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
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 23, 1969
Recorded1969
Genre
Length43:37
LabelGordy
GS 949
ProducerNorman Whitfield
The Temptations chronology
The Temptations Show
(1969)
Puzzle People
(1969)
On Broadway
(1969)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone(favourable)[2]

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.

Track listing

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All selections produced by Norman Whitfield.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Leads(s)Length
1."I Can't Get Next to You"Norman Whitfield, Barrett StrongEdwards, Franklin, Kendricks, P. Williams, O. Williams2:55
2."Hey Jude"John Lennon, Paul McCartneyEdwards, Kendricks, P. Williams, Franklin, O. Williams3:32
3."Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down"Whitfield, StrongEdwards, Franklin, Kendricks, P. Williams, O. Williams4:45
4."Message from a Black Man"Whitfield, StrongKendricks, Edwards, Franklin6:02
5."It's Your Thing"Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Rudolph IsleyEdwards, P. Williams3:13
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Leads(s)Length
1."Little Green Apples"Bobby RussellP. Williams3:45
2."You Don't Love Me No More"Whitfield, Strong, Roger PenzabeneKendricks2:35
3."Since I've Lost You"WhitfieldEdwards, Franklin2:43
4."Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You)"Whitfield, StrongP. Williams2:48
5."That's the Way Love Is"Whitfield, StrongEdwards, P. Williams3:20
6."Slave"Whitfield, StrongEdwards, Kendricks, Franklin7:30

Personnel

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The Temptations

with:

Charts

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Chart (1969) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (RPM)[3] 17
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[4] 82
UK Albums (OCC)[5] 20
US Billboard 200[6] 5

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Puzzle People - the Temptations | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Bangs, Lester (7 February 1970). "Records". Rolling Stone. No. 40. San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.
  3. ^ "RPM: The Temptations (albums)". RPM Magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  4. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  5. ^ "The Temptations Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "The Temptations US Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2017.