Shakey Ground

"Shakey Ground"

German release picture sleeve

Single by The Temptations

from the album A Song for You

B-side

"I'm a Bachelor"

Released

February 1975

Recorded

1974 at Motown Recording Studios in Los Angeles

Genre

Soul

Length

3:11

Label

Gordy

Songwriter(s)

Jeffrey Bowen
Alphonso Boyd
Eddie Hazel^[1]

Producer(s)

Jeffrey Bowen

The Temptations singles chronology

"Happy People"
(1974)

"Shakey Ground"
(1975)

"Glasshouse"
(1975)

"Shakey Ground" is a 1975 R&B single by The Temptations. It was co-written by Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, who plays lead guitar on the song.

Background

[edit]

Original Funkadelic bassist Billy "Bass" Nelson also plays on the song.

Personnel

[edit]

Lead vocals by Dennis Edwards
Background vocals by Damon Harris, Richard Street, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams
Guitar by Eddie Hazel
Bass by Billy Bass Nelson
Soprano saxophone by Donald Charles Baldwin
Instrumentation by various Los Angeles studio musicians

Chart history

[edit]

"Shakey Ground" was the last by the group to reach the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart: the song also crossed over to the pop chart, reaching number twenty-six on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2]

Chart (1975)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	26
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles	1

Cover versions

[edit]

The song has been covered by many artists:

Van McCoy covered it for his 1975 album Disco Baby.
Phoebe Snow recorded it for her 1976 album It Looks Like Snow.
Renée Geyer included the song on her 1976 album Really Really Love You: Live at the Dallas Brooks Hall.
Delbert McClinton included it on his 1980 album The Jealous Kind.
Etta James recorded a version for her 1989 album Seven Year Itch.
Elton John and Don Henley performed it on John's 1993 album Duets.
Fishbone recorded the song for their 2000 album Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx.
Aerosmith covered it for their 2012 album Music from Another Dimension!, on which it ended up a Japanese bonus track.
Max Creek, jam rock band, has been performing the song since the 1980s and continues to do so today.
Founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, has also performed the song live over 20 times; since 2012, Weir has performed the song with his bands Furthur, Ratdog, Dead & Company, Bob Weir and the Wolf Bros., as well as at solo acoustic concerts.
Bernie Marsden (formerly of Whitesnake) recorded it for his 1981 album Look At Me Now.

References

[edit]

^ "discogs.com". discogs.com. 1975. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 572.

v t e The Temptations
Otis Williams Ron Tyson Terry Weeks Tony Grant Jawan M. Jackson Elbridge "Al" Bryant Melvin Franklin Eddie Kendricks Paul Williams David Ruffin Dennis Edwards Ricky Owens Richard Street Damon Harris Glenn Leonard Louis Price Ali-Ollie Woodson Theo Peoples Ray Davis Harry McGilberry Barrington "Bo" Henderson G. C. Cameron Joe Herndon Bruce Williamson Larry Braggs Willie Greene Mario Corbino
Studio albums	Meet the Temptations The Temptations Sing Smokey The Temptin' Temptations Gettin' Ready The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul The Temptations Wish It Would Rain Cloud Nine Puzzle People Psychedelic Shack Sky's the Limit Solid Rock All Directions Masterpiece 1990 A Song for You House Party Wings of Love The Temptations Do the Temptations Hear to Tempt You Bare Back Power The Temptations Reunion Surface Thrills Back to Basics Truly for You Touch Me To Be Continued... Together Again Special Milestone Phoenix Rising Ear-Resistible Awesome Legacy Still Here Temptations 60
Cover albums	The Temptations in a Mellow Mood For Lovers Only Reflections Back to Front All the Time
Live albums	Temptations Live! Live at the Copa Live at London's Talk of the Town The Temptations in Japan
Other albums	Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations TCB The Temptations Show Together On Broadway The Temptations Christmas Card Give Love at Christmas Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)
Compilations	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits II Anthology Emperors of Soul The Ultimate Collection
Singles (US/UK Top 10)	"My Girl" "Get Ready" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" "(I Know) I'm Losing You" "All I Need" "You're My Everything" "I Wish It Would Rain" "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" "Cloud Nine" "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" "Run Away Child, Running Wild" "I Can't Get Next to You" "Psychedelic Shack" "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "Masterpiece" "Let Your Hair Down" "Happy People" "Shakey Ground" "Treat Her Like a Lady" "The Motown Song" "My Girl" (reissue)
Related	Band members The Temptations (miniseries) Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations Discography The Supremes The Undisputed Truth Smokey Robinson Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong Sly Stone George Clinton
Category

v t e The Temptations singles discography
1960s	"Oh Mother of Mine" (1961) "Check Yourself" (1961) "(You're My) Dream Come True" (1962) "Paradise" (1962) "I Want a Love I Can See" (1963) "Farewell My Love" (1963) "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964) "I'll Be in Trouble" (1964) / "The Girl's Alright with Me" (1964) "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (1964) "My Girl" (1964) "It's Growing" (1965) "Since I Lost My Baby" (1965) / "You've Got to Earn It" (1965) "My Baby" (1965) / "Don't Look Back" (1965) "Get Ready" (1966) "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966) "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966) "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1966) "All I Need" (1967) "You're My Everything" (1967) / "I've Been Good to You" (1967) "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" (1967) "I Wish It Would Rain" (1968) "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (1968) "Please Return Your Love to Me" (1968) "Cloud Nine" (1968) "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1968) / "Silent Night" (1968) "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (1969) "Runaway Child, Running Wild" (1969) "I'll Try Something New" (1969) "I Second That Emotion" (1969) "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969) "The Weight" (1969)
1970s	"Psychedelic Shack" (1970) "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" (1970) "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (1970) "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971) "Mother Nature" (1972) "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972) "Masterpiece" (1973) "Law of the Land" (1973) "Let Your Hair Down" (1973) "Happy People" (1974) "Shakey Ground" (1975) "Glasshouse" (1975)
1980s	"Standing on the Top" (1982) "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1984) "My Girl" (re-issue) (1986) "Lady Soul" (1986) "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (re-issue) (1987)
1990s	"The Motown Song" (1991) "My Girl" (re-issue) (1992)

v t e Renée Geyer
Discography
Studio albums	Renée Geyer (1973) It's a Man's Man's World (1974) Ready to Deal (1975) Moving Along (1977) Winner (1978) Blues License (1979) So Lucky (1981) Sing to Me (1985) Difficult Woman (1994) Sweet Life (1999) Tenderland (2003) Tonight (2005) Dedicated (2007) Renéessance (2009) Swing (2013)
Live albums	Really Really Love You: Live at the Dallas Brooks Hall (1976) Renée Live (1983) Live at the Basement (1986) Live at the Athenaeum (2004)
Soundtracks	Seven Deadly Sins (1993)
Compilation albums	Renée Geyer at Her Very Best (1977) Faves (1983) The Best of Renee Geyer 1973–1998 (1998) The Ultimate Collection (2010)
Singles	"Oh! Boy" "It's a Man's Man's World" "Heading in the Right Direction "If Loving You is Wrong" "Shakey Ground" "Stares and Whispers" "Money (That's What I Want)" "The Thrill is Gone" "Say I Love You" "Do You Know What I Mean" "I Can Feel the Fire" "Goin' Back" "All My Love" "Crazy" "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" "I Wish It Would Rain"
Other songs	"Rock Around the Clock" "The Garden" (as part of Australia Too) "You're Not Alone (Australian Olympians song)" (as part of Australian Olympians) "Yil Lull" (as part of Singers For The Red Black & Gold)
Related articles	Sun 1972 Oz for Africa Mary and Max

v t e Elton John songs
Discography
1960s	"I've Been Loving You" (1968) "Skyline Pigeon" (1968) "Lady Samantha" (1969) "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
1970s	"Border Song" (1970) "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970) "From Denver to L.A." (1970) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970) "Your Song" (1970) "Come Down in Time" (1970) "Friends" (1971) "Levon" (1971) "Madman Across the Water" (1971) "Indian Sunset" (1971) "Tiny Dancer" (1972) "Rocket Man" (1972) "Honky Cat" (1972) "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972) "Crocodile Rock" (1972) "Elderberry Wine" (1972) "Daniel" (1972) "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972) "Teacher I Need You" (1973) "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973) "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) "Step into Christmas" (1973) "Candle in the Wind" (1974) "Bennie and the Jets" (1974) "Harmony" (1974) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974) "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974) "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975) "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975) "Island Girl" (1975) "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976) "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976) "Pinball Wizard" (1976) "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976) "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977) "Crazy Water" (1977) "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977) "Ego" (1978) "Part-Time Love" (1978) "Song for Guy" (1978) "Are You Ready for Love" (1979) "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979) "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
1980s	"Little Jeannie" (1980) "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980) "Dear God" (1980) "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981) "Nobody Wins" (1981) "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981) "Blue Eyes" (1982) "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982) "Ball and Chain" (1982) "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982) "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983) "I'm Still Standing" (1983) "Kiss the Bride" (1983) "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984) "Passengers" (1984) "Who Wears These Shoes? (1984) "Nikita" (1985) "That's What Friends Are For" (1985) "Wrap Her Up" (1985) "Heartache All Over the World" (1986) "Slow Rivers" (1986) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988) "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988) "Town of Plenty" (1988) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988) "Through the Storm" (1989) "Healing Hands" (1989) "Sacrifice" (1989)
1990s	"Club at the End of the Street" (1990) "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) "The One" (1992) "Runaway Train" (1992) "The Last Song" (1992) "Simple Life" (1993) "True Love" (1993) "Shakey Ground" (1994) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994) "Circle of Life" (1994) "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" (1994) "Be Prepared" (1994) "Hakuna Matata" (1994) "Believe" (1995) "Made in England" (1995) "When the Money's Gone" (1995) "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996) "Live Like Horses" (1996) "The Madness of King Scar" (1997) "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997) "Written in the Stars" (1999)
2000s	"Someday Out of the Blue" (2000) "I Want Love" (2001) "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002) "Original Sin" (2002) "Are You Ready for Love" (2003) "Ghetto Gospel" (2005) "Electricity" (2005) "The Bridge" (2006) "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008) "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
2010s	"All of the Lights" (2010) "Good Morning to the Night" (2012) "Sad" (2012) "Home Again" (2013) "Looking Up" (2015) "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
2020s	"Ordinary Man" (2020) "Sine from Above" (2020) "The Pink Phantom" (2020) "It's a Sin" (2021) "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021) "Merry Christmas" (2021) "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021) "Hold Me Closer" (2022) "Never Too Late" (2024)
Related	Albums discography Videography
Category:Elton John

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Shakey Ground

Shakey Ground

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Hub overview

Root Wikipedia Article

Shakey Ground

Background

Personnel

Chart history

Cover versions

References