Artist:Undisputed TruthSong:Smiling Faces Sometimes
Album:Smiling Faces: The Best Of Undisputed Truth
Though they had several R & B hits in the 70s, the 1971 top ten hit Smiling Faces Sometimes was the one big crossover hit by Undisputed Truth. Their stage appearance was also influential on Parliament. I guess the way to look at the group is they were sort of a test lab for production techniques that legendary Motown producer Norman Whitfield was using for The Temptations. The group started when Bobby Taylor brought Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Joyce to Motown as part of the girl group The Delicates. They split up and the two girls were singing backup vocals at Motown when Whitfield decided to team them up with Joe Harris of The Preps. At the time, he was trying out more socially aware songs and psychedelic influenced sounds for The Temptations. Undisputed Truth was obviously going to suffer in comparison. For example, Papa Was A Rolling Stone was originally recorded by Undisputed Truth and of course was a huge hit for The Temptations. But Smiling Faces Sometimes was originally recorded unsuccessfully by The Temptations and Undisputed Truth had a surprise hit reaching #3 on the pop charts. They were also known for wearing huge white afros and face paint on stage. Undisputed Truth had some more hits on the R & B charts and went with Whitfield when he started his new label with Warner Bros. in 1975. Some personnel changes didn't help and they were done by 1977. This comp has all their Motown hits. A version of the group still performs today. Here's Undisputed Truth performing Smiling Faces Sometimes in 1971.
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