I'm Your Puppet

"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]

"I'm Your Puppet"
Single by James & Bobby Purify
from the album James & Bobby Purify
B-side"So Many Reasons"
ReleasedSeptember 1966
GenreR&B
Length2:59
LabelBell
Songwriter(s)Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham
Producer(s)Papa Don Enterprises
James & Bobby Purify singles chronology
"I'm Your Puppet"
(1966)
"Wish You Didn't Have to Go"
(1967)

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

Charts (1976)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7]16
Netherlands[8]14
New Zealand (RIANZ)[3]20
UK Singles Chart12

Year-end charts

Charts (1966)Rank
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9]46

Other charting versions

  • Cam-Pact released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1968 single "Drawing Room".[10] Their version charted regionally in Australia, reaching #17 in Melbourne and #26 in Brisbane.[8]
  • Dianne Leigh released a version of the song as a single in 1970 which reached #32 on the Canadian country chart.[11]
  • Dionne Warwick released a version of the song as a single in 1972 which reached #113 on the US pop chart.[12] 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.[13]

Other versions

Sampled versions

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.[36]
  • 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.

References