The Temptations vs. The Undisputed Truth | Head 2 Head 🗣️

On the 39^th edition of Head 2 Head, The Temptations and The Undisputed Truth contend for the best rendition of “Smiling Faces Sometimes.” 

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elcome to Head 2 Head 🗣️! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  On the 39^th edition of head-to-head (2021), 🎙 The Temptations and 🎙 The Undisputed Truth contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

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1. The Temptations, “Smiling Faces Sometimes”

💿 Sky’s The Limit • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1971

🎼✍ Barrett Strong and 🎼✍ 🎛 Norman Whitfield were a dynamic duo for the iconic Motown Records.  So many songs were written by this talented team, especially for the label’s ‘IT’ collective, 🎙 The Temptations.  On their 1971 album, 💿 Sky’s The Limit, a 12-and-a-half-minute-plus juggernaut named 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes” appears as the fourth track.  This version is the original version of the song.  With Strong and Whitfield being Motown writing legends, the Motown roster often recorded songs recorded by other Motown artists.

Never feeling like it’s in a rush, 12 ½ minutes is a tall listening task, even when it’s The Temptations who are serving up surefire musical excellence.  Despite its ambitious length, there’s lots to love about “Smiling Faces Sometimes” in the iconic male group’s hands.  The production and orchestration are amazing – idiomatic of lushly crafted 70s soul.  There are strings, horn riffs and hits, and some dazzling flute lines. The vocals, likewise, are awesome, featuring the ripe tenor of 🎙 Eddie Kendricks on lead. Of course, as always, the backing vocals are lit.  A fine performance, worth noting, it’s one of the few times the 🎵 “My Girl” collective didn’t have the Midas Touch.  Another Motown group, 🎙 The Undisputed Truth, made this classic a hit.

 

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2. The Undisputed Truth, “Smiling Faces Sometimes”

💿 The Undisputed Truth • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1971

“Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes / They don’t tell the truth,” 🎙 The Undisputed Truth asserts on the chorus of the classic, 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes.” The memorable, timeless chorus of this minor-key gem continues, “Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes / Tell lies and I got proof.”  Woo! Penned by the dynamic Motown duo 🎼✍ Barrett Strong and 🎼✍ 🎛 Norman Whitfield, “Smiling Faces Sometimes” is actually a COVER! Shock and awe, folks!

What’s interesting about the fact that “Smiling Faces Sometimes” was originally recorded by 🎙 The Temptations.  The Temptations did a marvelous job on the 12 ½ minute original, but The Undisputed Truth earned the biggest hit of their career, peaking at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It probably also helps that The Undisputed Truth version runs just over three-minutes-long, while capturing the marvelous tune and exceptional production and orchestration. TUT get right to the point, which is more readymade for airplay on radio. Take one listen and you’ll see the hype and can’t resist smiling at the truth the collective serves up! The lush production intact with fat bass line, the memorable songwriting – #SICKENING! While you don’t get those epic lead vocals from 🎙 Eddie Kendricks, the performances by committee are awesome, nonetheless.  This 1971 song from 💿 The Undisputed Truth is an undisputed bop to this day!

“The truth is in the eyes
Cause the eyes don’t lie, amen
Remember a smile is just
A frown turned upside down
My friend let me tell you.”

Also Appears On 🔽:
🔗 🎧 13 More Songs Sure to Make You Smile
🔗 🎧 The Undisputed Truth “Smiling Faces Sometimes”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 10

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The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

🎙 The Temptations or 🎙 The Undisputed Truth?  While I love the pacing, sounds, and vocals (Kendricks) served up on the extended, artful original by The Temptations, The Undisputed Truth gets the edge.  The shorter cover, again, is the version that made this a hit and doesn’t overwhelm the listener.  For a more ambitious audience, The Temptations’ edition may indeed tickle the fancy more, but for an audience who enjoys getting straight to the point with less fluff, The Undisputed Truth own this one.

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The Temptations vs. The Undisputed Truth: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 39 [📷: Brent Faulkner, GenderArts from Pixabay, Motown, The Musical Hype, Valentin Tikhonov from Pixabay]

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