Psychedelic Shack

Album: Psychedelic Shack (1969)
Charted: 33 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • 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.

Comments: 3

  • Elma Lois Goodloe from TexasI miss these artists; they were simply the best. NO other group has come close to their status in music, and I don't believe that any will ever. "Temptations" forever. They did not realize this statement would be so profound and true.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1970 {April 5th} the Temptations performed "Psychedelic Shack" on the CBS-TV Sunday-night musical variety program, 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    The following week it would peak at #2* {for three weeks} on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart..
    It reached #7 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
    Between 1965 and 1975 the Motown super group had fourteen #1 records on the Hot R&B Singles chart, and in addition "Psychedelic Shack" was the fifth of eight Temp records to peak at #2 on the chart...
    * For the three weeks "Psychedelic Shack" was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin" b/w "Everybody Is A Star" by Sly & The Family Stone...
  • Bill from UsI always imagined this song was inspired by "Walk right In".... sit right down, baby let your mind roll on, which was written in 1929! a hit in 1959, and 10 years later Whitfield added a little acid to it!.
    "Come in and take a look at your mind.
    You'll be surprised what you might find."
    Whitfield and crew and the Temps, Classic forever music!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining Victims

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining VictimsSong Writing

Just like Darrin was replaced on Bewitched, groups have swapped out original members, hoping we wouldn't notice.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.