I'm Your Puppet

"I'm Your Puppet"
Single by James & Bobby Purify
from the album James & Bobby Purify
B-side	"So Many Reasons"
Released	September 1966
Genre	Deep soul [1]
Length	2:59
Label	Bell
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. ^[2] 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. ^[3]

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. ^[4] In Canada, it reached #4. ^[5]

Papa Don Enterprises produced the song, and it was arranged by Penn and Don Schroeder. ^[6]

The single ranked #46 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966. ^[7]

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1966–67) Peak position Canada ( RPM ) Top Singles [5] 2 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6 U.S. Billboard R&B 5 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 6 Chart (1976) Peak position Ireland (IRMA) [8] 16 Netherlands [9] 14 New Zealand (RIANZ) [4] 20 UK Singles Chart 12

Year-end charts Chart (1966) Rank U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [10] 46

Other charting versions

• Cam-Pact released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1968 single "Drawing Room". ^[11] Their version charted regionally in Australia, reaching #17 in Melbourne and #26 in Brisbane. ^[9]
• Dianne Leigh released a version of the song as a single in 1970 which reached #32 on the Canadian country chart. ^[12]
• Dionne Warwick released a version of the song as a single in 1972 which reached #113 on the US pop chart. ^[13] 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. ^[14]

Other versions

• Penn released the original version of the song as a single in 1965. ^[15]
• Sam & Dave released a version of the song on their 1966 album, Double Dynamite. ^[16]
• Sandy Posey released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1967 single "Don't Touch Me". ^[17]
• Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band released a version of the song on their 1967 EP Different Strokes. ^[18]
• 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. ^[19]
• 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". ^[20]
• Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1971 album, The Donny Osmond Album . ^[21]
• Mel and Tim released a version of the song on their 1972 album, Starting All Over Again. ^[22]
• Dionne Warwick's 1972 cover reached #113 (U.S.).
• Foster Sylvers released a version of the song on his 1973 album, Foster Sylvers . ^[23]
• Jimmy London released a version of the song as a single in 1975. ^[24]
• Derrick Harriott released a version of the song on his 1982 album, Acid Rock. ^[25]
• Haywoode released a version of the song as a single in 1987. ^[26]
• 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. ^[27]
• Elton John and Paul Young released a version of the song on John's 1993 album, Duets . ^[28]
• Helen Watson released a version of the song on her 1999 album, Doffing. ^[29]
• Yo La Tengo released a version of the song as the B-side to their 2006 single "Mr. Tough". ^[30]
• American Music Club released a version of the song on their 2008 album, Atwater Afternoon . ^[31]
• Joe Pernice released a version of the song on his 2009 album, It Feels So Good When I Stop. ^[32]
• Cliff Richard and Percy Sledge released a version of the song on Richard's 2011 album, Soulicious . ^[33]
• The Golden Cups released a version of the song on their 1968 debut album. ^[34]
• 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! ^[35]

Sampled versions

• Grand Daddy I.U. sampled the song on his song "Something New" which was featured on his 1990 album, Smooth Assassin . ^[36]
• 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. ^[37]

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 . ^[38]
• 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. Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 219. ISBN   0-452-26305-0.
2. "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1966 Chart Positions" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
3. "James & Bobby Purify, James & Bobby Purify". Discogs . 1967. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
4. "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1976 Chart Position" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
5. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
6. "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
7. "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Friday on My Mind". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
9. "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.
10. "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966" . Retrieved January 21, 2018.
11. "Cam-Pact, "Drawing Room" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
12. "Dianne Leigh, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
13. "Dionne Warwick, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
14. "Mickey Gilley, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
15. "Dan Penn, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
16. "Sam & Dave, Double Dynamite". Discogs . December 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
17. "Sandy Posey, "Don't Touch Me" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
18. "Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, Different Strokes" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
19. "Dandy Livingstone, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
20. "Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "California Soul" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
21. "Donny Osmond, The Donny Osmond Album". Discogs . 1971. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
22. "Mel and Tim, Starting All Over Again". Discogs . 1972. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
23. "Foster Sylvers, Foster Sylvers". Discogs . 1973. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
24. "Jimmy London, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
25. "Derrick Harriott, Acid Rock". Discogs . 1982. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
26. "Haywoode, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
27. "Glen Brown and Lloyd Parks, Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74". Discogs . 1989. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
28. "Elton John and Paul Young, Duets". Discogs . 1993. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
29. "Helen Watson, Doffing". Discogs . 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
30. "Yo La Tengo, "Mr. Tough" Single Release" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
31. "American Music Club, Atwater Afternoon". Discogs . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
32. "Joe Pernice, It Feels So Good When I Stop". Discogs . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
33. "Cliff Richard, Soulicious". Discogs . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
34. "The Golden Cups, 恋のあやつり人形（I'm Your Puppet）" . Retrieved October 28, 2022.
35. "Little Joe And The Latinaires, Unbeatable!". Discogs . Retrieved August 27, 2024.
36. "Grand Daddy I.U., Smooth Assassin". Discogs . 1990. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
37. "Hi-C, "I'm Not Your Puppet" Chart Position" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
38. "Bobby Womack, Meet the Parents soundtrack". Discogs . Retrieved January 21, 2017.