Released: July 1972
If you look reeeeeal close at the bottom of the album cover you can see in small, but fine print: “Produced by Norman Whitfield”. Not something you see every day on an album cover, especially back in 1972.
Not exactly sure Whitfield would want his name on this production, though, cuz All Directions is a bit of a mess. Ain’t but two good songs on this album. Everything else kind of meanders, and there is one absolutely shitty song I never ever wanna hear again under any circumstances.
“Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” opens the album by living up to its title. Delightfully rollicking workout from the Funk Brothers that doubles as the most interesting group vocal on the album.
Less thrilling is “Run Charlie Run”, which chides white flight in slightly crass terms as Melvin Franklin’s bass voice mockingly sings “the n*ggers is comin’”. It is not one of the good songs on this album, but it’s not bad. I can listen to it and find some enjoyment.
Then when we get to “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone”, which was initially recorded by Whitfield’s other pet group, Undisputed Truth. Their version in turn was a musical rip-off of Donny Hathaway’s “The Ghetto”.
Back to the Temptations… this thing is a masterpiece of jazz-funk via blues and pointing toward disco. The opening bass line immediately grabs your ear as a Donald Byrd-esque trumpet pipes in. Slowly other layers are added. A wah wah guitar. A harp. Tinkering electric keyboard. Smoky strings.
After about four minutes, the instruments lay back and Dennis Edwards begins telling you about the third of September and his no good daddy who died. Franklin, Richard Street, and Damon Harris carry this song as they all keep posing questions to their mama and keep getting bad answers about their deceased father.
The song only stops after 12 minutes, but it pretty much justifies the length thanks to the ace production. And the handclaps that kick up the pace at points is where the song begins pointing to disco.
When the Temptations performed the song live, it was done at a faster pace, and you can hear disco all over it.
And that’s it for the truly good songs!
“I Ain’t Got Nothin’” and “Mother Nature” can tickle your fancy if you’re in a contemplative mood, but they’re nothing striking. Actually… dang it… the more I listen to “I Ain’t Got Nothin’” the more it grows on me. It might be good.
Their cover of Isaac Hayes’s “Do Your Thing” will have you rushing for the original. And the cover of Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)” will have you rushing to hit the stop button. My vote for worst Temptations song of the Norman Whitfield years.
And the short ballad “Love Woke Me Up This Morning” is just… there. At least it’s graced by the lovely singing of the Andantes.
PS: the back cover of this LP is awesome.
ALBUM GRADE: C-
I got my complaints, but this album was of course #1 on the R&B charts and even rose to #2 on the pop charts. “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” was the fourth and final #1 pop song for the Temptations.
It also won three Grammys: Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group; Best R&B Instrumental; and Best R&B Song.
Safe to say that “Papa” drove the sales of this album. Either that or people were stupid. A distinct possibility, I know. Future Temptations releases would easily surpass this one artistically but not get the commercial response All Directions did. A shame.
Song Scores
Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On: 7.5/10
Run Charlie Run: 6/10
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone: 10/10
Love Woke Me Up This Morning: 5/10
I Ain't Got Nothin': 7/10
The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face): 0/10
Mother Nature: 6/10
Do Your Thing: 4/10