The Undisputed Truth "Smiling Faces Sometimes" (1971)

 Smiling Faces (Sometimes)

1971

The Undisputed Truth

Anyone from our era who doesn't remember 'The Undisputed Truth's smooth rendition of 'Smiling Faces (Sometimes) must not have ever listened to music. What they didn't know unless they were already a serious student of popular music was that The Undisputed Truth's version, which hit #3 on The Billboard Hot 100, was not the original version, nor were they the artists the song was originally written for. OK, this isn't unusual at all. Lots of hits are covers of already existing tunes, BUT...The original version, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the legendary Motown label, was originally recorded by The Temptations...also in 1971. This version was included on their The Sky's The Limit album, and was to be (Greatly edited...the album version 's nearly 12 minutes long) a Summer single release, but turmoil within The Temptations that caused lead singer Eddie Kendricks to leave the group canceled that plan. So the song was handed off to Psychedelic group 'The Undisputed Truth...and the rest is history. Their version of Smiling Faces spent 18 weeks on The Billboard Top 100, debuting at the end of June '71 and finally making it to #3 in early November. It was a staple on the Top 40 stations (And was The Undisputed Truth's only Top 40 single) and can still regularly be heard on Classic Rock and Oldies stations.

It was also covered by Bobbi Humphrey, Rare Earth, and Joan Osborne in later years, but The Undisputed Truth's version is the one everyone remembers.

So enjoy...Smiling Faces(Sometimes) by The Undisputed Truth

And as a bonus...if you've got 11 minutes or so to spare...The Temptations' version: The song actually cuts off before the end, but this was the closest to the original 11 minute and change version as I could find on YouTube.