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.^[2] 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.^[3]

"I'm Your Puppet"
Single by James & Bobby Purify
from the album James & Bobby Purify
B-side	"So Many Reasons"
Released	September 1966
Genre	Deep soul[1]
Length	2:59
Label	Bell
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.^[4] In Canada, it reached #4.^[5]

Papa Don Enterprises produced the song, and it was arranged by Penn and Don Schroeder.^[6]

The single ranked #46 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966.^[7]

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1966–67) Peak position Canada (RPM) Top Singles[5] 2 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6 U.S. Billboard R&B 5 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 6 Chart (1976) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[8] 16 Netherlands[9] 14 New Zealand (RIANZ)[4] 20 UK Singles Chart 12

Year-end charts Chart (1966) Rank U.S. Billboard Hot 100[10] 46

Other charting versions

• Cam-Pact released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1968 single "Drawing Room".^[11] Their version charted regionally in Australia, reaching #17 in Melbourne and #26 in Brisbane.^[9]
• Dianne Leigh released a version of the song as a single in 1970 which reached #32 on the Canadian country chart.^[12]
• Dionne Warwick released a version of the song as a single in 1972 which reached #113 on the US pop chart.^[13] 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.^[14]

Other versions

• Penn released the original version of the song as a single in 1965.^[15]
• Sam & Dave released a version of the song on their 1966 album, Double Dynamite.^[16]
• Sandy Posey released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1967 single "Don't Touch Me".^[17]
• Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band released a version of the song on their 1967 EP Different Strokes.^[18]
• 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.^[19]
• 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".^[20]
• Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1971 album, The Donny Osmond Album.^[21]
• Mel and Tim released a version of the song on their 1972 album, Starting All Over Again.^[22]
• Dionne Warwick's 1972 cover reached #113 (U.S.).
• Foster Sylvers released a version of the song on his 1973 album, Foster Sylvers.^[23]
• Jimmy London released a version of the song as a single in 1975.^[24]
• Derrick Harriott released a version of the song on his 1982 album, Acid Rock.^[25]
• Haywoode released a version of the song as a single in 1987.^[26]
• 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.^[27]
• Elton John and Paul Young released a version of the song on John's 1993 album, Duets.^[28]
• Helen Watson released a version of the song on her 1999 album, Doffing.^[29]
• Yo La Tengo released a version of the song as the B-side to their 2006 single "Mr. Tough".^[30]
• American Music Club released a version of the song on their 2008 album, Atwater Afternoon.^[31]
• Joe Pernice released a version of the song on his 2009 album, It Feels So Good When I Stop.^[32]
• Cliff Richard and Percy Sledge released a version of the song on Richard's 2011 album, Soulicious.^[33]
• The Golden Cups released a version of the song on their 1968 debut album.^[34]
• The Raconteurs performed a live rendition of the song at FAME Studios in 2019 for the Amazon Music Originals series (also available on YouTube).
• Little Joe and the Latinaires released a version of the song to their 1968 album, Unbeatable! ^[35]

Sampled versions

• Grand Daddy I.U. sampled the song on his song "Something New" which was featured on his 1990 album, Smooth Assassin.^[36]
• 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.^[37]

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.^[38]
• 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.