Papa Was a Rolling Stone (1972) 11/20/20

In 1971, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, two of Motown's best songwriters, wrote a “story song” that was recorded and released by the group Undisputed Truth. Although it was well done, it pretty much tanked on the charts.

Whitfield then took the song to the Temptations, who re-recorded it and turned it into a “Great Song of the '70s! Their version of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” was an epic 11 minute, 45 second album cut that was cut down to 7 minutes for the single release. That was awfully long for radio stations to play in those days, but it was so well done and the story was so compelling, there were no complaints—except from the Temptations themselves.

They felt the instrumental parts were too long, and that Whitfield had bullied singer Dennis Edwards into delivering his part the way he wanted it. Even so, all of the group members had solos, and the production—using the best of the Motown house musicians (The Funk Brothers)---was tight and innovative.

Indeed, in 1972, the single version was a Top 20 hit in 9 countries...and the Temptations' last #1 song in the US! It won 3 Grammy Awards, and the album version is #169 on Rolling Stone's list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

In 1990, the group Was (not Was) recorded a hip-hop cover that went Top 20 in 6 countries, including #6 in the US on Billboard's Dance Chart.

“Papa was a Rolling Stone,” a “Great Song of 1972,” as well as 1971 by the Undisputed Truth and 1990 by Was (Not Was)!

Temptations (Single Mix):

Temptations (Album Cut):

Undisputed Truth:

Was (not Was):