Studio Album · No. 7

Psychedelic Shack Songwriting Credits by The Temptations

1970 Gordy Records 8 tracks 36 min

Produced by Norman Whitfield

Gordy Records Psychedelic SoulFunkMotown
0%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 0 of 8 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 0 / 8 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 8 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Temptations carries a lyricist or composer credit.

0%
0 trackswritten by The Temptations 8 tracksoutside writers
The Temptations's roles on this album

Share of the 8 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist0%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

8
Tracks
2
Lyricists
1
Producers
1970
Released
Data Insight

Psychedelic Shack is a Norman Whitfield production in the fullest sense. Whitfield and his lyric partner Barrett Strong wrote all eight songs, and Whitfield produced every track, so the Temptations function here as interpreters of the Whitfield-Strong catalog rather than as writers. The composer column carries the pair's legal names, Norman Jesse Whitfield and Barrett Strong Jr., where they differ from the credited common names. The clearest sign of Whitfield's control is 'War,' which the Temptations cut first for this album; Motown then reassigned the song to Edwin Starr for the hit single to avoid tying the group to a divisive protest anthem.

Psychedelic Shack is the eighth studio album by The Temptations, released March 6, 1970 on the Gordy label. It is a full expression of the psychedelic soul sound producer Norman Whitfield built with lyricist Barrett Strong, trading the group's earlier romantic ballads for extended, socially charged, groove-driven arrangements. The title track led the album to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the R&B chart. The album is also the first home of 'War,' the anti-Vietnam protest song that appears here as an album cut before Motown handed it to Edwin Starr, whose single version became a number one hit later in 1970. Every song is written by Whitfield and Strong and produced by Whitfield, with the five Temptations trading and stacking vocals over backing tracks played by the Funk Brothers.

Track Listing & Credits 8 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Psychedelic Shack #7
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
2
You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
3
Hum Along and Dance
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
4
Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
5
It's Summer
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
6
War
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
7
You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)
8
Friendship Train
Norman WhitfieldBarrett Strong Norman Jesse WhitfieldBarrett Strong Jr. Norman Whitfield Dennis Edwards (Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Vocals)Paul Williams (Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Vocals)Otis Williams (Vocals)The Funk Brothers (Instrumentation)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

NW
Norman Whitfield
Writer · Producer
On this album8 written
BS
Barrett Strong
Writer
On this album8 written
BS
Barrett Strong Jr.
Writer
On this album8 written
NJ
Norman Jesse Whitfield
Writer
On this album8 written
DE
Dennis Edwards
Vocals
On this albumGuest
EK
Eddie Kendricks
Vocals
On this albumGuest
MF
Melvin Franklin
Vocals
On this albumGuest
OW
Otis Williams
Vocals
On this albumGuest
PW
Paul Williams
Vocals
On this albumGuest
TF
The Funk Brothers
Instrumentation
On this albumGuest

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Frequently Asked Questions Psychedelic Shack

Who wrote the songs on Psychedelic Shack?
Every song on the album was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The Temptations performed the songs but did not write them.
Who wrote 'War'?
'War' was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The Temptations recorded it first for Psychedelic Shack before Motown gave the single to Edwin Starr.
Did the Temptations record 'War' before Edwin Starr?
Yes. The Temptations' version appeared on Psychedelic Shack in March 1970. Motown chose not to release it as a Temptations single and instead had Edwin Starr record the version that became a number one hit later that year.
Who produced Psychedelic Shack?
Norman Whitfield produced the entire album, part of his run of psychedelic soul records with the group.
How did the title track chart?
'Psychedelic Shack' reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard R&B chart.
When was Psychedelic Shack released and on what label?
It was released March 6, 1970 on the Gordy label, a Motown subsidiary.
Which Temptations sang on the album?
The lineup was Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams, backed by the Funk Brothers.

Sources

Wikipedia: Psychedelic Shack MusicBrainz: Psychedelic Shack (release group) Cover Art Archive: Psychedelic Shack Wikipedia: Norman Whitfield Wikipedia: Barrett Strong Cover Art Archive: Psychedelic Shack by The Temptations