Peak
7
Weeks
11
Score
2,095
Chart Year
1970
This is one funky shack The Temptations sing about on this track. The place has bear skin rugs, colored lights, and people walking around reciting poetry. This being 1969, places like this really did exist, although the song could also be seen as a unification anthem, welcoming all people in this shack where you could free your mind and be accepted for who you are. The Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote this song, and Whitfield produced it. The Whitfield/Strong team also composed the Temptations hits "Just My Imagination," "Cloud Nine" and "I Can't Get Next To You." Motown head Berry Gordy considered Whitfield his most versatile producer, able to work in a range of styles that kept the sound fresh. His work helped set the Temptations apart from other groups on the label that relied more on formula. With a prominent wah-wah guitar, this song mingled elements of the '60s psychedelic sound with the funk and soul that acts like Sly & The Family Stone were progressing. The guitarist was Dennis Coffey, one of Motwown's Funk Brothers. Norman Whitfield used Coffey on a number of Temptations recordings, starting with "Cloud Nine." All five Temptations got at least a line of lead vocals on this track, including their bass man Melvin Franklin, who appropriately sings the "So low you can't get under it" line. David Ruffin had left the group at this point, so the other members were Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Eddie Kendricks. This is considered one of the group's most innovative and memorable songs, but not everyone appreciated it at the time. The review in Melody Maker griped, "The group has been almost completely submerged in a welter of incongruous sound-trips." This inspired the B-52s hit "Love Shack," which appropriated the "Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at" line into "Love shack, that's where it's at." The Temptations had a remarkable 14 #1 R&B hits, but this wasn't one of them - it stalled at #2.
Yeah Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Yeah Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at People, let me tell you 'bout a place I know, to get in it don't take much dough Where you can really do your thing, oh yeah It's got a neon sigh outside that says Come in and take a look at your mind You'll be surprised what you might find Strobe lights flashing from sun up to sun down People gather there from all parts of town Right around the corner, you know it's just across the track People I'm talking abut the psychedelic shack Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at, yeah You can have your fortune told, you can learn the meaning of soul There ain't no such a thing as time Incense in the air, peace signs painted everywhere I guarantee you this place will blow your mind They got music so high you can't get over it So low you can't get under it Right around the corner, you know it's just across the track People I'm talking abut the psychedelic shack Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, millionaires, kings and queens go there to do their thing You might see anybody there, yeah Bearskin rugs, tails and minks It don't really matter what you wear Take off your shoes, sit on the floor Join in and be what you wanna be, don't you know it's Right around the corner, you know it's just across the track People I'm talking abut the psychedelic shack Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at, yeah, oh yeah They got a cat there shoutin' the blues, talkin' 'bout payin' some dues People walkin' round reciting poetry, yeah Screaming guitars and a thousand colored lights People, I'm telling you this place is really out of sight You can have your fortune told, you can learn the meaning of soul I can tell you the place will blow your mind, don't you know it's Right around the corner, you know it's just across the track
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 17, 1970 | 95 | 31 |
| 2 | Jan 24, 1970 | 38 | 88 |
| 3 | Jan 31, 1970 | 21 | 105 |
| 4 | Feb 7, 1970 | 11 | 115 |
| 5 | Feb 14, 1970 | 8 | 118 |
| 6 | Feb 21, 1970 | 8 | 118 |
| 7 | Feb 28, 1970 | 7 | 119 |
| 8 | Mar 7, 1970 | 11 | 115 |
| 9 | Mar 14, 1970 | 12 | 114 |
| 10 | Mar 21, 1970 | 20 | 106 |
| 11 | Mar 28, 1970 | 24 | 102 |