Reviews (page 8 of 13)
Great early soul album
Great, some a tad louder than others for my liking. [ ☞ ] = recommended. ☞ “I Ain’t Got Nothin’” ☞ “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
Good album. I just wish the singing on some of the songs was a little louder 7/10
Хороший спокійний jazzy альбом, але мене нічого не зачіпило Хороший вокал, все дуже красіво, але якось когбудто не інтересно
Wherever He Laid His Hat Was His Home 1001 Albums Generator 195 (12/31/2025) This is the second album I've had by The Temptations, and it follows almost the same formula as Cloud Nine. The first half of the album is pretty fun funk music, with a cornerstone long composition, and the second half is completely forgettable fluff. It's too bad because that first half really is fantastic, especially Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On and the monumental epic, Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, which I thought was too long on first listen, but has really justified its length on subsequent listens. I have pretty much nothing to say about the second half, except that Do Your Thing is kind of tolerable I guess. These guys were not an album band in my opinion. 3/5. Favs: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On Run Charlie Run Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Least Fav: The First Time Even I Saw Your Face
Really the only song I knew by them was “my girl” and figured they were largely easy listening based off that song. Good funk/soul album, first half of the album is strongest part
Really nice to hear something that isn't R&B Slop. I was more familiar with their other work from the 1960s so I was pleasantly surprised by this entry. A hidden highlight for me was "I Ain't Got Nothing" that took inspiration from 1950s groups.
I really enjoyed listening to this album. Will probably revisit, but wasn't pulled in.
I don't know what it is about this album, but aside from a few songs I was feeling really underwhelmed. I think the style is just not my vibe. Clearly the musicianship was great. I think I'm one of those people most of these reviews make fun of for liking their earlier work better.
It's ok.
I'll take a little Motown any day. Is Puzzle People on this list? I like that one more than this one.
This is a good album. After starting with the classic Motown sound, The Temptations were one of the early bands to blend their soul with psychedelic rock and create a beautiful mix of sounds. We get amazing vocal harmonies with funky jams and spacey effects. Lyrical themes also moved from strictly love songs to incorporating political themes. Anyway this is a good example of this genre and an important historical landmark. Personally I don’t think the song writing is uniformly great so I think I’ll call this a solid three stars. Definitely worth a listen but for better examples of this genre look to Marvin Gaye or The Four Tops.
I wasn't really sure what to expect on this one... Motown perhaps? It was funky. A fun little jaunt. But, it didn't do much to pull me away from thoughts elsewhere (in this case an epic backyard cricket bowling attack!). 3 stars.
When that drum beat came in on track 1, I had a feeling we were gonna be in for a good time. The funky bass kicked in and I was all for it. Track 2, the political statement was different, but I can get with it. But then it slowed and just sort of lost its groove. Papa was a rolling stone is ok, but does it need to be over 12 minutes long (the answer is, god no). Some took an exciting album and made it drag.
Very chill album! Had some bangers here and there and did not drag itself. Really loved the middle tracks.
Bara ett bra album! Dryper av 70-tal. Funky!
This is a mixed affair: Side A is Funk, while Side B is R&B. It's fine, but side A is much, much better, and the dip in quality drags this album down a little. 2.5/5
Papa was a rolling stone hasn’t really clicked for me yet, but I still enjoyed the album.
okay…not for me
Papa's a rolling stone
The Temptations are like a less flashy/funky Sly and the Family Stone. Just as goofy though. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone is awesome though. This isn't awful, but across the history of R&B/Soul there are much better albums. The Temptations probably deserve credit for the barely singing bass member, I'm looking at you Boyz II Men. They really spelled it with a z. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is for a woman to sing. Something doesn't sit right when a man, no matter how falsetto his voice, sings it.
A quarter of the album is Papa was a rolling stones. The others are a bit samey, but mostly a good vibe.
It was fine. Nothing special
Classic soul, good party vibes
You know I don't think I've ever thought of the concept of a 50s-60s vocal group going into funk ever. When I think of the Temptations, I think of My Girl which is iconic. It even brings back memories of my friend Maddie singing it before a concert earlier this year, but I digress. It all makes sense really. They lose their most known member David Ruffin and move on by making a big change entrusting Norman Whitfield to bring them more into psych, soul and funk. We come now to All Directions which I'm sure is here due to the sound but also because of the centerpiece 11 minute Papa Was A Rolling Stone. I recall years ago seeing this song recommended in a Discord server and thinking "Hey, the Temptations made a long song?". I didn't listen to it then, but I hear it and it's real nice. The rest of the album is alright if I have to say. Really, Papa Was A Rolling Stone was the only truly great song here, though a shoutout goes to I Ain't Got Nothin' and The First Time I Saw Your Face. Those sho-bop, sho-bops in the former are quite something. Simple Monday listen (6/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Tough one to rate - comes out of the gate strong, but really loses steam in the back half as it gets more ballad-heavy. 12-minute version of Papa Was a Rolling Stone was sort of cool but lacked enough changes in direction to sustain interest for that long (feel sorry for the bass player). Overall a pleasant enough listen but found myself wanting more.
A little inconsistent with its style and tone, going from r&b to disco, to funk, to doo wop. Some highlights for me included the audacity to have a nearly 4 minute intro to ‘papa was a rolling stone’ which in total takes up a third of the album; the entirety of ‘the first time I ever saw your face’ which, the more I listen to, speaks to me as one of the all time great songs; and the nearly hour of sleuthing to find out which film or tv show Alice and I have both heard ‘I only have eyes for you’ (though apparently, not this version). Otherwise flew by (it’s a quick album), and the duds were comparatively not too bad on here.
This feels like two albums in one. The first side is a good funky time. It's got a fairly standard but groovy funk tune, a hard hitting socially conscious message, and a satisfyingly drawn-out funk soul jam. The second side leans into a smoother soul sound and feels a bit sleepy. The music is pretty, but too slow and empty. It would be alright if the vocals were amazing, but they're merely good. The closer is the most interesting song on the second side as it gets back into the realm of funk. A 4 for the first side and a 2 for the second, so a 3 overall feels about right.
Groovy! Favorite track: Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Moments I really liked But lots that didn’t leave much of an impression But that cover of 1st time … is phenomenal
70's funk Temptations. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Do Your Thing
Definitely not my style of music. Still, I can see why this is on the list and how it was so successful. It's a well-made album with strong musical skills, particularly vocals. "Run Charlie Run" was... whooo, VERY pointed, and did make me uncomfortable in a way that was worthwhile and worth sitting with.
I was a fan of the og Temptations originally, up till their guitarists got their fuzzed out wahwah pedals cranked up. I'll give this a try but promise nothing. Ok, I'm giving this 3 stars, but only because it includes "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone."
Good album. Wonderful harmony’s and a nice full sound.
Nothing wrong with this. It just wasn't memorable for me.
- soul bem melódico, mas que se aventura por outros estilos, como blues e funk. faz críticas importantes à segregação racial e traz uma gama de performances e arranjos que mostram a versatilidade do grupo. - o formato e ritmo de produção dos álbuns impediram uma produção mais elaborada e polida. em algumas músicas a gravação acaba soando meio estranha.
Has the problem of a lot of albums of this era where they start really strong and funky and get really sappy and ballady in the second half. Still a great first half. 3/5
Le cover est drôle on dirait un album de Noël, dans les tons/couleur et la police d'écriture. C'est dansant, quand même le fun, mais le soul ça m'anime pas plus qu'il faut.
The “epic” 12-minute “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” is worth the time, but I don’t know that it really coheres with the message of the song. It’s a very tense, suspenseful rendition, more suited to a heightened dramatic scene than reflections, laments from mother to son, son to listener, etc. But it’s a damn impressive miss. Likewise the rendition of “The First Time...” points up a regular practice of groups from the 60s and 70s that has disappeared: established groups doing their own take on a hit song. Sure, you’ve heard Roberta Flack, but what about your heroes The Temptations? It’s a fine take, but doesn’t surpass Flack’s mix of melancholy and longing.
This is just groovy enough
Classic soulful record that blends the old doo-wop styles of the group with a newer consciousness. The unfortunate part is they don’t really fully buy in, but it’s a vibe nonetheless.
Ordentliche Beats der 70er ohne Supersongs.
Not for me but I see the talent.
DISCO FUNK! I’ve been waiting for a 70s disco funk album. Super groovy, super funky, exactly the kind of rhythm-driven music I enjoy. The long build ups work well and add to the vibe, though I do wish a couple of tracks were slightly less repetitive. At around 35 minutes, the album hits the perfect listening length for me, long enough to immerse yourself in the atmosphere. The use of effects, especially wah and reverb, combined with their stylistic approach makes the the experience even richer. I love this type of sound, and the fact that they were pioneers of it only elevates the record in my opinion. Visually, the album cover isnt overly flashy but it conveys exactly what it needs to, a confident experienced group stylistically in step with the decade they were helping shape. The aesthetic fits the mood. Overall, All Directions might not be as immediately accessible as some of The Temptations’ earlier work, but its legacy speaks for itself. It’s ambitious, immersive, and home to one of the most iconic soul tracks ever recorded. Favourite tracks: Run Charlie Run, Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Mother Nature, Do Your Thing
Start was good and then it went meh
An interesting and even good album without being amazing . The first 3 songs are all great but never really get going - sounding like continuous intros if anything
Unos genios. Toda la onda. Increíble cómo arranca arriba funk y van hacia algo más R&B o cosita más soul al final. Me gustó y nunca los había escuchado. 6/10
Butter smooth, great for a chill listen on an easy day. Favorite track was mother nature
Cool sound.
There's a lot I liked about this album. Funky beats and good vocals. I think it started off really strong. However, I think it fell into the pattern that a lot of albums have fallen into: it starts out high energy, slows down, and never picks back up. I think even moving "Run Charlie Run" to the end could have made this album more cohesive. I just wanted something that packed more of a punch at the end to round everything else out.
No Drifters
Some banging funk tunes, then some real schmaltzy stuff.
Day 95 Starts very strong with 3 belting tracks but nothing else on here gets close to those 5/10 Highlights Funky Music sho nuff turns me on Run Charlie run Papa was a rolling stone
5/10 Ok, thank you. 11-17-2025
Not my favourite by the Temptations, but still good
Very groovy, I like it. 7/10 Favourite track: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
It has a strong vibe, and it's recorded well, to the extend that I had to double check how many heads there are in this group. "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is a classic, but I'm not sure I like it enough for a 12-minute version, especially on a 35 minute record.
Didn't love the opening track.
A nice mix of funk, soul and Motown. A good album.
En grower, di erste catched so mittel aber irgendwenn gits en turning Point. 3.5
An 11-minute version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone alone was worth the ride.
Not a genre I listen to at all Funky but tired of it quickly early songs Recognise some classics which were nice - papa was a rolling stone and love woke me up this morning Some really relaxing music could be great for relaxing in the evening with a romantic book
There were some great moments on this album, including the opening track (though the mix was rather garbled) and “Run Charlie Run.” I appreciate a band taking a political stance in their music. With that said, it doesn’t feel super cohesive as an album. And though it was well-performed, none of the songs were too memorable for me. I also am not crazy about “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” and it takes up a third of the runtime.
I'll admit I'm probably giving this one short shrift but I wasn't super impressed. Papa Was a Rolling Stone is an all-time classic and a couple other songs were kinda nice but this was far from The Temptations at their best. I'm probably not the best person to comment on it but Run Charlie Run feels like a really clumsy approach to the topic, and from what I'm reading it seems like the Temptations never wanted to do it in the first place. Papa Was a Rolling Stone is a 5/5, the rest is probably a 2 or 3.
The Temptations are delightful and I could listen to these harmonies all day, but the album’s carried by Papa Was A Rollin Stone. The last six albums have all been slower indie bands and it was so nice to hear something with real bass in it. Already in collection
As the Beastie Boys once said: "Oh my God, that's some funky sh..."
Pek benim tarzım değil ama güzel albüm.
This starts with a funky, groovy smack to the face, leaving me with high optimism for the rest of the album. But whilst the instrumentals and delivery are fantastic throughout, the rest of it blends into a calmer, slower pace, that doesn't leave as much much as an impression. It's still good music, but the second half of the album felt like it had something missing for me.
The Temptations seem to have been around my whole life. i don't really think of them as a group, more of a franchise. A tool to sing songs that the writers couldn't or wouldn't sing themselves. Like 'Trigger's broom', 6 new handles and 8 new heads, but still the same broom. And there always seem to be 2 or 3 versions of "The Temptations" touring at any one time. So I don't know which incarnation these guys were, but all the songs are pretty good, bar the opener live track which doesn't really fit. Highlight is 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone', a classic. 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' is good though I prefer the Roberta Flack version. Nice stuff.
Wah Wah Watson was the star of this album...which isn't optimal if you're the Temptations.
papa was a rolling stone is great
3.5
I like The Temptations. You like The Temptations. We all like The Temptations. Let's face it though; they're a singles group. This album tries to be an album, but the songs just ain't there. It just about scrapes a three score.
Got some bangers on it. Very loooooooooong songs.
Didn't really know much about Motown type music. I can see why it's good but personally not really my taste for the majority of my moods.
Run Charlie Run was a shock as I was tuned out when it started. Overall the album is fine, mastering is good but the music isn't for me. It's a bit dull and its message doesn't resonate.
Altijd wel een zwak voor the Temptations. Echt spannend wordt de plaat natuurlijk niet maar heerlijk om lekker aan te zetten en in huis (of op de camping) een fijn sfeertje te creëeren. 7/10 Highlights Funky Music So Nuff Turns Me On Papa was a Rolling Stone
Listened to this a few times and each time it could not keep my attention. Fine music.
I kept playing this record through, kind of zoning out, and then I would perk up at a great song, but then realize it's a Spotify of more Temptations or Temptations-adjacent songs. That's all to say, these guys seem cool as hell, but I think I gravitate to their more fun songs. I liked Funky Music, Papa, and Do Your Thing.
It was ok. Nothing too special. I knew Papa Was a Rolling Stone, but I never knew it was 9 minutes long. I also knew the song First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, but I didn’t know their version.
Good soul, good funk, good beats, a good listen, surprised me
Great emotion carried in their voices, mixed with abit of groove made it a solid 3.5
There's a lot of ups and downs in this album. It doesn't help when I don't really like the most popular song off the album. It kind of feels like it gets a little lost in its own sauce.
They definitely lived up to the album title, the tracks go in "all directions." It's not really a bad thing, though. This is the first album I've heard from them, so it gave me an idea of how versatile they are as an artist. Favorite tracks: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Do Your Thing
Not my favorite temps album, but definitely a few bangers in there: papa, and the first i ever saw ya
Good album! Papa was a rollin' stone is the standout track by far, but the rest of the album is alright.
Beautiful version of the first time ever I saw your face. Decent album overall. The first track sounds terribly mixed for some reason, and the album version of a papa was a rollin stone is inferior to the single version imo, too long, not as powerful.
слушабельно, но иногда слишком размыто или хаотично примечательно: love woke me up this morning, I ain't got nothing и do your thing
первая пара треков просто оркестр обезьян, остальные более менее спокойные и прикольные. бесит что инструменты в наушниках отдельно звучат
Funky
Worth a listen.
Good album, not my style of music
This is a cool, chilled album, I think a nice intro to The Temptations. Be more than happy to listen to more of their stuff.
Yeah, it was good.
Papa was a rolling stone is a banger, the rest is kind of forgettable, but it's an easy, short listen.
That was alright, wasn't as good as I was expecting though.
The Temptations are definitely a group that I hadn't ever listened to before going through this list but I've enjoyed both of the albums I've encountered so far. "Cloud Nine" is better, imo, but this is still pretty good.
It was a good vibes album, i enjoyed listening to it, but none of it is going into my rotation. I may revisit it as a whole album though
A strong start that kind of fizzles out into less fun and interesting pieces. Still listenable the whole way through.
Enjoyable if slightly samey soul album. As someone who isn’t massively into 70s funk and soul, this doesn’t have the speed and energy it takes for me to really love this kind of music.
2.5
Fine.
I really enjoyed *All Directions*—the funk and soul hit perfectly, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” completely drew me in with its hypnotic groove.
Papa was a rolling stone is one of the best songs ever written, the rest just didn’t hit the same heights. A good listen in general tho
Decent enough but expected more
Not too shabby, good enough for three ⭐s imho
Quite a funky album! 'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone' definitely is a step above the rest for me despite its long runtime, but I enjoyed the album in its entirety as well. Vocals are definitely the selling point, but the instrumentals are also on point. Don't have much more to say about this, but I enjoyed it a bit more than the average record I'd say. Still, a strong 3 feels appropriate.
Papa was a rolling stone was clearly the most iconic song of this record. I also think it was the best. Run Charlie run, was the second song that made an impression on me. The rest not so much. Clearly a very talented group and the album was short and sweet. Not much that stuck except the main hit. Strong 3.
Easy listen. Cool tunes. Classic.
Smooth groovin!
No mucho que decir. Bastante lindo. Nota: 3.2
It’s a nice album with most of the songs on the slower side. Nothing great, nothing horrible.
Groovy as heck, a little shocking some of the lyrics though but it’s chill i guess.
it was quite enjoyable. i like "papa was a rolling stone"
Very cool
Not bad but a bit hit and miss
Nice grooves!
På grund av att vi fick ett album en dag förtidigt hinner jag inte skriva nåt riktigt. En stark trea, bra men saknar den riktiga udden och funken på det stora hela. Den långa albumversion av "Papa...“ är dock helt makalöst bra.
Omslaget andas svenskt 70-talsdansband. Vi slänger upp bandet i ett träd. Sen gör vi bilden lite oskarp och suddig i kanterna. Men musiken är långt från de svenska dansbanorna. Det sofistikerat och rått på samma gång. Det är inte längre Motown-fabrikens hitkavalkad. Nu är det fullt ut the Whitfield Singers. Norman Withfield såg till att hans namn kom med på framsidan av omslaget. Papa was a Rolling Stone är ett mästerverk. Basen och trummorna som bara maler på medan låten får utvecklas. Det är så bra. Övriga låtar når inte upp till samma höga nivå.
not my thing, but i respect it and i like the instruments.
Some nice songs, but I don't think this was their best album.
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 is a strong slice of early-70s funky soul, full of tight grooves and polished production, but it lives in the shadow of its centerpiece. 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘢 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯’ 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 towers over the record with its sweeping orchestral arrangement, hypnotic bassline, and brooding atmosphere, setting a standard that the rest of the album can’t quite reach. The other tracks are solid — well-played and enjoyable — but they feel more like supporting acts than equals. As a whole, the album shows The Temptations’ ambition and willingness to expand beyond Motown formulas, but its uneven impact makes it more memorable for one masterpiece than for the record itself.
Sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
All Directions definitely has some killer tracks, but the pacing of the albums is a bit off in my opinion. All in all I was underwhelmed by this supposedly all time favourite funk record.
Papa was a Rolling Stone is still a banger, even though the album version is nearly 12 minutes long. The rest is a bit too corny.
I really liked that it’s smooth
Really enjoyed this!
Long form
This started off strong, and I really enjoyed the first three tracks - “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”, in particular, is the standout, and a song I’ve always loved. However, it had no business being 12mins long - especially as the first 4mins were intro. From there, the album went downhill for me. The remaining tracks were snoozefests, and struggled keeping me engaged. This version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was just dull compared to Roberta Flack’s (what it did do, however, was send me to Wiki - I had no idea of the origins of that song!). You can see why the band feel that this was the last of their classics, as this album does feel a lot like that.
Absolutely loved side one, other than Papa Was a Rolling Stone being far far too long at 11 minutes 44 seconds - no vocals kick in until nearly 4 minutes have passed, during which time very little had happened. The single version, at 6 minutes 54 seconds is already long enough. It is one of my favourite songs with handclaps though, and the strings are perfection. A Side - beautiful voices all round, funky, made me want to dance (which given I listened to this the evening after I'd been awake most of the previous night, is high praise indeed). Side B was too slow and ballady for me to enjoy it anywhere as much as the upbeat funk of the previous tracks. Mind you, I think I might be a bit in love with Melvin Franklin's bass vocals. If I was just marking the A side it'd be a 5, but overall it's going to be a 3 3/5
funky
It was a fun album with some interesting lyrics
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Gets off to a strong start....loving that funky horn section. IMO Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was 3 minutes of awesome surrounded by 9 min of mediocrity. The album bogged down a bit from there , then picks up again w/ The cover of The First Time Ever (I saw Your Face). Overall enjoyed it but don't see myself going back to this album too often.
Few good songs great band tho
Unmemorable aside from Rolling Stone but that song does a lot of the heavy lifting
This one is fine. Really liked a few didn't like a couple. 3 stars.
Good vocals and harmonies! Just not the type of music I listen to very often.
decent enough
Papa Was a Rolling Stone is one of the very best songs of the 70's in my personal opinion and this version, while not the first release, was the best rendition. The rest of the album is fine, with some good tracks but nothing else that rises to that epic level.
I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would.
Best at their funkiest, worst at their slow jam-iest.
The 12 minute version of Papa Was a Rolling Stone might be the greatest funk song ever.
Soooo groovy, i really liked papa was a rolling stone
Smooth. Fav tracks - Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Mother Nature Added to library - Mother Nature
I never heard a "The Temptations" record, but it was a nice listening session this morning. The vocal harmonies are often times adorable. The same is true for the string and brass arrangements. I like the overall goldish glow that the record has from its original era, although it is a little bit too cozy for my taste in its entirety. Highlight: I immediately took "Love woke me up this morning" with me. The title itself is already amazingly romantic and the fairytale opening of the track makes it even better. Will be a great addition to any mixtape or playlist!
70s soul vibe, easy to listen to
Nice high 3
Oh they're legendary, I'm looking forward to this one! Good album, could be funkier for my tastes, but perfect balance for the era and I never knew Shaft started off life here.
Full of funk and soul, All Directions sends the Temptations sound in a different direction than some of their earlier albums. "Papa was a Rolling Stone" is the obvious stand out track, but other tracks like "Mother Nature" get buried under that 12 minute monster of a track. Overall a good album to chill out with.
Smooth but not my favorite thing.
soul oder r&B das intro von papa was a rolling stone!!! c ... War der Titel den ich auch kannte ;) ich kann noch sehr viel lernen bei diesem kanon :)
Classic album. Run Charlie run.
Some amazing vocals, great lyrics, important songs. Overall, it is not that interesting musically for my taste---such is the nature of different tastes. There were parts that dragged here for me, but overall this is, of course, some very good music.
They shoulda split papa was a rolling stone into like 2 songs. Its crazy how they just let that sit in the middle of an album that is nothing like that lol. Its fun otherwise (that song included i just didnt know the album version was that long of the same thing)
way wider range in genre for one album than i've heard on this so far, pretty rad
I feel pretty weird about this album. I mean... It's The Temptations! **The** Temptations! They're one of **the** vocal groups — not just from Motown, but of all time! I know I wasn't too big on the other album of theirs on this list (CLOUD NINE, which I gave a 3), but come on. They deserve that kind of praise, don't they? And this album should be an even bigger slam dunk than the last one I got. After all, it's the one with "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"! That's one of the **songs** of all time! How could I not love this thing? Yet my weirdness about this album starts right at track one. And it has nothing to do with the song itself — to be frank, I hardly have an opinion on it. And if I don't, that's only because the mixing was so bizarrely terrible that I couldn't even begin to focus on it! Now, check it: I hardly mention mixing. It's a really important aspect of music, of course, but I hardly know enough about it to ever make comments. Why waste the time trying, y'know? So if a song has just mixing just **that** uniquely bad... Seriously, I had to check and make sure my headphones hadn't suddenly died on me. That's how bad the mixing on track one was. Following that, "Run Charlie Run" was... A fine kind of nothing, if I can be honest. But then we hit "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" — here we are! The song of the album! Maybe even the song of The Temptations' career, if you ignore "My Girl". If I'm gonna like — heck, **love** any song from this album, it's gonna be this one. I mean, back when my group got CLOUD NINE, I went and listened to "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" twice just because I knew what a legendary track it was. Listening to it in the context of the album, though... I'unno, it just didn't hit right this time. Like, seven minutes in, I realized that I'd been waiting for the song to **start** and kick up another level, but it never did. Have you ever heard Isaac Hayes's HOT-BUTTERED SOUL? I think I was expecting it to be like something off of that, and yet it just... Wasn't. It never really resolved the tension it was holding the entire time, and when it faded out, I honestly had to blink like, "That's it?" "Walk On By" faded out, too, and it felt way more conclusive than this did. And maybe the unresolved tension was the point, but I guess I'll never know for sure. And, y'know, I get it. It's an album that's trying to get by on these smooth, soulful vibes, and I get that. I'm not opposed to that whatsoever. I gotta tell you, side 2 generally hits that note a lot better than side one did. But I gotta agree with a fellow group member: if you're gonna rely on vibes this heavily, the instrumentation's gotta be a lot richer. The instrumentation felt like it was operating at a 6 or a 7 instead of a 10, y'know? The vocals are, of course. It just really throws everything off. And this is a Motown record! Why aren't the instruments that rich and lush? Goodness. Which is what leads me to feeling so weird about the album. I really wish I could like it more, truly. I know I shouldn't be holding The Temptations in such high regard for nothing; I should have something to point to besides "My Girl" and an impression of a general consensus. And it's not like me not really feeling this album convinced me otherwise, of course. Ultimately, it's a fine, good enough soul record. I'm not sitting here with my illusions shattered or anything. I might've had my expectations set too high... Or maybe The Temptations are more of a singles group than an albums one, I'unno. Either way, I just wish I coulda gotten a bit more out of this. Ah well.
Funky, pretty good, not great. 34 mins. 1st album. 5/10.
Some great grooves and pitchy-ass falsetto made this one fun but inessential. I had Isaac Hayes's Hot Buttered Soul just a couple of days ago, and that was a much better psych-R&B album from the same period.
Their sound is great for soul/funk, I just wish they wrote more interesting songs
Very Chill vibes and moody but a but African type
I love a bit of the temptations, even though not their best. I would still listen again and again
good
Not a bad album but weirdly produced in some areas, had some songs I enjoyed but overall ok
As tempted as I am to give this 5 stars, I have to admit, I was a little bored after the first half of this album. Not trying to take anything away from a legendary group, just admitting that The Temptations have never really been my bag.
Nice listening
This album feels like a big tonal shift for what I knew of them. Bet that was something culturally.
Not as good as the other Temptations album; not as fun.
Funky.
Pas mal mais pas exceptionnel non plus
Pretty good! First half was good, second half was alright. Papa Was A Rolling Stone was super cool, but part of me wishes there was a bigger buildup.
Fake live songs are a pet peeve of mine, so I didn’t like the first song as much as I might’ve. The second song just made me go “huh, that’s two days in a row with a pop/funk album that prominently uses the n-word in its second song”. “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” is a stone cold jam. It’s rare that an 11-minute song can fly by like that one does. The rest of the album has the same problem that Cloud 9 had. The group seemed to want to have one foot in the funk world and one foot in the “shoo bop, shoo bop” era and it makes for a really schizophrenic album. This was not a bad album but it dropped off hard on the second side. I love the Motown sound, but I wish the Temptations had just fully committed to their new funk style in the 70’s. Because their funk songs on both this and Cloud 9 sound great and the other songs just sound dated.
Might want to play track 2 with your headphones on
Discivering old song that longs for 11 minutes, very chill and ambient, big crush for papa was a rollin' stone
Was not expecting them of all bands to be dropping N-bombs. Really caught me off guard on the 2nd song.
I don't think this was nearly as enjoyable or notable as Cloud Nine. I quite enjoy this genre of music, but I think this was fairly forgettable. Nothing here quite stood out to me that was review-worthy. An enjoyable listen nevertheless.
Similar output to their previous album which I liked but didn't love. Unfortunately had some audio trouble with the copies I tried listening to which may have also affected my experience
Solid album. Was expecting a few more upbeat songs from the Temptations, but enjoyable none the less. 3.5⭐️
IMO, nothing too special here outside of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
This definitely ain’t “My Girl” Temptations. In the current of political unrest during the Nixon Administration the Temptations obviously decided to join the fray. Run Charlie Run was a song that I had never heard on their Beat Of compilations, was not on it for reason: it was a huge social commentary on black soldiers being sent to Vietnam. I had to take a double-take when listening. Following it up Papa Was A Rolling Stone was once again a social commentary about black culture and poverty. The B-Sides like Do Your Thing and Mother Nature were good though lacking in the shock value of the first tracks. This album was a huge shift from even their Psychedelic Soul to politically charged soul. I imagine this was eye opening for many white listeners expecting Ain’t To Proud to Beg. This is pretty powerful even now.
Random thoughts: * outside of Papa was a Rolling Stone, this is a pretty generic 70s R&B album. It’s fine. * Rolling Stone is a great song and everyone should listen and know this song. * man I really hate some of these old ballads. First Time I Saw Your Face was a snoozer and almost ruined the whole album for me. * just play Rolling Stone, stay for the rest if you need more 70s R&B, skip the ballad.
Some classic tracks and seeds on here, if anything needed remastering it's this album (audio engineer's ears must have been painted on), maybe it's just Spotify and better quality audio versions exist out there, probably a 3.5 but going with ⭐⭐⭐
They really know how to groove and funk. The lyrics of Run Charlie Run caught me off guard, but it was a very groovy song. Papa Was A Rollin Stone was the only song I’ve heard before and I really enjoyed this funky version, reminded me of a Herbie Hancock song. Not a fan of more of their slow doowop stuff such as I Ain’t Got Nothin’.
Funky, bold, odd
Lite souligt, mysigt!
I'm not really familiar with The Temptations full catalog but I kind of feel like this was one of the first album where they delved into more an activist's tone. Solid album, but I kind feel like they should have leaned more into it instead of having several of the slower songs they mixed in.
pretty chill
3.5/5 Funky and groovy. Some excellent songs, some meh songs but overall enjoyable
Very pleasant for a morning sunrise drive
Aka Papa was a Rolling Stone and some other songs. At 12 min it takes up 1/3 of the 36 min playtime and it was the only thing memorable. Maybe Motown just doesn’t do it for me.
RnB/Soul is probably my favorite genre (either that or Jazz), but I surprisingly am not that much of a fan of The Temptations. I mean they make really solid bodies of work, but I just haven't really been crazy about their sound. Just sounds like ABCs of early 70s Funk/Soul. Good music, but not amazing. Definitely not remarkable in the sense that there's better Funk (P-Funk, Sly Stone) and Soul (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye) that was made at that time, but some rememberable moments here and there.
All Directions marks an interesting turning point for The Temptations. Known for smooth love ballads and tight harmonies, here they take on heavier and more experimental material. The standout is clearly “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” a nearly 12-minute masterpiece that still sounds fresh today. The long instrumental intro builds tension beautifully, and the vocal delivery is filled with quiet intensity. It remains one of their most iconic and forward-thinking tracks. The rest of the album, while solid, does not quite reach the same level. “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” brings some energy, and “Do Your Thing” taps into a cool psychedelic soul groove. But a few songs feel like they are just there to fill out the runtime. The album has ambition, and you can hear them pushing into new territory, but it lacks consistency.
Fine temptations album
When this album started, I thought I was going to love it. It came in hot with "Funky Music...", which I really enjoyed. Unfortunately my enthusiasm wasn't supported by the whole album. The funk stuff was great. Good grooves and fun to listen to. But I didn't really like the rest of the tracks that much. Not to say that it was overly bad, but I thought the non-funk tracks were much weaker than the funk songs. Having heard them nail plenty of pop/doo-wop/etc songs before, I felt unimpressed with their efforts on those types of tracks here. They just didn't have the resonating effect that I felt like the group is usually capable of. The group did show that they can cover some musical ground with the variety of tracks on the album. That said, I'm not sure that made the album better. I should note that I'm personally not that interested by vocal-led ballads and the like, so I'm sure that played a part in my evaluation. It often feels like the music itself gets neglected when the focus is on the vocals in that way. With the music being more "boring" on those tracks here, it was an uphill battle for me to enjoy them. In short, I didn't find this album bad, but disappointing. I felt like it could have been better in a number of ways. There were tracks I liked while the rest didn't do much for me. As a whole, I didn't think it was much better than OK. Overall: 2.75/5
This is a good Temps record. It kind of falls off after the first half, but I'm never going to rate a good middle-era Motown record low. 6/10.
Overall: 5/10 This one honestly just wasn't my thing. The vocals are awesome, don't get me wrong. The music itself just wasn't very interesting to me and I had a hard time focusing on what was going on. I'm sure this would be someone else's greatest album of all time but to me it was just meh and I don't have much to day about it. Fav Song: The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face Least Fav Song: Run Charlie Run
the temptations are often great but this felt pretty mild
Nice Temptations record. Papa was a Rolling Stone worth the price of admission alone. 3.5 stars
Not what I was expecting from The Temptations. Some songs I liked. Some I didn't. Glad to have listened to it
So, my second funk album, did I like it better than Mothership…no, no I did not. This album was certainly a weird one. I’ve heard the name of The Temptations before, but I’ve never actually listened to any of there stuff or knew the names to any of their songs, so this was a first time listen for me. The first song, Funky Music Sho Nuff Turn Me on, was a catchy funk jam, but then we got to Run Charlie Run. I’ll be honest, that song sounded kind of ridiculous. The whole time I was listening to it I thought it sounded like it would have a better home in an episode of Veggietales. I then got to Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, which was the best song on the album, but I felt like it needed to build up to something, as it stayed the same for most of the song. After that it kind of just became a wash of R&B ballads that I never really got into. So, overall, I didn’t like too much of the album, but it wasn’t atrocious. I’m gonna roll my stone over to a better album if you don’t mind.
I expected a bit more from this one, given how much I love Papa Was A Rolling Stone. The only other songs that I found memorable were Run Charlie Run, and I Ain't Got Nothing. Overall pretty pleasant to listen to though.
Funk me this is good! Great couple of openers. But slowed down for the rest of the album and to be honest, preferred the funk and groove. Still a lot of heart and soul in the rest of the tracks but they do funk well and felt more engaged and impacted by that. But if a mix of an album because of that shift after the first 2 tracks. Maybe 3.5
The first track has almost got a hip-hop beat. Super soulful off the bat and a powerful message on Run Charlie Run. Some really nice instrumentation and great vocals throughout. The version of Papa Is a Rollin' Stone is a classic, but there also feels like there's a lot of filler on here. It's great-sounding filler, but it still feels a bit like filler.
Bit of a weird mix of songs. Why is Papa Was a Rollin' Stone eleven minutes long! Some really good songs but as an album it felt a bit all over the place. I preferred the slower songs (bit of a relief after how chaotic the first song felt). Favourite song: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Least: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
Gets off to a strong start - saw myself giving this a 4 or 5 initially. Papa Was a Rollin Stone is an all-time great, but the album never really recovers after this one slows things down. Completely average overall.
# Album Name: All Directions # Artist: The Temptations # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Papa was a rolling stone is an absolute beast. Amazing tune. The wah, the vocals, the brass used. Its just top notch. 12 minutes of bliss. There a couple of other decent songs on here. The rest of the album is pretty mid. # Top Tunes: Run Charlie Run / Papa Was a rolling stone / first time i saw your face # Would I listen to it again? Maybe
Very funky, but not my jam
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone is truly a masterpiece but the rest of the album doesn't hit the same tbh.
Great 70ties vibe
Good songs but they were just really bland Couldn't get into it but it was alright as background music 3 ⭐️
Second listen was crucial!
lovely!
Groovy but a bit repetitive at times. Felt great listening to this in the background without it feeling like elevator music.
Fine nothing to write home about
What a decade did to the Temptations. Or maybe they were always this funky and cool, and I just know the hits that weren't. Don't get me wrong - I love "My Girl" (it played at my wedding, after all). But man was this a great, funky time. Nothing like what I expected. Right from the get go, you've got the funk hitting you in the face with "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On." I mean come ON. No way someone could hate that. And then the white flight/Black Power anthem in "Run Charlie, Run"? Let's go. And let's not forget "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," a song I didn't even know was there's until recently. But I sure heard it a lot as a kid. I read that they thought this would flop. I can see why, especially if it's as big a departure from their old sound as I suspect it is. But the sheer talent on display here from literally everyone involved is amazing. From the Temptations themselves, to the production, to the backing band, it's a great listen throughout. I could've done without "Love Woke Me Up This Morning," or at least I could say that I won't listen to it again. It, "I Ain't Got Nothin'," and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" all should not have been sequenced together. It slows down the album immensely in the second half and it's only redeemed at the very end by "Do Your Thing." I've always had a hard time understanding why some albums have such a clear divide between sides - a funky side and a ballad side, in this case. I guess it's to give the listener the option, base which side they listen to on their mood. Maybe it was intentional - they thought maybe people wouldn't like the new funky sound so they gave them another side of stuff more similar to what made them famous in the first place. I dunno, but it didn't work for me. In the end, it could've been a four or even five-star venture. But as it is, it's three. Standout Tracks: Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On, Run Charlie Run, Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Gains a point for the 11 minute Papa Was a Rolling Stone, loses a point for First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. I have not heard a version of that song that I like.
Papa Was A Rolling Stone is a classic, otherwise everything else was okay
"Papa was a rolling stone" sounds like it is used as a musical motif for 70s crime dramas
Decent. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a great song but if, like me you've ever heard the Roberta Flack version this pales in comparison to that. The rest of it is pretty good slow jams, but nothing to really write home about.
It's ok. Better than the last one. Dad funk.
Easy listening, good background music.
Good moments but reading about how the group didn’t even want to do some of the songs made the songs less impactful.
All Directions isn't the most amazing album ever but it at least left an impression on me unlike the last Temptations album. I found that everything here is just way more memorable probably due to being played much louder than i remember Cloud Nine being played at. A lot of the actual music is pretty good with a lot of it being able to invoke an incredibly relaxing feel. One other thing i can note is that in the second song, the n-slur is used. I always get caught off guard when these kinds of slurs are used in old R&B music since i always consider it a hip-hop thing. Regardless, I enjoyed this album a fair bit and i definitely like it more than Cloud Nine. Best Song: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Worst Song: Run Charlie Run
There's some great stuff in here, though not all of it works that well for me.
I mean, I did feel like I was being thrown in all directions. Some of it was funkin’ great. Other times it was just a bit bleagh.
There were a couple of standout songs on this, but other things weighed the album down. Some of the falsetto vocals were a little much for me, and some of the material was just drab. I wasn’t able to focus entirely on the album, but I don’t know that my impression would have improved had I given it more attention.
6/10 Frustrating because the highs were high here, where they pushed out into full-on soul. But large stretches were king of gloopy R&B that didn’t do much for me. Best: Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
The cover of this album was actually a recreation of the Houmous family Christmas Card from 1968. Len was with his 8th wife, Lucinda and their 4 rather hyperactive kids. He doesn’t see the kids these days. Most of them are in jail to be fair. 3.0 6/8 The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" certainly stands on its own, and I had no idea the Temptations version was a cover until now. The rest of the album didn't match that vibe at all though, which I was a little disappointed by. Side one is the funky side and side two is the sentimental soul side, so we've got a noticeable split here. Not bad and sure, the Temptations got popular for their soul sound, but I was expecting more of an artistic evolution especially after "Cloud Nine" from a few years prior. "Papa" does a lot of heavy lifting here.
Good jams, good vibes. Nothing crazy special about this one, though!
This has a live concert mashup vibe. I would have loved to be in the crowd for that show. Funky and chill. Best served with bourbon. They are a classic with clear talent. I’m pegging this an “average” for the best album journey.
live concert on first track with heavy bass funk...mix a little light on the horn section. The album felt a bit disconnected and felt like it was pulled from different places in time.
Good album but didn't fire me up in quite the same way as Sly & the Family Stone "Stand!" did yesterday
Run Charlie Run is a real tough track to get through. Good lord. But with Papa Was a Rolling Stone immediately following it, I was about able to get right back into the groove
Definitely some grooves on this album. I had heard of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" but I didn't realize it was a 12-minute epic. Not too bad. Favorite tracks: Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, Do Your Thing
I liked "Mother Nature."
Good solid funky album
Yeah, it's got, "Poppa was a rolling stone" on it. But... nothing too much outside of that. Some not so good, and a few just okay. I don't see myself playing this one again anytime soon.
Good, lush, groovy, not sure if it’s something I would listen to regularly. Best songs: Papa was a rollin stone, love woke me up this morning, I ain’t got nothin, Mother Nature.
Several very sparse songs which featured their voices as the main instrument. I enjoyed
Papa was a rolling stone has about the longest intro I know
easy listening, very groovy. had good drumbeats, good harmonies, nice trumpet
not bad at all, i do really like R&B, but that opening track made me expect a much different album that i didn't get. easily my favourite track, but Mother Nature and Do Your Thing are up there too.
My dad used to listen to the Temptations, I was familiar with a few songs but impressed at the others. Good album
Enjoyed the first half alot. Standout songs: Funky music sho nuff turns me on Papa was a rollin' stone Do your thing
'Papa Was A Rollin' Stone' dominates and even stretched to 11 minutes the full version is fantastic. Apart from that it's patchy, but I really like the closer 'Do Your Thing'. They had a magnificent sound, no doubt.
Made pretty good background music for a Saturday night dinner but I wouldn’t bother listening again.
I actually learned something from this album. For me, The Temptations actually got better over time for MY tastes. I was OK with this album but it was not quite what I expected; which was to be moved, blown away, listening to a genre icon. But it was... all right. I liked how it was a fusion of jazz, soul, nearing funk at times... but never really stuck anywhere. Right after this played my youtube randomizer sent me a more recent album of theirs and TBH I liked it a lot more. It may be just me, a lot of old school music types love to lament at this very evolution I am exalting. But this IS my reflection and I will not be swayed.
Very different A side vs B side. The funky A side was a 4 for me, but the early 60s style love song B side was a 2.
2.9 Papa is a rolling stone, is a classic. Was surprised by da funk in the first few songs.
Perfectly good stuff. "Run Charlie Run" is a Song With A Message, but at least it presents that message with humor, so it's actually not annoying.
Nice, bit of a departure from the norm.
Not at all bad. Liked it but didn’t love it. I love the social commentary and the deep, gold soul these guys have. I wasn’t put off by the funk aspect because it sounds quite cool. I think I like this better than their smooth soul. I like the grittier edge. However, I didn’t really like the jazzy kind of vibe that’s on there. It seems a bit out of place somehow. Overall though, it was well worth a listen and I will listen again because I think it’s a slow burn grower.
Funky, very nice, don't have much else
3/5
lite småtråkigt men ändå rätt så go känsla emellanåt.
06/2025 Hotel, Gili Asahan, Indonesien. I liked it quite well.
Papa Was A Rolling Stone is an all-timer. The rest of the album doesn't live up to it, but isn't bad.
Funky, jazzy and electric album fitting quite well for a sunny evening at the balcony. ***
Another solid album by the Temptations high 3/5
Slower than expected but was enjoyable. More funk than I expected as well.
Mother Nature and I Ain't Got Nothin were the highlights for me, two of the lesser listened to according to Spotify. Motown isn't usually in my rotation but it was ok.
propa funky and good covers
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.
Just didn't nab my attention
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
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.
"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.
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.
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
This was pretty solid, but nothing stood out too much to me.
Aight
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
Some good ole classics in there. Enjoyed most of the album. Good stuff
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.
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.
it wasn’t my favorite temptations album. No huge complaints though.
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.
Real funky funky 🕺 A couple of bangers in pappa was a rolling stone and my namesake. Powerful story telling around racial equality etc
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
Will listen to more. 3.5
Feels like it is paving the way for 70s vocal soul. Not really me but I still enjoyed
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.
Funky af. Favorite song is Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
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.
3/4
North; Northeast; East; Southeast; South; Southwest; West; Northwest.
Temptations albums always throw me for a loop.
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.
"Every room has a floor." Find this and other revelations in All Directions.
Tbh I prefer the shorter version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone. B side is pleasant soul but not my favorite of this era
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