Psychedelic Shack (song)

"Psychedelic Shack", released December 28, 1969, is the name of a 1970 hit single for the Motown label performed by The Temptations and produced by Norman Whitfield.

Related Topics:
December 28 - 1969 - 1970 - Motown - The Temptations - Norman Whitfield

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This single represents the Temptations and Whitfield's full-blown submergence into psychedelia, with hard rock guitars, synthesizer sound effects, multitracked drums, and stereo-shifting vocals giving the record a sound unlike that of even the earlier Temptations "psychedelic soul" recordings. The song is a dedication of sorts to psychedelic shacks, describing the activities and atmosphere within.

Related Topics:
Psychedelia - Rock - Synthesizer - Sound effects - Multitrack - Drums - Stereo - Psychedelic soul - Psychedelic shack

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The high-tempo song, likely possessing the highest tempo of any Temptations song to this point, not only depicts a psychedelic shack in words, but through the music itself. The group's vocals are delivered in a fierce, muscular style, which is matched by the song's electric guitar-heavy instrumental track. On the preceding singles with shared lead vocals ("Cloud Nine", "Runaway Child, Running Wild", "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down", and "I Can't Get Next to You"), the transitions between lead singers were much more noticeable. On this record, however, the change-ups occur much more rappidly, to the point that the Temptations' voices, particularly similar-sounding lead singers Paul Williams and Dennis Edwards, blend into each other. All of this is grounded by the song's memorable chorus, a repeated chant of "Psychedelic shack/that's where it's at".

Related Topics:
Electric guitar - Cloud Nine - Runaway Child, Running Wild - I Can't Get Next to You - Paul Williams - Dennis Edwards - Chant

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"Psychedelic Shack's" LP mix begins with the sounds of a person entering a psychedelic shack and dropping the needle on a record, which is, interestingly enough, the Temptations single which immediately preceded this one, "I Can't Get Next to You". The use of the re-recording of "I Can't Get Next to You" from its 45 RPM single makes "Psychedelic Shack" one of the first songs to use sampling, a technique that would become a stable of hip hop music in the coming decade.

Related Topics:
I Can't Get Next to You - 45 RPM single - Sampling - Hip hop music

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The song ends, after its fourth verse, with the Funk Brothers backing band going into a jam session as the song fades out. Keyboardist Earl Van Dyke remembers "Psychedelic Shack" as one of his favorite recording sessions. The full extended version of the song, with the complete jam session, went unreleased until a new six-minute mix of the record was doen in 2003 for the Psychedelic Soul compilation set.

Related Topics:
Funk Brothers - Earl Van Dyke - 2003 - Psychedelic Soul

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"Psychedelic Shack" was the title track from the Psychedelic Shack album, released in March 1970. The song reached #7 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts.

Related Topics:
Psychedelic Shack - March - 1970

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