The Temptations, Smiling Faces Sometimes | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 163^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Temptations. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 163^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes”, performed by 🎙 The Temptations.

“Smiling faces sometimes, they don’t tell the truth.” Amen! A 12 ½ minute song is an ambitious listen, PERIOD. That said, an iconic Motown collective like 🎙 The Temptations can get away with dropping a lengthy gem 💎 – they are THE TEMPTATIONS after all!  Notably, 🎙 Eddie Kendricks, 🎙 Dennis Edwards, and company were the first to record 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes”, a 🎼 ✍ Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield penned joint 💪. In addition to writing, Whitfield produced this extensive number, with 🎼 ✍ David Van dePitte serving as arranger.  The arrangement – is kind of a big deal. The fourth track from  not only thrives because of the tight rhythm section – the percussion 🥁, robust bass line, guitar 🎸and such – but also because of its symphonic orchestration. 1970s soul is renowned for its ornate, lush backdrops, a key reason why “Smiling Faces Sometimes” excels.  After previously writing about the original version of “Smiling Faces Sometimes” in 2021, I thought it was worth revisiting.

Of course, The Temptations also play a sizable role in the success of “Smiling Faces Sometimes.” The vocals remain on-point, particularly the always-distinct Eddie Kendricks.  Given the length of the song, there are fewer lyrics than expected, with the glorious orchestral backdrop getting a fair amount of time to shine as well.  Additionally, “Smiling Faces Sometimes” embraces psychedelic soul, something the collective excelled at in the late 1960s.  There are some unique sound effects and vocals effects that help contribute to the psychedelia, which is cool 😎 🤘.  Thematically, the message is simple – don’t believe people who smile in your face.  They are DECEPTIVE! One of the best moments:

“(Beware) Beware of the handshake that hides the snake

I’m telling you beware

Beware of the pat on the back

It just might hold you back

Jealousy (jealousy)

Misery (misery)

Envy (envy)

I tell you, you can’t see behind smiling faces.”

Ooh-wee! Notably, the original version of “Smiling Faces Sometimes” inspired a gargantuan soul hit – 🎵 “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays (“(They smilin’ in your face) / All the time they wanna take your place / The back stabbers (Back stabbers)”). “Back Stabbers” samples vocals/lyrics from 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes”.  Amazingly, it would be a different Motown group, 🎙 The Undisputed Truth, who made “Smiling Faces Sometimes” a hit (they’d release a significantly shorter version the same year).

Appears in 🔻:

• The Temptations vs. The Undisputed Truth: Head 2 Head 🗣️ 39 (2021)

🎙 The Temptations • 💿 Sky’s The Limit • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1971

The Temptations, Smiling Faces Sometimes: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 163 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]