: false, sorry but yeah probably shouldn’t be on the list
Maukasta soulia/funkkia. Sellaista leffasoundtrack sopivaa. Papa Was A Rolling Stonessa kivan pitkiä tunnelmallisia hetkiä. Pari myös herkempää biisiä. Parhaat: Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Run Charlie Rub
Pretty strong first half, but the second half doesn't do much for me Fav track: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
i enjoyed this listen! quality vocals and a good range of subject matter and vibe. though this album isn’t something i'd necessarily return to in its entirety, i enjoyed several songs enough to come back to them. i was really struck by run charlie run cuz i did Not know the temptations for particularly political music, i only really knew them for romantic ballads, but that was bold as hell and i imagine it must have upset some execs at the time (respect). fav: run charlie run
The goofiness clashed too much with the grooviness.
huh this was… not my favourite. but i respect it?
Good stuff. "Papa was a rolling stone" is an all timer
I like them when I’m wanting older music but not something I choose to listen to on the regular.
Much more interesting than I expected. Will I listen again? Doubt it.
More funky than I would assume for a temptations record. At least to start. It feels more standard as it goes on but neat way to kick it off. Papa was a rolling stone was my favorite track here. Though its long as hell and I never love that. It has a few distinct sections that make it easier to see it as a couple smaller songs. Anf they all are good. But thats about it. Its good. Im just not crazy about it. Worth the listen without being something I come back to again and again.
Mostly highs, some lows so it leveled out to be a decent album. I enjoyed it. 3.5/5
Næs. Ekki nógu mikið oomph til að fá fjórar samt.
Side 1 of this album is superb - Norman Whitfield at his "psychedelic soul" best. I'm less keen on side 2. Papa Was A Rolling Stone is a stone cold classic
Funky stuff. A third of the album is Papa Was A Rollin Stone which is a huge positive. Other songs were enjoyable as well; some fun and some heavier.
Some funky grooves, some great singing. Better than the first one we had by them.
The Temptations are a household name and back up that feat by oozing with talent. A couple of classic tunes are included in All Directions with Papa Was A Rolling Stone leading the charge in front of The First Time Ever I saw Your Face. My impression of The Temptations changed when Run Charlie Run played as I didn’t know they had that kind of music in them. Overall, a great listen and good addition to this project.
Damn, son … that shit was funky.
Funky and groovy, this right here is the sh#t
I can appreciate the amount of different ideas but unfortunately it's a bit too all over the place for my liking.
Good, but not great. There's some strong highlights. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone is a pretty cool epic, I like that horn refrain but I don't know where I've heard it before. I liked Do Your Thing too, that ended the album on a string note I don't really have much else to get excited about here though. Everything else was decent but didn't feel particularly noteworthy. The left channel on the first track is also really muffled and was weirdly deeply unpleasant to listen to. That soured me right from the beginning Maybe the type of thing you need to give a few listens to Highlights: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, Do Your Thing
Nice, old-ish Funk. I like it, but because of its age won't probably listen again.
There is a part of me that thought that this was going to be a great album. I know that I give a lot of 5 stars and this was looking up to be part of that but really only a few songs that were great. A good album but not a great album.
I'm tempted to listen to the lively, funky songs again. The rest is pretty slow. 3.8
"The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" is probably the most well-known song from this album, closely followed by "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Good 70's funk.
oh well. Okay, but nothing that catches my attention. Eleven minutes of „Papa was a Rolling Stone“ seemed somewhat lengthy.
This was pretty groovy but some of the songs were just meh. Rolling stone adds an extra star for me
This was really good! I didn't realize the temptations had such a controversial style. But I really loved it
Fine, didn’t expect the group behind “My Girl” to have a song like “Run Charlie Run”
Yeah it was ok, not really sure what the obsession with papa was a rolling stone is, but maybe I’ll have to give it another go Pretty certain this had another of the og tracks that was covered on American iv 3
Enjoyed this.
Gets off to a slow start but hits a groove with Papa Was a Rollin' Stone's whopping 12 min stomp and some subsequent tender hooks.
Groovy
Muy lindo. De fondo es precioso. Armonías hermosas. Un rock-blues muy setentoso afroamericano. Me hace acordar un poco a Jackson 5
3.5
No. 203 Very nice. It's beautiful in the background. Beautiful harmonies.
This album featured solid vocals and musicians and one outstanding track. Liked Songs Added: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
It’s got some solid tracks. Doesn’t necessarily flow as a whole album but rolling stone is undeniably a hit
Decent background music tbh
Some amazing songs but several throw away tracks too.
Not a Motown fan
This album suffers from a lack of unity of thought. Obviously these songs were written by several Motown legends, and the songs by themselves are great. This album just feels like a collection of great songs performed excellently. Not to be overly negative though, the songs and the vocal performances are great.
no me lo esperaba para nada la verdad, me gustó mucho y el 90% del album me lo agregué a mi playlist. Creo que mi tema fav es “Papa was a rollin’ stone” me resultó muy pegadiza y es re triste, pobre madre
3.5⭐️/5 [05.20.2026] 05.21.2026
These guys are cool! It was a bit more slow than I expected but good overall
Fun and funky. Wasn’t too keen at first but second half of album grew on me
Neat
6/10 - decent funk, not the best but good to have un the background
Papa Was a Rolling Stone takes up 1/3 of the album, which makes this exactly 1/3 of an awesome album.
interesting grooves, but not my type of tune
Cool 70’s version of the group
Some good stuff
I mean, very chill, it s not bad, but nth special.
I enjoyed the album, particularly the 10 min version of Papa, I had to look up “The 1st time ever I saw your face”, so many excellent versions, and wondered who wrote the song? Surprised to find Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, ha, 🤩 amazing
7/10
3.5
Papa Was a Rolling Stone is incredible. The rest of the album is fine, but that one song carries this one.
Bardzo mi sie podobał. Melodia i beat są chwitliwe, dynamiczne i bardzo zróżnicowane. Ma wsyokie brzmienie. Bardzo fajny album tosłuchania w tle( jako komplement).
6/10 Kind of like if funk and psychedelic rock had a baby named Motown. Some tracks are extremely groovy; others go in the opposite direction and drag on and on. I definitely prefer the first couple of tracks (the long psychedelic ones) more than the rest (ballads).
Two singles stand out on this record of course - papa was a rolling stone and the first time ever I saw your face, which frankly reminded me too much of will from the inbetweeners.
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" is so good — amazing that a track this long made it on an album. Even the single version was close to seven minutes.
Perus rythm and Blues veivausta funky twistillä. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Probably their best work of the 70s, plus a multiple Grammy winner. It's very much of its time period, and as such sounds more funky than what you might expect.
Huh... well, I mean it's funky, but I don't think this is something I can sing out loud haha
The first time I listened to this album I was underwhelmed. But on replay, I can say I don’t know what was wrong with my brain?!? This album is great. Not perfect, but great. The opening track is probably part of the problem cause despite liking the song, I HATE the production. It sounds like it was recorded live, and maybe it was I have no idea, but regardless is sounds noisy and cluttered, and it doesn’t feel smooth and buttery like the rest of the album. That song kinda put me in the wrong head space for the first listen, but going into it knowing the first track “sucks” really helped me appreciate it more. I will say as a pasty white guy, I really need there to be as few songs as possible that feature the n word in the chorus and is this catchy. I really don’t want to be walking around work singing to myself “run Charlie run! Look, the niggas is coming! The niggas is coming!” Yah I’m obviously gunna get in trouble in more ways than one. Jokes aside, run Charlie run might be the best song on the album followed closely by “papa was a rolling stone” and “I ain’t got nothin’”. I love the funk on this album! I also liked the song “do your thing”. Really the only songs that didn’t do anything for me were the slower songs between the ones I’ve already named. But still a quality album just a few skips for me personally.
Wonderful album! My favorites are "I Ain't Got Nothin'", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Mother Nature"
Pretty good
meh, not for me 6/10.
Bit perplexed by this album. Like the Temptations, Papa is a 5 star track, always has been since 1st timeheard many years gone by, the other tracks are fine, but the album didn't seem to gab me. Definitely agree with the less than sum of its parts feel. Maybe just was waiting for the raise in tempo that never came, don't quite know. So even though exceptionally played, sung and all songs interesting with 1 being superb, as an album I can only do 3 Stars
Five stars for the first three songs, two for the others. Run Charlie Run is incredible, I want a whole album like that
Pretty fun
Favorite Track: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
Favorite track(s): Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
First Listen; Really enjoy the funky and laidback mood of the album. I enjoy it more on the funkier/upbeat side, but the slower tracks have their place. Favorite Track: Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
This was.. okay. I wish I liked it more than I did. “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” is obviously the album’s centerpiece, and possibly The Temptations’ magnum opus. Though, personally, I prefer the single version. The full version drags on a bit, in my opinion. “Run Charlie Run” was surprisingly socially conscious, and definitely a lyrical standout on this record. Now, side two is where I start having problems. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of The Temptations’ ballads. And side two is packed with them. I was hoping to see more of their funky side with this album. “Love Woke Me Up This Morning” was decent, and I found myself really enjoying the more upbeat “Do Your Thing”. But the rest of side two is a pass for me. Favorite tracks: Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, Do Your Thing
I don’t usually play older soul music. A lot of these songs sound good and I could see myself coming back to some of them. 7/10
I liked their version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Sweet soul music
Pretty good, but not much I'd revisit.
Some good conscious soul. Really like papa was a rolling stone but the rest of the album leaves a bit to be desired 6/10 Favourite: Papa Was a Rolling Stone Least Favourite: I Ain't Got Nothing
couple songs were alright
All Directions can spell all the letters in CLASSIC. Buuuuut, I think I would only play it because of that. As of respect.
3.5
“Papa Was a Rolling Stone” was so long, but generally I like Motown
great entry but i was expecting more funk
Decent. I don’t really get much out of listening to the Temptations, but I definitely don’t dislike them either. Favorite Track: Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone
This album was a bit more funk than I expected, pleasantly surprised
I had a fun time listening to this one, a bit of a surprise. Good production and much better than the day before's.
Odd decision for the production on the first song with the fake live sound. Album is all over the place really. Papa is the clear standout and takes up nearly 12 of the 34 mins. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Morning album with coffee - superb
I love "My Girl" but that's as much as I know about the Temptations. Let's see what we got. Starts out ok, Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On is mostly music. Run Charlie Run is pretty funny, if a little, well....dated. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone was nice, but it did not have to be near 12 minutes long. The rest of the album was fairly chill and moved along nicely. Solid album. Best song: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
I love the first song. There's nothing wrong with the rest of it, just can't give it higher than a 3
If it was a Single (Papa Was A Rollin' Stone) this would be a 5/5
It was ok. Obviously great tunes, but I found the audio quality bad and it bugged me, sounded under water at times. Just ok overall.
Another artist I'm very familiar with, but I haven't gone much deeper than the greatest hits previously. Love the opening track here. I'm surprised by the edginess of Run Charlie Run! The ballads are not to my personal taste, but I appreciate the artistry. Papa Was A Rolling Stone is epic. I am more likely to include some of the songs here on a playlist than I am to revisit this in its entirety very often. But the highlights here are really high!
Lo escuché anoche de una pasada mientras leía y me gustó perooooo tampoco me di cuenta de mucho, la melodía es muy repetitiva y no note mucho más. Guarde un par de temas, pero tengo que escuchar el album de nuevo.
I was hoping to enjoy this more since I have positive feelings about this band but it turned out this album just went in one ear and out the other. Nothing unpleasant, but aside from one or two tracks, nothing memorable for me. I feel bad admitting that.
Really enjoyed Rollin Stone and the first track, the rest of the album was ok.
Classic Temptations music here, with “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” as the highlight. There are some covers which are fine but not memorable. I thought it was interesting that the group didn’t want to record “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”, at least that’s what Wikipedia claims.
This is a very funny album cover. It looks like an old clipart. Also the white fade makes it seem like it's snowy, and these guys are not dressed for winter! Is this a live album?? The mix is super weird to me; the instruments are way louder than the vocals. Unexpected slur count = 20 on 'Run Charlie Run', although Wiki says they fought "tooth and nail" not to record that song. Fought who?? I don't understand how albums work. Concerning. 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone' is cool because the Magnetic Fields' 'Papa was a Rodeo' is surely a play off of it, unbeknownst to me. On the other hand, it is 12 minutes long. On the other other hand, despite having no musical similarity (but some lyrical ones) to the Mags, it is a good ("groovy") song. I like the she-bop she-bops in 'I Ain't Got Nothin'', although I have some bones to pick with the lyrics (see below). This is our second go at 'The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)', after Johnny Cash. Still boring, and the addition of those parentheses makes the word order way less interesting (though I do feel like they're singing "The First Time [Ever I Saw Your Face]", anyway; maybe it was just a rogue Wikipedian who decided to punctuate it (wrongly))! - - - Bonus lexical semantic content aka why we shouldn't trust the media: "Every house has a door and every room has a floor" = T "Every fence has a gate and every beast has a mate" = F "Every stove has a fire and every car has a tire" = F "Every fish has a bowl and every shoe has a sole" = F "Every lion has a den and every little pig has its pen" = F (but cute) "Every road has a way and (they tell me) every dog has its day" = T (arguably)
No way to review this - these are the tracks of my pre-Beatle, middle school days and I never liked MoTown a lot - Supremes were an exception.
Decent
Not really my type of Music but I liked it
Man, this album album comes out swinging. One of the best side As I've heard. Dies down on the back end, but still a really solid album.
It had its moments, but lacked the directions for more stars. ★★★
Funky, smooth and soulful. An album you need to be in the mood for. Good, but not great.
Some nice funk here, but nothing that really stands out to me either.
Saw the cover and the logo and knew instantly this has to be at least a three-star record. I wasn't wrong.
Fav- papa was a rolling stone 3/5
първата беше окей, останалото е няква бар музика
A strong and bold move away from being another Motown studio band.
Not bad but very far from my taste.
cool funky vibe. nothing added to playlist
Solid soul/funk album that I feel gets better with repeat listens. Very understated, but carries a strong energy. I do feel like the album has a decent amount of bloat for being a shorter album which is unfortunate, and I feel I personally enjoyed the B side more. Top tracks: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, Love Woke Me Up This Morning, I Ain't Got Nothin'
Hyvä levy, tiukkaa soitantaa ja kappaleet suurimmalta osin sujuvan kuunneltavia, jotkut slovarit vähän ankeita
I don't like funk or soul, but this album was pretty nice! Papa was a rolling stone was excellent and there were a lot of chill, laidback songs that made the experience pleasurable.
Funky, fun, fresh
Hyfsat bra motown, men har hört bättre.
Papa Was a Rolling Stone didnt need to be almost 12 minutes long but other than that the album is pretty inoffensive.
Kind of a scattered album. The first track being a live track (or sounded that way) was an interesting choice. "Run Charlie Run"... did not expect the n-word from a Temptations album. The 12-minute "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" was incredible...which is saying something for me, because I generally find these extended versions get tiresome after a while, but not this one. The rest of the album didn't do much for me. I'll give it a 3 star rating, but mostly on the strength of "Papa"
Didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Not sure why, might need a relisted and reappraisal down the road
Probably deserves higher, but meh
Apart from the classic Papa was a rolling stone, some really cheesy music but also some funky highlights so ambiguous.
too many ballads. but papa was a rolling stone. this is a low 3 for me boss
Highlights: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Run Charlie Run, Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, I Ain't Got Nothin', The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face I like the Temptations, but I never went through a record of theirs in its entirety. The stereo mix of this record that I was listening to was a bit weird on my headphones. It felt a bit uneven in the frist two tracks, but it could be just my imagination (no pun intended). There's a noticeable difference in tone between side A and side B. I guess the first side was a bit more experimental for the group, since they are better known for romantic R&B/soul which is closer to what sibe B was. That being said, I find side A to be the stronger of the two. Overall I don't feel like the record is worth revisiting. If the rest of their discography is like this then I guess they were more focused on the quality of their singles.
Love The Temptations, but maybe slightly underwhelmed by the album. Tempo was a bit slow. Seems like it was their transition from Motown to funk maybe?
3.5
This was a more politically conscious version of The Temptations than I had ever heard and I'm not disappointed about that. I enjoyed a couple of songs that were new to me but overall this album is also pretty forgettable.
Great psychedelic soul album
Funky and cool - but it gets repetitive at some points. I really enjoy the short funky songs the most. I could have lived without the rest of the album
This album is not just about the epic Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone … it’s high energy funk at its finest
this was a very pleasant way to start my day :) the first three tracks weren’t really doing it for me, but the everything after
This album feels pretty damn legendary. I liked the slower songs and also the lyricism in general. The grooves slap. Mother Nature was my favorite track. I appreciate the culture behind it too.
Mmmmmshebop shebop
More sly than Temps Papa was a rolling stone
I really liked the high funk tunes but didn’t care as much for the slow ones
3,5 stars
Classic. Takes me back to being a little kid.
I had never heard them before. I dig and will definitely be checking out more.
First foray into The Temptations. Usually not a fan of funk but it’s was ok
3.25 - Not wholly what I expected from a Temptations album. It's good though.
soulful and smooth.
#34 i must've already stumbled upon The Temptations, cause im a big fan of funk, blues soul from the 70s, but i really dont remember a single song from them. Let's see if this makes a lasting impression. Another band that likes to mess with the stereo directions of the instruments. This made me think i had some problem with my headphones. It's full of finesse, sexyness (if thats a thing, im illiterate), love inducing. Very positive experience, the thing is that it's mostly similar to all the funk coming out at the time aside from Papa Was a Rolling Stone, but it's good nevertheless.
I may not have given this album the time it deserved, but it was enjoyable all the same.
classic, but dated
Decent Motown album. Kinda funky at the start. 3/5
Funky I would listen to this again.
A half hour of soul funk beauty
Hørt om disse gutta før. Noen ganger funky, ofte sjelfullt. Behagelig musikk for sene kvelder og tidlige morninger. Top 3: Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Love Woke Me Up This Morning
Not bad
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone elevates this album (it is a cover, like several of the tracks, but they own it). The first few tracks are so solid, but the album becomes stodgy in the second half.
This had more soul than what I know as "Motown" but maybe I don't know Motown? Either way, I liked but not as much as other Motown I've heard in the past.
The "My Girl" guys got some FUNK. The first half slaps, the second half i fell asleep through.
I was happy to see this band pop-up on the list. Great album, especially side A with the full-length, 12 minute Papa was a rollin's stone. The rest was also great, groovy, smooth. Great listen.
The only ones I want to listen again are “Run Charlie Run” and “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone”
Interesting mix of songs. I seemed to like it better the send time around. Papa was a Rollin Stone is a classic.
80’s
Nice.
Not the best Temptations album, but still good.
Again, like WAR - the album only really took off after the intro. The sunshine rising in your eyes song was a sure shot way to ensure it's success. The vibes were good - not like I could ever write like that. Excited for the next.
Nie aż tak porywające. Bardziej na 3
Soul is one of the best genres in my opinion, but The Temptations never really grabbed my attention much and this continues to be the case here. Except for the wonderful Papa Was a Rolling Stone and the pretty cool opener nothing here is super interesting. It just kinda lacks passion and, well, soul. It's very much alright but nothing else.
Real fab sounds here and there. Some tunes were spun out too long but there is real soul to the sounds in this album.
The harmonies were a great part of the album. I just didn’t really enjoy that much of it.
Some very jazzy runs and cool vibe. Very short, unexpectedly. I can see why it’s good but not really for me!
really heavy black rnb and soul not my thing but ok
“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” is essential, of course. And the band’s version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is strong. The album often feels quite dated, though, in both sound and themes. 3.5?
The Temptations can be surprising. This is somewhat removed from their 60s heyday. It sounds more aligned with Curtis Mayfield. I like it. Good versions of the songs they perform. I’d be happy if I chose this cd as my second in an hmv 2 for $20.
Good singles, weird album
Solid but not exceptional.
Boh bellino pure per carità ma molto dimenticabile per i miei gusti 😭 Run Charlie Run hit
Definitely not the best album on the list but definitely top 25%. Most of the tracks are soulful R&B or banging 70s Funk - but there are a few clunkers as well. Gotta laugh at people shocked by the dropping of the most powerful word in the English language- yeah kiddies in the 70s it was everywhere and no one got hung up about it or any other slur. It was called keeping it real, and that’s what the 70s were all about.
I don't really get albums like this. Great singers, producers and musicians putting loads of effort into effectively a cover album. Lovely sound, that doesn't really fit into one box. But I need more original music!
Honestly I really didn't care for this. Love funk, love motown, this just wasn't it. I'm much more into The Gap Band, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament, that sort of thing. Maybe The Temptations are just a bit too 60's for me sometimes. Lyrically it's great, very conscious but the tunes just weren't there for me.
This album has me so conflicted. I knew this version of Papa was a Rolling Stone and I really like it. The first two songs into Papa was amazing! I was so excited that I hopped on Discogs and added it to my want list. Then we get to the second half. Meh. A lot less funk. It is like they used up all the funk they had and were riding on fumes for the second half. I would have rated this 5 if the album was only three songs long.
Goog
it had a lot of nice moments but I was expecting more from such a big name? The First Time... was really beautiful, though
won't ever complain about more Motown stuff. "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" is an incredible track. So rich and evocative! these dudes can harmonize with the best of them. really solid album.
“Oh, that’s where that sample came from.” - me, about 91 times during this album. Very cool to see the Temptations in a socially conscious milieu post Sly Stone/James Brown/Parliament-Funkadelic.
Wait, this is the same group that made the wedding staple My Girl? Love that these guys grew and put out something funkier, if not edgy. Papa was a rolling stone is a funk odyssey. On Run Charlie Run, there’s a painful reminder that shit don’t change: “But the greatest wrong you know you’ve done, is you passed this sickness onto your son” A bold start to an album for sure, but it fizzled out for me after Papa on first listen.
so funky so good
Interesting that this album is called "All Directions" because it really feels like it's being pulled in a bunch of directions, but not necessarily in a good way. There's a lot going on here, but just at a surface level, it seems like the band was trying to evolve from their early, more by-the-book vocal group sound, and infuse a funkier, more experimental element into their arrangements. And they succeed in a limited way. Papa Was A Rolling Stone is obviously a classic and for good reason, that bass line is undeniable, the beat is stone cold, and the lyrics tell a sad but compelling tale. It's also a long track, over three minutes before the vocals even kick in, which I love. They're taking chances. "Funky Music..." and "Run Charlie Run" coming in before give the first side of this album a distinct vibe, a loose and funky direction that almost completely falls away on side two. The back half of the album, though not bad by any means, falls into some schmaltzy snoozers that really aren't my taste. After getting a taste of what they could do on the first side, I found the second half disappointing and undercooked, with some bright spots here and there. It's a 3.5/5 from me.
The first 3 songs are banging. The last one is solid. The middle - not my bag
Not bad. Needed more funk. 3/5
It would be very easy to say that "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" drove the success of this record and leave it at that. Of course, that's very true but it would also discount the amazing singing on "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" and the grace and beauty of "Mother Nature", long-forgotten as the first single from this record. The rest of the album is pretty forgettable, especially the obvious attempt to capitalize on Roberta Flack's success with "First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" by covering it here. The record mostly holds up and only sounds dated in a few places.
I enjoyed this album, easy going and very soulful. Great driving in the rain music. A couple songs were a bit strung along in my opinion but I don’t really have anything positive or negative to say about this one.
It was alright, short with odd pacing. The later songs were pretty bland though, and I wish as a whole it had more groove.
Funky, soulful, contemplative, sad, joyful - this album features many themes and emotions that keep in engaging and enjoyable. No song is too long, and even the longest song, Papa Was A Rollin' Stone at 11'46", gives the music space to breath and move in its extended playtime. Meanwhile, the shorter songs are punchier and focused. The string arrangements provide a classic early-70's sound while the bass and guitar keep things soulful and funky for a modern sound on this concise record with many enjoyable tracks.
sounds nice but nothing super interesting fav song: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
The first three songs make a kind of funk suite that is supercool and unlike any Temptations project before it. “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone” makes up a full third of the running time of the album but it is only after that song that the album overstays its welcome. While what follows isn’t bad, it just doesn’t live up to the opening and feels more familiar for the group.
Let’s be honest, it’s all about ‘Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone’ here. It overshadows everything. The rest of the album bar the opening track ‘Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On’, and closer ‘Do Your Thing’, is just filler.
I enjoyed this. Second song had way more uses of the N word than I expected from the temptations.
It was good, but it didn't particularly blow me away. I had higher expectations it seems but maybe I don't quite have the ear for it either.
I was expecting awesomeness and this didn’t blow me away. My ears may have been broken today.
Mostly good. Very cool. Rolling Stone drags a bit, Do Your Thing and Funky Music are great.
Review - a decent R&B/Soul album. Not very long and about a third of the album is Papa Was a Rolling Stone, meaning most of the tracks are barely over 2 minutes. A good listen but maybe not an all time classic Rating - 7/10 Need to listen? YES
Everyone knows Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Unfortunately that doesn't mean I like it. Or feel much of anything for this album. It's fine
Ihan perus mukavaa Motown funk. 3/5.
Menevää funkkia taasen Temptationsilta, tuskin menee jatkuvaan soittoon, mutta taustalla kuunteluun toimii oikein hyvin edelleen.
Не знаю мой папа не был Роулинг Стоуном
Wisselend
A double double day! Have listened to both albums today already. And yes, Papa Was a Rolling Stone is still a banger.
Pensaba que era soundtrack porque el ritmo del álbum estuvo raro y la verdad odio que un disco tenga más de dos rolas seguidas que terminen en fade out ;-; equis pa ser the tempations
Great album. All their voices are incredible and I love me some Motown/funky RnB, however slight lack of cohesion and the album literally went in all directions.
Honestly, pretty fun. Quite groovy. Would I listen to this on a random day? No, not really. Did I have fun listening to it? Yeah. It’s also only half an hour long, so it’s not unbearable to sit through it, although one song was 11 minutes. I’ll never understand the obsession the 70s had with that practice. Well, I’m glad it’s over now. What else can I say? Not much I can add. It’s another case of I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it, but I wouldn’t get up to skip a song if it came on. "Love woke me up this morning" is my fave I think. Important addition.
A couple of real bangers on there
Good melodies and tunes, but I can't say I really liked it. Rate 5/10
Bien pero el sonido necesita ser remasterizado. 3.8
Heard Before? Only the big single. Notes: - first song is deeply funky, but sounds recorded by a single mic in a school gym. - "Papa" is the obvious centerpiece, but also sounds very much out of place. - vocals are uniformly stellar, unsurprisingly, but the arrangements and production are too often motown-by-numbers. Verdict: Fantastic group, monumental single, uneven album. Listen Again? Nope. But I'll certainly investigate the Temptations back catalogue.
3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-temptations/all-directions/ Even though I don't usually care much for funk, the funky songs on this definitely outshine the more boring soul songs in the second half. So partially better than I thought, partially more boring.
Half funk half doowop, I liked the side A better. 3/5
ok
Big fan of that one long arse song in the middle, I love those
Left me wanting more, I like the more soulful tracks on the B side. 6/10
Enjoyed this but definitely preferred their other one on this list
I love the 60s-era Temptations. This was not as good as I hoped.
I feel like it lacked energy
Super smooth and surprisingly funky, this album has a lot more going on that I expected from The Temptations. More or a funk soul vibe than the Motown I was expecting. Papa was a Rolling Stone is a great song. I think if the instrumentation was more prominent in the recording I would like this a little more, the vocals are great but after a couple tracks it felt somewhat like more of the same. There are other version of this genre I like more.
This is fine, It is an easy listen and I enjoyed, haven’t much more to say
Another album that doesn’t do much beyond the song everyone knows. But Run Charlie Run is a wild, wild song, that somehow isn’t even marked as explicit on Spotify
Dosta više uspavljujuće nego što sam očekivala, ali generalno prijatna muzika i baš lijep pravi motown bas pa je sve ok.
Wasn’t expecting that from Run, Charlie, Run. I love The Temptations, ever since I saw that tv miniseries about them. This album made me realize that I only know the hits and should do a deeper dive.
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone 4. The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face and strong lead vocal on Mother Nature means 4 for those. The rest around 3.
Pretty similar to how I felt a out the last Temptations, so CTRL+C/CTRL+V.. I was curious about the Temptations move to psychedelic soul, but ended up being a little underwhelmed. I don't think the Band wrote any/many of the songs so it doesn't really come across as a natural progression, more like a Whitfield producer project
Ok so over half the album is taken up by cover versions, of which 11+ minutes is the standout hit track. The rest is nice enough in a soppy, soulful way, but it’s not what I seek out.
Interesting album. Shocking use of the "hard R" in one song. "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" felt like it belonged on the Shack soundtrack, and went on longer than it really needed to. Surprising bird of tenderness in other songs. My rating: 3/5 stones.
Some great tracks and some average tracks
2,6/5
Very noice, liked “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” a lot
Good rock album
Not my favorite temptations album with the exception of Papa was a Rolling Stone. So epic.
Nice vibe. Great songs. It was a great album. Some of these tracks snuck up on me. This was a deeper dive into the Temptations than I ever done before.
Has its moments
De longe "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone é a maior preciosidade do álbum, o que não significa que o restante seja ruim, só sinto que acaba por roubar a maior parte da atenção para uma excelente música. De maneira geral, ótimo.
Funky. I think I liked this record a little more than their other record on this list. Favourite Track(s): Love Woke Me Up This Morning Least Favourite Track(s): Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
I liked it, but not much really struck me.
Liked this funk up front album, wanted to dance to a lot of it.
Papa was a rollin' stone is a classic. The first and last tracks are also strong but apart from that a mixed bag.
This album is surprisingly political with a strong social consciousness on hit track Papa. I admit that I prefer hearing the group deliver pop hits (and this is certainly not that) but I do appreciate the smooth, gentle soulfulness throughout this half hour.
Good i had thoughts but mostly it was just a pleasant album a good backdrop to conversation but like nothing crazy that one that was like Run chalie run or whatever was crazy but otjerwise chill
I like it
Funkier than expected
Some good stuff, some duds.
Not my usual listening choice or style, but there are some goooood songs on here. Papa Was a Rolling Stone is excellent. Long and excellent.
bacana, mas fiquei um pouco entediada do meio pro final. mas as últimas faixas são legais!
5.5/10
Good
3.0
6/10 When this album is at its peak, it is so, so good. It’s funky, groovy, has bags of soul and attitude, and the instrumental work from The Funk Brothers is exquisitely in the pocket, and rammed full of vibe. The better vocals on the record are delivered with a bit of bite and edge to them, while maintaining a smooth swagger that really hooks your ear into the song, with the rest of the band providing superb backing and punctuation to elevate that main delivery. Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone is an absolute classic of the genre and is rightfully considered one of the high points of Motown’s catalogue. It may not be the first version of the track, but it’s certainly the definitive one. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Funky Music and The First Time, both of which have superior versions released by other artists, which makes the ones on here feel like a little bit of a letdown by comparison. I think that using a fairly poorly recorded live version of Funky Music was also an incredibly strange choice to open the record with. And that’s the main problem with this album: It’s quite uneven, both from a song choice and recording point of view. The first side builds from the opener and gets stronger, culminating with a masterpiece, but then the quality feels like it drops again, only really building back up to its best for the last couple of tracks of side two. That’s not to say any of it is bad, per se, it’s just a little unexciting here and there, which is only put into starker relief by the aforementioned ‘other, better versions’ issue. With all that being said, this was still a solid listen and Papa is an exceptional 1/3 of the album, so it’s definitely worth giving this a fresh spin now and again. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - This is a great song. I’m a big fan of Edwin Starr version, and while this sounds like a decent performance of the song, it lacks a bit of the grit of that earlier version. It also sounds like it was recorded on a single mic from the sound desk. It’s a weak recording, a lot of the detail and nuance is lost and it’s just quite an odd way to open a studio album. Run Charlie Run - Now we’re getting into the swing of things. The verses are so fluid and groovy and the instrumentation from The Funk Brothers is great. I feel like the momentum gets a bit lost in the chorus which just feels a bit stilted. The lead vocal is great and has a tasty bit of attitude, but it feels a little bit lost in places as the mix feels a little muddled. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - This is an absolute classic. It ebbs and flows so nicely through the instrumental sections, with parts coming and going, building and falling away. It would be easy for a track like this to get boring, with the bass and hi-hat repeating for so long, but the considered arrangement and mixing hold it together superbly well. When we get to the vocal, it’s delivered so smoothly and emoted so well that it shines. The backing vocals only enhance it too. There are so many little moments of quality that just flutter in for a moment here and there, particularly from the guitar, but also the strings and trumpet. It’s an atmospheric, slow funky soul masterpiece. Love Woke Me Up This Morning - We’re swinging over to something a bit more pop soul. It’s decent enough, but it’s a bit too much of a soft ballad for me. I prefer their funkier efforts. The lead vocal is a tad on the shrill side too, which makes it more of a challenging listen. I Ain't Got Nothin' - Similarly to the last track, this is pretty laid back. The lead vocal is more subtly delivered and has a bit more body, so it’s more satisfying in that regard. The backing vocals from the rest of the band are solid too. It’s a bit of a drifting composition that occasionally comes together really nicely, but generally does drift in and out of focus a little too much. The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) - It’s a difficult thing to listen to a song like this that has been recorded so many times and be completely objective about it. Particularly when Roberta Flack has complete ownership of this song and her version precedes this one. This is a really nice recording. The instrumentation is well put together and has a lazy but persistent drive to it. The piano and strings are great. And the vocal was pretty great too. It just wasn't Roberta. Mother Nature - There’s a funky groove that sits under this and gives it a bit more vibe and feel than some of the other tracks. It’s a proper finger clicker of a track. The lead vocal has a little bit of grit and drive to it that gives it edge too. The Funk Brothers are on top form here, it’s so in pocket and every instrument brings so much soul to the recording. Quality. Do Your Thing - More of that slow, funky groove. This has got great swagger to it from everyone. The lead vocal is smooth, the backing vocals elevate it too, and The Funk Brothers are back in the pocket. So much feel and groove to everything here, this is just so cool and smooth. Quite a lot of the instrumentation is sparingly used, but if anything it’s more effective because of that. What a great way to see out the record.
アルバムの音圧が低いことを意識してなくて、途中まで音量不足で聞いてしまったことも一因かもしれないけど、あまり乗れなかった。 3曲目について、長い曲には大体長くするだけの展開性やキャッチーさなどの根拠があるから評価が高くなることが多いと思ってるけど、この曲に関しては特にそれを感じなかった。 他の人のレビューを見ると、歌詞の評価が高いようなので、自分はこのアルバムの魅力を十分受け取れていなさそう。
It's good, it's different than My Girl, and older stuff. It's funky and Papa Was A Rolling Stone is an epic song, but the rest of the album appears to be filler material around that. Good, but not my jam. 2.75 / 5 stars
Solid album, can tell how influential this has been since it's release
Wanted to like it more than I did. Papa was epic (j) Very lovely background music for a rainy reading day on the couch (h)
SO 70s which it is
Bardziej mi podeszło niż "Cloud Nine" tej samej formacji. Były takie krótkie momenty, kiedy ocierało się to dla mnie o czwórkę. "I Ain't Got Nothin'" to dla mnie top utwór z płyty, bardzo mi się podobał, tekściarsko jest bardzo fajny - melancholijny, bluesowy, ale zabawny i przewrotny. Wyróżnienie też dla bardzo gładkiego i mocno osadzonego "Do Your Thing" oraz za początek i pierwsze wersy "Run Charlie Run". "Mother Nature" też spoko. Całość jednak nie wciągnęła mnie aż na tyle, żebym dawał temu czwórkę. Miało swoje momenty, kilka utworów przykuło moją uwagę, ale to bardziej była dla mnie ciekawostka i rozszerzenie wiedzy muzycznej, niż doświadczenie, które chciałbym powtórzyć.
Neblogas, nepretenzingas.
A lot of soul in here and great instrumentation all throughout. Vocals were also great. 6/10, Favorite Song: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
Laid back soul and a couple of classic tracks, still sounds good .
523/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
very long version of Papa was a Rolling Stone
Highlights - big iron, El Paso, they’re hanging me tonight
3/5
From what I know about the Temptations they were a 60s soul group putting out classics like My Girl and Just My Imagination. But by the time 1972 came about they were doing funk like everybody else, which is how the 12 minute Papa Was A Rolling Stone came about. This is an acclaimed and epic song and all great, but a bit of a drag for me in parts. Of more interest to me is the sunshine of Love Woke Me Up This Morning and the frankly hilarious Run Charlie Run, a song about white people moving out of a neighbourhood when blacks move in ('Look, the niggers are coming!'). At just 34 minutes long, more than a third is the centrepiece track but there's good stuff around it (I Ain't Got Nothin'), although the cover of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is somewhat dreary.