Graham Reid | | 2 min read
In its early days Motown didn't directly address political issues -- although there's a good case to be made that its very existence and popular success was, like rock'n'roll of the Fifties, a political act in itself.
But as the decade rolled on and young black men were either being shipped off to Vietnam or getting edgy in the streets back home, it was hard to ignore the rise of the Black Panthers and similar revolutionary movements.
For their Puzzle People album, The Temptations took on this Norman Whitfield-Barrett Strong lyric which left you in no doubt about where they stood: "Black is a colour, just like white . . . No matter how hard you try, you can't stop me now".
(See the full lyrics below)
Unlike many other Motown acts, the Temptations were also increasingly attuned to the psychedelic sounds and the following year released their Psychedelic Shack album whch contained their classic song War alongside the funky wah-wah driven title track (both Whitfield-Strong compositions).
Around the same time they recorded Ball of Confusion ("the only people talkin' 'bout love is the preacher") and yes, that too was a Whitfield-Strong song.
The Temptations might have taken those key Motown elements of gospel from the church and doo-wop from the corner back in their early days, but by the late Sixties they were getting back on the street and looking their more mature and righteously angry audience in the eye.
Curiously though, even though they recorded it and brought an authentic militancy into play, they wouldn't perform Message From a Black Man live and the Puzzle People album came out the same day as a softer duets album with Diana Ross and the Supremes.
Seems the Temps were just as confused as anyone at the time.
Message From a Black Man
Yes, my skin is black,
But that's no reason to hold me back.
Why don't you think about it?
Think about it, think about it, think about it,
Think about it...
I have wants and desires,
Just like you.
So move on the side,
'Cause I'm comin' through, oh!
No matter how hard you try,
You can't stop me now.
No matter how hard you try,
You can't stop me now, oooh...
Yes, your skin is white...
Does that make you right?
Why don't you think about it?
Think about it, think about it, think about it,
Think about it...
This is a message,
A message to y'all:
Together we stand,
Divided we fall, oh!
Black is a color,
Just like white.
Tell me: how can a color determine whether
You're wrong or right?
We all have our faults...
Yes we do.
So look in your mirror.
Look in the mirror.
For more oddities, one-offs or songs with an interesting backstory check the massive back-catalogue at From the Vaults.
post a comment