I'm Your Puppet

"I'm Your Puppet"
"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
Length	2:59
Label	Bell
Songwriters	Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham
Producer	Papa Don Enterprises
James & Bobby Purify singles chronology

"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. 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.

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. In Canada, it reached #4.

Papa Don Enterprises produced the song, and it was arranged by Penn and Don Schroeder.

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

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1966–67)	Peak position
Canada (RPM) Top Singles	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)	16
Netherlands	14
New Zealand (RIANZ)	20
UK Singles Chart	12

Year-end charts

Chart (1966)	Rank
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	46

Other charting versions

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

Other versions

Penn released the original version of the song as a single in 1965.
Sam & Dave released a version of the song on their 1966 album, Double Dynamite.
Sandy Posey released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1967 single "Don't Touch Me".
Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band released a version of the song on their 1967 EP Different Strokes.
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.
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".
Donny Osmond released a version of the song on his 1971 album, The Donny Osmond Album.
Mel and Tim released a version of the song on their 1972 album, Starting All Over Again.
Dionne Warwick's 1972 cover reached #113 (U.S.).
Foster Sylvers released a version of the song on his 1973 album, Foster Sylvers.
Jimmy London released a version of the song as a single in 1975.
Derrick Harriott released a version of the song on his 1982 album, Acid Rock.
Haywoode released a version of the song as a single in 1987. It was a minor hit for her and spent a week on the UK chart, peaking at No. 98.
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. [sic]
Elton John and Paul Young released a version of the song on John's 1993 album, Duets.
Helen Watson released a version of the song on her 1999 album, Doffing.
Yo La Tengo released a version of the song as the B-side to their 2006 single "Mr. Tough".
American Music Club released a version of the song on their 2008 album, Atwater Afternoon.
Joe Pernice released a version of the song on his 2009 album, It Feels So Good When I Stop.
Cliff Richard and Percy Sledge released a version of the song on Richard's 2011 album, Soulicious.
The Golden Cups released a version of the song on their 1968 debut album.
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!

Sampled versions

Grand Daddy I.U. sampled the song on his song "Something New" which was featured on his 1990 album, Smooth Assassin.
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.

In media

In 1994, the version sung by Elton John and Paul Young was used in the Brazilian telenovela A Viagem, produced by Rede Globo.
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.
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

↑ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 219. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
↑ "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1966 Chart Positions". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "James & Bobby Purify, James & Bobby Purify". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
1 2 "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1976 Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
1 2 Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image: RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
↑ "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Friday on My Mind | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
1 2 "I'm Your Puppet - CAM-PACT (1968) - Pop Archives - Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
↑ "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966". Retrieved January 21, 2018.
↑ "Cam-Pact, "Drawing Room" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Dianne Leigh, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Dionne Warwick, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Mickey Gilley, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Dan Penn, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Sam & Dave, Double Dynamite". Discogs. December 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Sandy Posey, "Don't Touch Me" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, Different Strokes". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Dandy Livingstone, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "California Soul" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Donny Osmond, The Donny Osmond Album". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Mel and Tim, Starting All Over Again". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Foster Sylvers, Foster Sylvers". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Jimmy London, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Derrick Harriott, Acid Rock". Discogs. 1982. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Haywoode, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ Official Charts - HAYWOODE Hits, I'm Your Puppet
↑ "Glen Brown and Lloyd Parks, Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Elton John and Paul Young, Duets". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Helen Watson, Doffing". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Yo La Tengo, "Mr. Tough" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "American Music Club, Atwater Afternoon". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Joe Pernice, It Feels So Good When I Stop". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Cliff Richard, Soulicious". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "The Golden Cups, 恋のあやつり人形（I'm Your Puppet）". Retrieved October 28, 2022.
↑ "Little Joe And The Latinaires, Unbeatable!". Discogs. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
↑ "Grand Daddy I.U., Smooth Assassin". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Hi-C, "I'm Not Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.
↑ "Bobby Womack, Meet the Parents soundtrack". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[Marsh_1989-1] Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 219. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.

[2] "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1966 Chart Positions". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[3] "James & Bobby Purify, James & Bobby Purify". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[auto-4] 1 2 "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" 1976 Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[auto1-5] 1 2 Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image: RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 18 September 2020.

[6] "James & Bobby Purify, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[7] "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[sc_Ireland2_-8] "Friday on My Mind | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

[auto2-9] 1 2 "I'm Your Puppet - CAM-PACT (1968) - Pop Archives - Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.

[10] "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966". Retrieved January 21, 2018.

[11] "Cam-Pact, "Drawing Room" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[12] "Dianne Leigh, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[13] "Dionne Warwick, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[14] "Mickey Gilley, "I'm Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[15] "Dan Penn, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[16] "Sam & Dave, Double Dynamite". Discogs. December 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[17] "Sandy Posey, "Don't Touch Me" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[18] "Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, Different Strokes". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[19] "Dandy Livingstone, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[20] "Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "California Soul" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[21] "Donny Osmond, The Donny Osmond Album". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[22] "Mel and Tim, Starting All Over Again". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[23] "Foster Sylvers, Foster Sylvers". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[24] "Jimmy London, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[25] "Derrick Harriott, Acid Rock". Discogs. 1982. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[26] "Haywoode, "I'm Your Puppet" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[27] Official Charts - HAYWOODE Hits, I'm Your Puppet

[28] "Glen Brown and Lloyd Parks, Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[29] "Elton John and Paul Young, Duets". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[30] "Helen Watson, Doffing". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[31] "Yo La Tengo, "Mr. Tough" Single Release". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[32] "American Music Club, Atwater Afternoon". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[33] "Joe Pernice, It Feels So Good When I Stop". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[34] "Cliff Richard, Soulicious". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[35] "The Golden Cups, 恋のあやつり人形（I'm Your Puppet）". Retrieved October 28, 2022.

[36] "Little Joe And The Latinaires, Unbeatable!". Discogs. Retrieved August 27, 2024.

[37] "Grand Daddy I.U., Smooth Assassin". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[38] "Hi-C, "I'm Not Your Puppet" Chart Position". Retrieved January 21, 2017.

[39] "Bobby Womack, Meet the Parents soundtrack". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2017.

v t e Dionne Warwick
Discography
Studio albums	Presenting Dionne Warwick (1963) Anyone Who Had a Heart (1964) Make Way for Dionne Warwick (1964) The Sensitive Sound of Dionne Warwick (1965) Here I Am (1965) Here Where There Is Love (1966) On Stage and in the Movies (1967) The Windows of the World (1967) Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls (1968) The Magic of Believing (1968) Promises, Promises (1968) Soulful (1969) I'll Never Fall in Love Again (1970) Very Dionne (1970) Dionne (1972) Just Being Myself (1973) Then Came You (1975) Track of the Cat (1975) Love at First Sight (1977) Dionne (1979) No Night So Long (1980) Friends in Love (1982) Heartbreaker (1982) How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (1983) Finder of Lost Loves (1985) Friends (1985) Reservations for Two (1987) Dionne Warwick Sings Cole Porter (1990) Friends Can Be Lovers (1993) Aquarela do Brasil (1994) My Favorite Time of the Year (2004) My Friends & Me (2006) Why We Sing (2008) Only Trust Your Heart (2011) Now (2012) She's Back (2019) Dionne Warwick & the Voices of Christmas (2019)
Live albums	Dionne Warwick in Paris (1966) A Man and a Woman (1977) Hot! Live and Otherwise (1981) Christmas in Vienna II (1993)
Compilations	Golden Hits, Part One (1967) Greatest Hits: 1979–1990 (1989) The Love Collection (2008)
Singles	"Don't Make Me Over" "Wishin' and Hopin'" "Anyone Who Had a Heart" "Walk On By" "You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" "A House Is Not a Home" "Reach Out for Me" "Who Can I Turn To?" "Are You There (with Another Girl)" "Message to Michael" "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" "Alfie" "The Windows of the World" "I Say a Little Prayer" "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" "This Girl's in Love with You" "Odds and Ends" "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" "Make It Easy on Yourself" "I'm Your Puppet" "Then Came You" "By the Time I Get to Phoenix "Only Love Can Break a Heart" "I'll Never Love This Way Again" "Déjà Vu" "After You" "No Night So Long" "Easy Love" "Now We're Starting Over Again" "Heartbreaker" "All the Love in the World" "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" "Run to Me" "That's What Friends Are For" "Whisper in the Dark" "Love Power" "Reservations for Two" "Take Good Care of You and Me" "I Don't Need Another Love" "It's All Over" "Where My Lips Have Been" "What the World Needs Now Is Love" "The Good Life"
Other songs	"(They Long to Be) Close to You" "Do You Believe in Love at First Sight" "Solid Gold" "Never Gonna Let You Go"
Tours	Soul Divas Tour
Related articles	DionneDionne