Probably like many from my generation, I must have listened to "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" for the first time in the early 1990s, thanks to George Michael 👨‍🎤 I've heard the song played by many artists over the years - The Temptations' version has always been a powerful standout. And it is through this deep dive into 70s funk that I learned: the song was originally written (by the great producer Norman Whitfield) for a different group: “The Undisputed Truth." When it initially failed, it was given to the Temptations because NW was confident it would be a hit, and indeed it did win him a Grammy!

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Norman Whitfield was a creative songwriter and producer within the Motown machine, known to have written and produced hundreds of songs for the label's legendary artists. From Marvin Gaye's masterpiece "I heard it through the Grapevine" to The Temptations' hit "Cloud Nine," Whitfield's influence is heard on some of Motown's most iconic moments. He is an inventor, blending genres, combining traditional soul with elements of rock, psychedelia, and even jazz. He would add a funkier edge to his tracks by incorporating unusual rhythms, phased vocals, and swirling guitars to create a sound that would be thrilling and yet recognizable. A master of studio experimentation, he would produce distinctive sound textures that would come to define psychedelic soul by utilizing cutting-edge methods like overdubbing, layering, and sampling.

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The Undisputed Truth, formed by Norman Whitfield in 1970, is more than just another Motown act. Though often referred to as Whitfield's "pet project," The Undisputed Truth has its own distinct sound but still serves as a creative outlet for him to try out new productions. NW, known for pushing boundaries within soul and funk, uses The Undisputed Truth to explore different vocal textures and musical approaches to his songs. They have a successful first album in 1971 with the song “Smiling Faces Sometimes,” but I found out their funkier period is in the mid-70s, just a few years before their permanent disbandment. 

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🌟 The 1970s are widely considered the golden age of funk and 1975 is a particularly strong year for innovation and experimentation in funk music. George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic revolutionizes the genre with their wild, psychedelic sounds and extravagant stage shows. The 1975 albums by The Undisputed Truth, "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" also feature a significant amount of psychedelic flair. While their earlier work tends to lean more toward psychedelic soul with traditional soul and funk elements, both of these albums exhibit a distinct shift in their sound, with a heavier dose of funk elements, reminding of the Parliament-Funkadelic sound. The band's image also appears to change, adopting a more flamboyant and futuristic style that mirrors the weird costumes worn by Clinton's crew.

🛸"Cosmic Truth" (released in March 75) sets the tone: songs like "Earthquake Shake" and "U.F.Os" have a space-age vibe to them, complete with futuristic synthesizer touches. "Higher than High" (out in October 75) is part of their ongoing exploration into this new sonic territory; the album delves deeper into the genres of funk and soul, fusing rock and gospel influences.

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The music is amazing in both albums, and the album covers are equally captivating. Both "Cosmic Truth" and "Higher Than High" present the psychedelic soul / P-funk genre, and the album covers display the artistic trends of the mid-70s: bold colors and a spacey feel. "Cosmic Truth" leans into a more abstract direction, with swirling patterns and cosmic imagery in deep purples, blues, and oranges. "Higher Than High" appears to be a more literal interpretation, showing the band itself against a backdrop (in space) that evokes their music. 🌌

These are enjoyable, however underappreciated albums that are ahead of their time. Though I enjoy both albums, I think I like “Cosmic Truth” a little more than “Higher than High”. And if I had to pick a favorite track, I would go between "Lil' Red Riding Hood" and "Squeeze Me, Tease Me," and finally select “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” with its funky twist to the fairy tale and fun lyrics. 💟🐺

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Gülben - 05/2024

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📖  Classic Motown Artists

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🎶 Genre: Funk

For other Funk content on site: CLASSIC GROOVE FUNK

For all archive: FUNK ARCHIVE

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