I'm Your Puppet

1966 single by James & Bobby Purify
"I'm Your Puppet"
Single by James & Bobby Purify
from the album James & Bobby Purify
B-side"So Many Reasons"
ReleasedSeptember 1966
GenreR&B
Length2:59
LabelBell
Songwriter(s)Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham
Producer(s)Papa Don Enterprises
James & Bobby Purify singles chronology
"I'm Your Puppet"
(1966)
"Wish You Didn't Have to Go"
(1967)

"I'm Your Puppet" is a song written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham; the best known version is the one recorded by James & Bobby Purify which reached #5 on the US R&B chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.[1] The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1967. The song was featured on their 1967 album, James & Bobby Purify.[2]

The duo released a re-recorded version as a single in 1976 which reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart and #20 in New Zealand.[3] In Canada, it reached #4.[4]

Papa Don Enterprises produced the song, and it was arranged by Penn and Don Schroeder.[5]

The single ranked #46 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966.[6]

Chart history

Weekly charts

Charts (1966–67) Peak
position
Canada (RPM) Top Singles[4] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6
U.S. Billboard R&B 5
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 6
Charts (1976) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 16
Netherlands[8] 14
New Zealand (RIANZ)[3] 20
UK Singles Chart 12

Year-end charts

Charts (1966) Rank
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] 46

Other charting versions

  • Cam-Pact released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1968 single "Drawing Room".[10] Their version charted regionally in Australia, reaching #17 in Melbourne and #26 in Brisbane.[8]
  • Dianne Leigh released a version of the song as a single in 1970 which reached #32 on the Canadian country chart.[11]
  • Dionne Warwick released a version of the song as a single in 1972 which reached #113 on the US pop chart.[12] It was featured on her 1969 album, Soulful.
  • Mickey Gilley released a version of the song as a single in 1988 which reached #49 on the US country chart.[13]

Other versions

  • Penn released the original version of the song as a single in 1965.[14]
  • Sam & Dave released a version of the song on their 1966 album, Double Dynamite.[15]
  • Sandy Posey released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1967 single "Don't Touch Me".[16]
  • Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band released a version of the song on their 1967 EP Different Strokes.[17]
  • The Box Tops released a version of the song on their 1967 album The Letter/Neon Rainbow.
  • Dandy Livingstone released a version of the song as a single in 1969.[18]
  • Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell released a version of the song on their 1969 album, Easy, and as the B-side to their 1970 single "California Soul".[19]
  • Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1971 album, The Donny Osmond Album.[20]
  • Mel and Tim released a version of the song on their 1972 album, Starting All Over Again.[21]
  • Dionne Warwick's 1972 cover reached #113 (U.S.).
  • Foster Sylvers released a version of the song on his 1973 album, Foster Sylvers.[22]
  • Jimmy London released a version of the song as a single in 1975.[23]
  • Derrick Harriott released a version of the song on his 1982 album, Acid Rock.[24]
  • Haywoode released a version of the song as a single in 1987.[25]
  • Glen Brown and Lloyd Parks released a version of the song on Brown's 1989 compilation album, Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74.[26]
  • Elton John and Paul Young released a version of the song on John's 1993 album, Duets.[27]
  • Helen Watson released a version of the song on her 1999 album, Doffing.[28]
  • Yo La Tengo released a version of the song as the B-side to their 2006 single "Mr. Tough".[29]
  • American Music Club released a version of the song on their 2008 album, Atwater Afternoon.[30]
  • Joe Pernice released a version of the song on his 2009 album, It Feels So Good When I Stop.[31]
  • Cliff Richard and Percy Sledge released a version of the song on Richard's 2011 album, Soulicious.[32]
  • The Golden Cups released a version of the song on their 1968 debut album.[33]
  • The Raconteurs performed a live rendition of the song at FAME Studios in 2019 for the Amazon Music Originals series (also available on YouTube).
  • Little Joe and the Latinaires released a version of the song to their 1968 album, Unbeatable! [34]

Sampled versions

  • Grand Daddy I.U. sampled the song on his song "Something New" which was featured on his 1990 album, Smooth Assassin.[35]
  • Tragedy Khadafi sampled the song on his 1990 song "Live & Direct From The House Of Hits".
  • Hi-C sampled the song on his song "I'm Not Your Puppet" which was featured on his 1991 album, Skanless. The song reached #63 on the Billboard Hot 100.[36]

In media

  • James and Bobby Purify's version was used in the 1995 film My Family.
  • Bobby Womack released a version that was featured in the 2000 film Meet the Parents.[37]
  • James & Bobby Purify's version was in the 2008 film Soul Men.
  • In 2023, James and Bobby Purify's version appeared in the seventh episode of the fifth season of the black comedy crime drama series Fargo.

References

  1. ^ "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1966 Chart Positions". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  2. ^ "James & Bobby Purify, James & Bobby Purify". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1976 Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  5. ^ "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  7. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Friday on My Mind". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "I'm Your Puppet - CAM-PACT (1968) - Pop Archives - Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966". Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cam-Pact, "Drawing Room" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  11. ^ "Dianne Leigh, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  12. ^ "Dionne Warwick, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  13. ^ "Mickey Gilley, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  14. ^ "Dan Penn, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "Sam & Dave, Double Dynamite". Discogs. December 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "Sandy Posey, "Don't Touch Me" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  17. ^ "Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, Different Strokes". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  18. ^ "Dandy Livingstone, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  19. ^ "Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "California Soul" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  20. ^ "Donny Osmond, The Donny Osmond Album". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  21. ^ "Mel and Tim, Starting All Over Again". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  22. ^ "Foster Sylvers, Foster Sylvers". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  23. ^ "Jimmy London, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  24. ^ "Derrick Harriott, Acid Rock". Discogs. 1982. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  25. ^ "Haywoode, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  26. ^ "Glen Brown and Lloyd Parks, Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  27. ^ "Elton John and Paul Young, Duets". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  28. ^ "Helen Watson, Doffing". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  29. ^ "Yo La Tengo, "Mr. Tough" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  30. ^ "American Music Club, Atwater Afternoon". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  31. ^ "Joe Pernice, It Feels So Good When I Stop". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  32. ^ "Cliff Richard, Soulicious". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  33. ^ "The Golden Cups, 恋のあやつり人形(I'm Your Puppet)". Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  34. ^ "Little Joe And The Latinaires, Unbeatable!". Discogs. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Grand Daddy I.U., Smooth Assassin". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  36. ^ "Hi-C, "I'm Not Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  37. ^ "Bobby Womack, Meet the Parents soundtrack". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
Live albumsCompilations
  • Greatest Hits: 1979–1990 (1989)
  • The Love Collection (2008)
Singles
Other songs
  • "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
  • "Do You Believe in Love at First Sight"
  • "Solid Gold"
  • "Never Gonna Let You Go"
ToursRelated articles