Thursday, August 9

August 7, 2018 - The Temptations - Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) (1970)




Ball of Confusion (TWTWIT) is The Temptations in their psychedelic soul phase. It describes many of the then-current issues facing the US in 1970, most of which forty-eight years later are still sadly relevant and even more destructive. An even bigger ball of confusion.

Co-writer (with Barrett Strong) and producer Norman Whitfield performs the dramatic count-in One! Two! One two three four! The music is performed by the legendary Funk Brothers. Bob Babbitt's ominous bass enters, joined by Dennis Coffey's hall of mirrors echoplex guitar.

The Temptations all take turns on lead (with the exception of Otis Williams):

Eddie Kendricks sings the opening lines - People movin out, people movin in, why, because of the color of their skin.

Dennis Edwards (who died earlier this year just two days before his 75th birthday), takes over next and sings the impressive rapid fire segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation.

Paul Williams sings the sale of pills is at an all-time high, young folks walkin round with their heads in the sky.

And Melvin Franklin sings the shortest but possibly most popular lyric and the band played on.

My favorite lyric is at 2:52 - Eve of destruction, tax deduction. Of course I also like the part about the Beatles' new record's a gas.

hasn't there been enoughπŸ’€πŸ˜’πŸ˜ πŸ’©πŸ’£....why is ❤️ ☮️ πŸŽΆ ✌️ πŸ˜ƒ so elusive?

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