"I'm Your Puppet" is a song written by

Dan Penn Dan Penn (born Wallace Daniel Pennington, November 16, 1941) is an American songwriter, singer, musician, and record producer, who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s, including " The Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" w ...

and

Spooner Oldham Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham (born June 14, 1943) is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, at FAME Studios as part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on such hit R&B songs as Percy S ...

; the best known version is the one recorded by

James & Bobby Purify James & Bobby Purify were an R&B singing duo, whose biggest hits were "I'm Your Puppet" in 1966, which reached number six in the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and in a re-recorded version number 12 in the UK Singles Chart (in May 1976), and ...

which reached #5 on the US R&B chart and #6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1966. The single was nominated for a

Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals The Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by ma ...

in 1967. The song was featured on their 1967 album, ''James & Bobby Purify''. The duo released a re-recorded version as a single in 1976 which reached #12 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and #20 in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. In Canada, it reached #4. Papa Don Enterprises produced the song, and it was arranged by Penn and Don Schroeder. The single ranked #46 on the ''Billboard'' Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other charting versions

Cam-Pact Cam-Pact was an Australian soul and psychedelic pop band which formed in April 1967. Originally they performed as The Camp Act but soon changed to Cam-Pact (or CamPact). Although little known outside Melbourne at the time, the various lineups of ...

released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1968 single "Drawing Room". Their version charted regionally in Australia, reaching #17 in Melbourne and #26 in Brisbane. *

Dianne Leigh Dianne Leigh (born , sometimes spelled as Diane Leigh) is a Canadian country music performer. She was the first recipient of the Gold Leaf Award (later the Juno Awards) in 1970. In 1994, music trade publication '' RPM'' considered her the nint ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1970 which reached #32 on the Canadian country chart. * Dionne Warwick released a version of the song as a single in 1972 which reached #113 on the US pop chart. It was featured on her 1969 album, '' Soulful''. *

Mickey Gilley Mickey Leroy Gilley (March 9, 1936 – May 7, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Although he started out singing straight-up country and western material in the 1970s, he moved towards a more pop-friendly sound in the 19 ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1988 which reached #49 on the US country chart.

Other versions

*Penn released the original version of the song as a single in 1965. *

Sam & Dave Sam & Dave were an American soul and R&B duo who performed together from 1961 until 1981. The tenor (higher) voice was Sam Moore (born 1935) and the baritone/tenor (lower) voice was Dave Prater (1937–1988). Nicknamed "Double Dynamite", "The ...

released a version of the song on their 1966 album, ''Double Dynamite''. *

Sandy Posey Sandy Posey (born Sandra Lou Posey, June 18, 1944) is an American popular singer who enjoyed success in the 1960s with singles such as her 1966 recording of Martha Sharp's compositions "Born a Woman" and "Single Girl". She is often described as ...

released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1967 single "

Don't Touch Me "Don't Touch Me" is a song written by Hank Cochran. It was originally written for and recorded by American country artist Jeannie Seely. The song was released as a single on Monument Records in March 1966 and became a major ''Billboard'' country ...

". *

Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band are an England-based soul band. Career The Ram Jam Band were formed around 1964 by Pete Gage and Geoff Pullum. Before taking on Geno Washington, whom Gage knew from performing at the RAF Bentwaters US Air Fo ...

released a version of the song on their 1967 EP ''Different Strokes''. * The Box Tops released a version of the song on their 1967 album ''

The Letter/Neon Rainbow ''The Letter/Neon Rainbow'' is the debut album by American rock band the Box Tops, released in 1967. Following " The Letter" reaching number one on the singles charts, ''The Letter/Neon Rainbow'' was quickly assembled for a follow-up. The album p ...

''. *

Dandy Livingstone Dandy Livingstone (born Robert Livingstone Thompson, 14 December 1943, Kingston, Jamaica) is a British-Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae musician and producer, best known for his 1972 hit, "Suzanne Beware of the Devil", and for his song, ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1969. * Marvin Gaye and

Tammi Terrell Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye. ...

released a version of the song on their 1969 album, '' Easy'', and as the B-side to their 1970 single "

California Soul "California Soul" is a funk-soul tune written by Ashford & Simpson, issued originally as the B-side of the Messengers' single "Window Shopping" in 1967 under the Motown group of labels. Other recordings *Nick Ashford then released his own ve ...

". * Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1971 album, ''

The Donny Osmond Album ''The Donny Osmond Album'' is the debut album by pop singer Donny Osmond. It was released in 1971 on MGM when Osmond was 13 years of age. It was produced by Rick Hall, who was also responsible for most of the arrangements. The album features on ...

''. *

Mel and Tim Mel and Tim were an American soul music duo active from 1969 to 1974. They are best known for the hit songs "Backfield in Motion", " Starting All Over Again" and "Good Guys Only Win in the Movies". Career Melvin McArthur Hardin and Hubert Timoth ...

released a version of the song on their 1972 album, ''Starting All Over Again''. * Dionne Warwick's 1972 cover reached #113 (U.S.). *

Foster Sylvers Foster Emerson Sylvers (born February 25, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for being a member of the family act The Sylvers and his hit single "Misdemeanor". Biography Foster ...

released a version of the song on his 1973 album, ''

''. * Jimmy London released a version of the song as a single in 1975. *

Derrick Harriott Derrick Clifton Harriott OD (born 10 February 1942) is a Jamaican singer and record producer. He was a member of the Jiving Juniors with Herman Sang before embarking on a solo career. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, ...

released a version of the song on his 1982 album, ''Acid Rock''. *

Haywoode Haywoode (Sidney Haywoode, London) is an English female singer. She is best known for the 1986 UK top 20 hit single, "Roses". She later also recorded under the name Sid Haywoode. Career Haywoode trained from an early age at London's Corona Sta ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1987. *

Glen Brown Glenmore Lloyd Brown (1943 or 1944Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013)Tough Times for Glen Brown", ''Jamaica Observer'', 15 July 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2014Larkin, Colin, ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', 1998, Virgin Books, . – 4 O ...

and

Lloyd Parks Lloyd Parks (born 26 May 1949) is a Jamaican reggae vocalist and bass player who has recorded and performed as a solo artist as well as part of Skin, Flesh & Bones, The Revolutionaries, The Professionals, and We the People Band.Larkin, Colin: ...

released a version of the song on Brown's 1989 compilation album, ''Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74''. * Elton John and

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. ...

released a version of the song on John's 1993 album, ''

Duets A duet is a musical composition or piece for two performers. Duets or The Duets may also refer to: Films and television * ''Duets'' (film), a 2000 film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti and Huey Lewis * "Duets" (''Glee''), a 2010 episo ...

''. * Helen Watson released a version of the song on her 1999 album, ''Doffing''. *

Yo La Tengo Yo La Tengo (YLT; Spanish for "I have her") is an American indie rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan (guitars, piano, vocals), Georgia Hubley (drums, piano, vocals), and James M ...

released a version of the song as the B-side to their 2006 single "Mr. Tough". *

American Music Club American Music Club was an American, San Francisco-based indie rock band, led by singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel. Formed in 1983, the band released seven albums before splitting up in 1995. They reformed in 2003 and released two further albums. ...

released a version of the song on their 2008 album, '' Atwater Afternoon''. * Joe Pernice released a version of the song on his 2009 album, ''It Feels So Good When I Stop''. *

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million s ...

and

Percy Sledge Percy Tyrone Sledge (November 25, 1940 – April 14, 2015) was an American R&B, soul and gospel singer. He is best known for the song " When a Man Loves a Woman", a No. 1 hit on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in 196 ...

released a version of the song on Richard's 2011 album, '' Soulicious''. *

The Golden Cups are a Japanese pop and rock band, who were one of the top bands performing in the Group Sounds scene in the late 1960s. Career The band formed in November 1966 in Yokohama, and initially comprised locally born singer Tokimune "Dave" Hirao (Nove ...

released a version of the song on their 1968 debut album. *

The Raconteurs The Raconteurs (, also known as The Saboteurs in Australia) is an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 2005. The band consists of Jack White (vocals, guitar), Brendan Benson (vocals, guitar), Jack Lawrence (bass guitar), and ...

performed a live rendition of the song at FAME Studios in 2019 for the ''Amazon Music Originals'' series (also available on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...

Sampled versions

* Grand Daddy I.U. sampled the song on his song "Something New" which was featured on his 1990 album, '' Smooth Assassin''. *

Tragedy Khadafi Percy Lee Chapman (born August 13, 1971), known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi (formerly Intelligent Hoodlum), is an American rapper and record producer. Chapman hails from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York City,Brown, Mar ...

sampled the song on his 1990 song " Live & Direct From The House Of Hits". *

Hi-C Hi-C is a fruit juice–flavored drink made by the Minute Maid division of The Coca-Cola Company. It was created by Niles Foster in 1946 and released in 1947. The sole original flavor was orange. History Niles Foster, a former bakery and ...

sampled the song on his song "I'm Not Your Puppet" which was featured on his 1991 album, ''

Skanless ''Skanless'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Hi-C from Compton, California. It was released on December 10, 1991, via Skanless Records. The album peaked at number 152 on the Billboard 200, number 53 on the Top R&B Albums chart, and nu ...

''. The song reached #63 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

In media

*James and Bobby Purify's version was used in the 1995 film ''

My Family ''My Family'' is a British sitcom created and initially co-written by Fred Barron, which was produced by DLT Entertainment and Rude Boy Productions, and broadcast by BBC One for eleven series between 2000 and 2011, with Christmas specials broadc ...

''. *

Bobby Womack Robert Dwayne Womack (; March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Starting in the early 1950s as the lead singer of his family musical group the Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing gui ...

released a version that was featured in the 2000 film '' Meet the Parents''. *James & Bobby Purify's version was in the 2008 film '' Soul Men''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:I'm Your Puppet 1965 songs 1965 singles 1966 singles 1969 singles 1970 singles 1972 singles 1975 singles 1976 singles 1987 singles 1988 singles Songs written by Dan Penn Songs written by Spooner Oldham James & Bobby Purify songs Dianne Leigh songs Dionne Warwick songs Mickey Gilley songs Irma Thomas songs Bell Records singles