Puzzle People | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 23, 1969 | |||
Recorded | 1969 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 43:37 | |||
Label |
Gordy GS 949 | |||
Producer | Norman Whitfield | |||
The Temptations chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Rolling Stone | (favourable) [2] |
Puzzle People is the eleventh studio album released by American soul quintet The Temptations for the Gordy ( Motown) label in 1969. Produced entirely by Norman Whitfield, Puzzle People expanded on the psychedelic soul sound of the Temptations' previous LP, Cloud Nine. Although a few straightforward soul ballads are present, the album is primarily composed of Sly & the Family Stone/ James Brown-derived proto- funk tracks such as the lead single "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down", and the number-one Billboard Pop hit " I Can't Get Next to You".
Puzzle People was released simultaneously with Together, a duets album of covers by the Temptations and labelmates Diana Ross & the Supremes. It peaked into the Top 5 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and spent fifteen weeks at number one on the R&B Albums chart.
All selections produced by Norman Whitfield.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Leads(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | " I Can't Get Next to You" | Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong | Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, P. Williams, O. Williams | 2:55 |
2. | " Hey Jude" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | Edwards, Kendricks, P. Williams, Franklin, O. Williams | 3:32 |
3. | "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" | Whitfield, Strong | Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, P. Williams, O. Williams | 4:45 |
4. | "Message from a Black Man" | Whitfield, Strong | Kendricks, Edwards, Franklin | 6:02 |
5. | " It's Your Thing" | Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley | Edwards, P. Williams | 3:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Leads(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | " Little Green Apples" | Bobby Russell | P. Williams | 3:45 |
2. | "You Don't Love Me No More" | Whitfield, Strong, Roger Penzabene | Kendricks | 2:35 |
3. | "Since I've Lost You" | Whitfield | Edwards, Franklin | 2:43 |
4. | "Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You)" | Whitfield, Strong | P. Williams | 2:48 |
5. | " That's the Way Love Is" | Whitfield, Strong | Edwards, P. Williams | 3:20 |
6. | "Slave" | Whitfield, Strong | Edwards, Kendricks, Franklin | 7:30 |
with:
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Albums ( RPM) [3] | 17 |
Japanese Albums ( Oricon) [4] | 82 |
UK Albums ( OCC) [5] | 20 |
US Billboard 200 [6] | 5 |