I'm Your Puppet Explained

I'm Your Puppet
Cover:	I'm_Your_Puppet_-_James_&_Bobby_Purify.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	James & Bobby Purify
Album:	James & Bobby Purify
B-Side:	So Many Reasons
Released:	September 1966
Genre:	R&B
Label:	Bell
Producer:	Papa Don Enterprises
Next Title:	Wish You Didn't Have to Go
Next Year:	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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] In Canada, it reached #4.^[4]

Papa Don Enterprises produced the song, and it was arranged by Penn and Don Schroeder.^[5]

The single ranked #46 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966.^[6]

Chart history

Weekly charts

Charts (1966–67)	Peak position
Canada (RPM) Top Singles	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	6
U.S. Billboard R&B	5
U.S. Cash Box Top 100	6

Charts (1976)	Peak position
Netherlands^[7]	14
New Zealand (RIANZ)	20
UK Singles Chart	12

Year-end charts

Other charting versions

• Cam-Pact released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1968 single "Drawing Room".^[9] Their version charted regionally in Australia, reaching #17 in Melbourne and #26 in Brisbane.^[7]
• Dianne Leigh released a version of the song as a single in 1970 which reached #32 on the Canadian country chart.^[10]
• Dionne Warwick released a version of the song as a single in 1972 which reached #113 on the US pop chart.^[11] 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.^[12]

Other versions

• Penn released the original version of the song as a single in 1965.^[13]
• Sam & Dave released a version of the song on their 1966 album, Double Dynamite.^[14]
• Sandy Posey released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1967 single "Don't Touch Me".^[15]
• Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band released a version of the song on their 1967 EP Different Strokes.^[16]
• 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.^[17]
• 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".^[18]
• Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1971 album, The Donny Osmond Album.^[19]
• Mel and Tim released a version of the song on their 1972 album, Starting All Over Again.^[20]
• Dionne Warwick's 1972 cover reached #113 (U.S.).
• Foster Sylvers released a version of the song on his 1973 album, Foster Sylvers.^[21]
• Jimmy London released a version of the song as a single in 1975.^[22]
• Derrick Harriott released a version of the song on his 1982 album, Acid Rock.^[23]
• Haywoode released a version of the song as a single in 1987.^[24]
• 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.^[25]
• Elton John and Paul Young released a version of the song on John's 1993 album, Duets.^[26]
• Helen Watson released a version of the song on her 1999 album, Doffing.^[27]
• Yo La Tengo released a version of the song as the B-side to their 2006 single "Mr. Tough".^[28]
• American Music Club released a version of the song on their 2008 album, Atwater Afternoon.^[29]
• Joe Pernice released a version of the song on his 2009 album, It Feels So Good When I Stop.^[30]
• Cliff Richard and Percy Sledge released a version of the song on Richard's 2011 album, Soulicious.^[31]
• The Golden Cups released a version of the song on their 1968 debut album.^[32]
• The Raconteurs performed a live rendition of the song at FAME Studios in 2019 for the Amazon Music Originals series (also available on YouTube).

Sampled versions

• Grand Daddy I.U. sampled the song on his song "Something New" which was featured on his 1990 album, Smooth Assassin.^[33]
• 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.^[34]

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.^[35]
• 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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1966 Chart Positions. January 21, 2017.
2. Web site: James & Bobby Purify, James & Bobby Purify. . 1967 . January 21, 2017.
3. Web site: James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1976 Chart Position. January 21, 2017.
4. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly. Library and Archives. Canada. 17 July 2013. Bac-lac.gc.ca. 18 September 2020.
5. Web site: James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
6. Web site: Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966. January 21, 2017.
7. Web site: I'm Your Puppet - CAM-PACT (1968) - Pop Archives - Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Poparchives.com.au. 18 September 2020.
8. Web site: Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966. January 21, 2018.
9. Web site: Cam-Pact, "Drawing Room" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
10. Web site: Dianne Leigh, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
11. Web site: Dionne Warwick, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position. January 21, 2017.
12. Web site: Mickey Gilley, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position. January 21, 2017.
13. Web site: Dan Penn, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
14. Web site: Sam & Dave, Double Dynamite. . December 1966 . January 21, 2017.
15. Web site: Sandy Posey, "Don't Touch Me" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
16. Web site: Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, Different Strokes. January 21, 2017.
17. Web site: Dandy Livingstone, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
18. Web site: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "California Soul" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
19. Web site: Donny Osmond, The Donny Osmond Album. . 1971 . January 21, 2017.
20. Web site: Mel and Tim, Starting All Over Again. . 1972 . January 21, 2017.
21. Web site: Foster Sylvers, Foster Sylvers. . 1973 . January 21, 2017.
22. Web site: Jimmy London, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
23. Web site: Derrick Harriott, Acid Rock. . 1982 . January 21, 2017.
24. Web site: Haywoode, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
25. Web site: Glen Brown and Lloyd Parks, Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74. . 1989 . January 21, 2017.
26. Web site: Elton John and Paul Young, Duets. . 1993 . January 21, 2017.
27. Web site: Helen Watson, Doffing. . 1999 . January 21, 2017.
28. Web site: Yo La Tengo, "Mr. Tough" Single Release. January 21, 2017.
29. Web site: American Music Club, Atwater Afternoon. . January 21, 2017.
30. Web site: Joe Pernice, It Feels So Good When I Stop. . January 21, 2017.
31. Web site: Cliff Richard, Soulicious. . January 21, 2017.
32. Web site: The Golden Cups, 恋のあやつり人形（I'm Your Puppet）. October 28, 2022.
33. Web site: Grand Daddy I.U., Smooth Assassin. . 1990 . January 21, 2017.
34. Web site: Hi-C, "I'm Not Your Puppet" Chart Position. January 21, 2017.
35. Web site: Bobby Womack, Meet the Parents soundtrack. . January 21, 2017.