Play it Again, Sam #35a - "Ball of Confusion (That's what the World is Today)"

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Songs moving out, songs moving in. It's time for this morning's Play it Again, Sam, a two part discussion consisting of an original song followed by a cover of that song. We are at #35a, the "original:" "Ball of Confusion (That's what the World is Today)" by The Temptations. By the time the 1970's rolled around, Detroit vocal group The Temptations (the first Motown act to win a Grammy Award) had began to incorporate funky protest songs into their style, and with great results (their epic, "Masterpiece," is one of the all-time great protest songs, as far as I'm concerned.) Sure, they are (and rightly so) always going to be known as the group that did classics such as "My Girl," and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me,)" but tunes such as "Ball of Confusion (That's what the World is Today)" were just as much a reason that they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Written by the great songwriting team, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, "Ball of Confusion" was recorded for inclusion on The Temptations' 1970 compilation, Greatest Hits II. The music was performed by Motown's legendary backing band, The Funk Brothers (did you know that Ray Parker Jr was once a Funk Brother? It's true!) "Ball of Confusion" was a big hit for The Temptations, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on that magazine's R&B chart, while peaking at #7 in the UK. And it's a classic protest song. And I love protest songs! (Info verified by Wikipedia)