{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Puzzle People | type = studio | artist = The Temptations | cover = Tempts-puzzle-people.jpg | alt = | released = September 23, 1969 | recorded = October 1968 – July 1969 | venue = | studio = | genre = {{hlist|Psychedelic soul|soul|funk}} | length = 43:37 | label = Gordy<br><small>GS 949</small> | producer = Norman Whitfield | prev_title = The Temptations Show | prev_year = 1969 | next_title = Together | next_year = 1969 }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/puzzle-people-mw0000653277|title = Puzzle People - the Temptations &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|website = AllMusic}}</ref> | noprose = yes | rev2 = Rolling Stone | rev2Score = (favourable)<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bangs |first=Lester |date=7 February 1970 |title=Records |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=40 |location=San Francisco |publisher=Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. }}</ref> }} '''''Puzzle People''''' is the eleventh studio album released by American soul quintet The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label in 1969. Produced entirely by Norman Whitfield, ''Puzzle People'' expanded on the psychedelic soul sound of the Temptations' previous LP, ''Cloud Nine''. Although a few straightforward soul ballads are present, the album is primarily composed of Sly & the Family Stone/James Brown-derived proto-funk tracks such as the lead single "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down", and the number-one Billboard Pop hit "I Can't Get Next to You".

''Puzzle People'' was released simultaneously with ''Together,'' a duets album of covers by the Temptations and labelmates Diana Ross & the Supremes. It peaked into the Top 5 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and spent fifteen weeks at number one on the R&B Albums chart.

==Track listing==

''All selections produced by Norman Whitfield.''

{{Track listing | headline = Side one | extra_column = Leads(s) | title1 = I Can't Get Next to You | writer1 = Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong | extra1 = Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, P. Williams, O. Williams | length1 = 2:55 | title2 = Hey Jude | writer2 = John Lennon, Paul McCartney | extra2 = Edwards, Kendricks, P. Williams, Franklin, O. Williams | length2 = 3:32 | title3 = Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down | writer3 = Whitfield, Strong | extra3 = Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, P. Williams, O. Williams | length3 = 4:45 | title4 = Message from a Black Man | writer4 = Whitfield, Strong | extra4 = Kendricks, Edwards, Franklin | length4 = 6:02 | title5 = It's Your Thing | writer5 = Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley | extra5 = Edwards, P. Williams | length5 = 3:13 }}

{{Track listing | headline = Side two | extra_column = Leads(s) | title1 = Little Green Apples | writer1 = Bobby Russell | extra1 = P. Williams | length1 = 3:45 | title2 = You Don't Love Me No More | writer2 = Whitfield, Strong, Roger Penzabene | extra2 = Kendricks | length2 = 2:35 | title3 = Since I've Lost You | writer3 = Whitfield | extra3 = Edwards, Franklin | length3 = 2:43 | title4 = Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You) | writer4 = Whitfield, Strong | extra4 = P. Williams | length4 = 2:48 | title5 = That's the Way Love Is | writer5 = Whitfield, Strong | extra5 = Edwards, P. Williams | length5 = 3:20 | title6 = Slave | writer6 = Whitfield, Strong | extra6 = Edwards, Kendricks, Franklin | length6 = 7:30 }}

==Personnel== ;The Temptations * Dennis Edwards - tenor/baritone vocals * Eddie Kendricks - first tenor/falsetto vocals * Paul Williams - baritone vocals * Melvin Franklin - bass vocals * Otis Williams - second tenor vocals with: * Norman Whitfield - producer, songwriter * Barrett Strong - lyricist * The Funk Brothers - instrumentation

==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- !scope="col"|Chart (1969) !scope="col"|Peak<br /> position |- |align="left"|Canadian Albums (''RPM'')<ref name="Canadian album positions">{{cite web |url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=h6banu1fsvdt9pof8c4m7dun24&q1=the+temptations&q2=Top+Albums%2FCDs&interval=50 |title = RPM: The Temptations (albums) |publisher = RPM Magazine |access-date = April 14, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170415013112/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=h6banu1fsvdt9pof8c4m7dun24&q1=the+temptations&q2=Top+Albums%2FCDs&interval=50 |archive-date = April 15, 2017 |url-status = dead }}</ref> | 17 |- |align="left"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="Jachart">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref> | 82 |- |align="left"|UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11683/temptations/|title=The Temptations Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref> | 20 |- |align="left"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref name="VPb">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/1490202/the-temptations/chart?f=305 |title=The Temptations US Chart History |publisher=Billboard|access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref> | 5 |}

==See also== *List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of the 1960s *List of number-one R&B albums of 1970 (U.S.)

==References== {{reflist}}

{{The Temptations}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1969 albums Category:The Temptations albums Category:Gordy Records albums Category:Albums produced by Norman Whitfield