Smiling Faces Undisputed Truth

[kellythesinger]

This song is IS the S H I T !!!

[fliptis1]

This song is the shit!!!!!!

[chuck3812]

Sounds like the great Joe Simon.

[michaelrmaynard1]

The costumes are a very important part of the performance. yes , the music stands alone,

however, it would not be the complete statement of expression with out all the other element to the performance. it is awesome, the whole package. I feel sad that you don't get it.

[TheChuck624]

These guys were talented enough as to where those silly costumes and make up were not needed to enhance their performance. Bad choice by the promoter and I find it hard to believe the group just agreed to that silliness.

[gottohavesoul]

Beautiful tune - bizarre costumes....

[NTC335]

名曲だぁね☆

[MrTraceMan]

Never truer words were spoken!

[TearzGypsy]

guitar player reminds me an awful lot of Santana

[lordyendor]

WTF?

[nutuvocare]

What they say is what momma told us when we were growing up! Listen! With eyes! With ears! With heart! With soul!! Share this with everyone. It is sound advice. Needta...thanks!! for this video!!

[anonymoog]

SOLID GOLD!!<3

[michaelrmaynard1]

@anonymoog hell yah!!

[LittleSweety]

This song was 40 years ago no.7 in the world charts #undisputed #truth

[AZYankee53]

Pure Art And Brillient 

[KalleMaeuserich]

I LOVE IT! THANK YOU for uploading this!!!

[itdoesntmatter56789]

Brings back memories from back in the day. Thanks need!

[itdoesntmatter56789]

Wow! Thanks for this! Having grown up in the day I have fond memories of this one. Seeing the video makes it even more a pleasure. Thanks need!

[MoViEgUrL2009]

Papa Gates brought me here! haha

[morehouse19]

Dead presidents brought me here

[ebonics4everyone]

Black people invented heavy metal lead guitar playing in addition to rock n roll itself. Take that, ho ass rbitches. There's an easy gay test. If you dislike this song, you're gay.

[itdoesntmatter56789]

@ebonics4everyone 

[philburrell]

@ebonics4everyone ..don't make comments that you can't provide proof to.

[ebonics4everyone]

Pimp ass song from (when else) 1971

[zr24X4ROCKS]

yea,,, that guitar playing is badass!

[wango123100]

can ya diggit????!!!  WANGO123100

[spoonfed1967]

I'm fairly sure the guitarist is Eddie Hazel. It makes sense that he would conceal his face as he was know for doing concert and session work as an uncredited side-man.

[samjabo]

@spoonfed1967 Actually, the guitarist is Mr. Kenji Brown and the band playing music is non other than Rose Royce. Rose Royce was the backing band for the undisputed truth on this concert and two of the undisputed truth mid seventies albums mainly, "Higher Than High" and "Method to the Madness". Great Music from great great band, the undisputed Truth and Rose Royce.

[Ilawine]

and what is the name of the male singer with that incredibly soulful and also funky voice?

[Ilawine]

great true lyricks: a smile :) is just a frown turned upside down :(, fantastic performance, strong voices, love it

[grizzlyfan41]

I like the song and I think its a classic......but what's with this get-up? Its kinda scary....

[gahnzo555]

MUSIC!!!!! and still listenable after how many years???

[agamemnon1]

Can you diggit!! That sista is BLOWIN!!! This song is so funky... no obscene words, or hi speed riffs, just laid back deep down soul...

[wwwwiebeniknu]

this ,my son,is theSHIT

[geeky311]

Diggin the Riggin

[estebanmorientes]

How superb can an appearance get?

[jinxremovingxo]

who is playing the lead guitar here? Great stuff!

[needtashow]

@jinxremovingxo I was fortunate enough to get an answer to this question from the female singer Taka Boom , sister of Chaka Khan .I'll repost it here.."a gentleman named kenji brown is on guitar. the band

is indeed rose royce." ==ppl always ask this question so thanks Taka !

[BrianHanerPapaGates]

@needtashow I played with the Truth in the late 70's - after Rose Royce became big. That is in fact Kenji. I recognize the guitar, (and the playing).

[MdNgtRyder]

@needtashow darn. and I thought I was the only one.who new this...TY you no this is one of the most racist song's written....ya .....dam but great music...

[Wildcat5181]

@jinxremovingxo It's a Fender Strat.

[neet919]

so very true

[OGGilmoregirlz1]

MAD guitar solo!!! I can't tell who it is and honestly don't remember the names of the people in this group though I have liked many of their songs.

[derStoeckli]

This is the shit!!

[careathab]

so true! smiling faces lie I like the guitar though it was hot! And soul sista POW Wer Full!

[rokderboat]

THIS IS MUSIC cant you feel it ? POWERFULL LYRICS

[drdrewutube]

That is the shit

[whitewitchoz]

Love the hypnotic rhythm, the haunting guitar, and the voice of that soul sister.

[playsbass1969]

big hair and make up that white

hair too

[henrypeckstv]

this is undisputed!

[AngelSP777]

SPEERIT'S SMILING FACES IS THE BEST!

[justcallmeassinine]

Good song and group but those bozo do's ??? They could have at least had rainbow colors like you see today.

[1santos1]

i just pulled out my original 45 (7" single) and had to see what they looked like.

HOLY SH*T!

i LOVE this song and band even more!!! that stage get-up is super funky!

right on!

[brownfaye]

OMG! Their voices sound perfect, and that guitar, Lord Have Mercy!

[havanakings]

It is wat is the undisputed truth!!! Wat a great song!!!

[StewartBloor]

Top video!

[swami1]

They look like 3 albino Billy Prestons.

[shannonD68]

@swami1 Great observation! I thought the same thing.

[Freybergers]

What a great live version!! Thanks for posting it.

[jcpfahey]

FORGET IT, THIS IS LIFE, AND REVELATIONS, WRITTEN DOWN.

[musiclover59]

Outstanding live recording. Better than the original. So soulful, with a powerful message. I can't say enough about the singing.

[samjabo]

@musiclover59 Actually, Rose Royce is the backing band playing this great music.

[musiclover59]

@samjabo Yes, I was aware of that.

[RubieBelle]

Girl, sing that truth!

[tonydalcon]

A song often quoted in other songs ("Ain't no smiling faces lyin' to the races"--Staple Singers...among others).

[Vstar4me]

@tonydalcon You know it! Imitation is the purest form of admiration.!

[jetbirdzme]

I THOUGHT I WAS BORN IN THE LOST GENERATION???? HOLY BUCKETS U JUST DON'T SEE SUCH 'RIGHTEOUS N BY DEFINITION' ART ANYMORE! .....HEY MR. HARRIS? CAN U COLLABERATE W/ SOME UP N COMING HIP HOP BAND? MY CHILD STILL HAS CHANCE! WINK! THANKS N GOD BLESS YOU!

[oceanbound222]

Hideous wigs and make up. Great song

[veeseee128]

albino fros

[veeseee128]

is that cotton candy or afros?

[52hogan]

Love this song and this group.............

[4orsaorsa]

What a great music time - then - 45 yrs back - what great impressive emotional music (not the kind of s....... of today) wonderful artists - great performance

[theboyfromxtown]

Thanks for posting this....never got the chance to see them live in the UK

[52hogan]

Great tune......................

[Seattlecarnut]

Awesome music! That's the biggest head of hair the guys have. It's hard to tell whether that's their real hair or whether they're wearing wigs.

[truth2masses]

the female here is chaka khan's sister,taka boom!

[gravelpit00]

True Old School!!! CatDaddy!!!

[kariebeez]

they can still sing - the lead singer sounds just as he did over 25 years ago

[gpbubby1]

learn to look behind the eyes to the soul

[bei1016]

Still a Great Song, by a Great Group.

[Serpico69]

goddamn this is a great song

greeting from Belgium

[port2344chester]

Funking CLASSIC!!!!

[BIGCHOPS23]

love dis song

[oldskooljunky1]

true song

[rickw1100]

Great Tune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[loopin24]

I had never heard of this song until about a week ago when my dad started singing it. His "performance" totally blew me away, I thought it was an original, well until he told me... I don't know why I didn't bother looking it up until just now, but I'm glad I did. Very Awesome Song!

[truth2masses]

@loopin24 came out in 1971!

[bigdaddy45able]

This is a great song,with a powerful message.The undisputed truth was a great group,with the majestic joe harris up front.Smiling faces sometimes was not there only good song,they did other great songs as well.

[brianpadraic]

Man, I miss great music like this. What an era of music and originality.

[sisterdiggins]

Wow , Wow , Wow!!!

Pure performance!!

The white and gold are perfect!

[samjabo]

The band plying music is non other than ROSE ROYCE

[iWasGrovemasterITA]

woah!!!!

[westside159]

Harold Melvin & the blue notes - i Miss You

my fav song ever

[funkazoid2511]

I love the Undisputed Truth...too freaky ...too funky...and this song is so good..thank for posting...keep the funk alive

[Tengobaila]

Great song!! One of my Faves!! Their costumes remind me of something you might see in Africa with the traditional body art of different tribes. So rich with character!! I love it!!!

Thank you for posting.

[truth2masses]

chaka khan's sister,taka boom is the female in this group!

[Tengobaila]

Oh wow!!! Thank you for that information. I must dance to this song!!

What else do you know about this group?

[truth2masses]

all i know this record got played to death back in 1971!

[woodie62]

Reminds me of Parliament/Funkadelic. .

[truth2masses]

@Tengobaila they were forerunners (costume wise) to parliament.

[dakeli61]

@truth2masses yes, they had an influence on parliament/funkadelic and Mr Clinton (George that is);

possibly even Gene Simmons & Kiss.

[bluzz73]

her vocals r as powerful or more so than any of the current day divas and it sounds like kenji schooled santana great old song. best thing about old school music is that any true lover of any generation could jam too it dont think we are going to b able to say the same of rap

[CLOVEONE1]

Yes Rap,But not hip hop!! Theres a diffrence!

[dougiecoolietrini]

Us Blacks are so unique n talented...until the thief comes along and attempt 2 steal our music...CAN YOU DIG IT???

[dougiecoolietrini]

PIMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CLOVEONE1]

@ktheintz,, Cocaine's a hell of a drug!!!!!lol

[ktheintz]

Brilliant song, but wtf with the costumes?

[1319second3771]

I am nominating this as the National popular song of 2010.

I am amazed at how hynotic and mantra like this song was along with the guitar of ...somebody tell me . Who is the female vocalist...

[samjabo]

The singer is Chaka Khan's sister. Guitar is played by Rose Royce's Kenji Brown

[ultinatetruustar]

TRUTH!

*PEACE*

[picposter67]

Alexander O'Neal sounds a little like the lead singer of this group and the girl singer was sexy as hell with a powerful voice. I think she is Chaka Khan's sister.

[karameldreem]

she is that is Taka Boom!!!!

[msstevie1951]

Love this old song and it's still oh so true!

CAN YOU DIG IT??? PEACE XXX

[garywadley]

SO TRUE!!

[1MISTRESSKAJUN]

@msstevie1951  I can dig it.

Sounds like our Government.

[msstevie1951]

@1MISTRESSKAJUN

[msstevie1951]

@1MISTRESSKAJUN It sure does! x

[protectorofillinois]

I'm still in LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE with this classic 70s cut :-D Billie Rae Calvin (God rest her soul) will be missed so much, but she's with us in spirit :-D There's also an extended version of this tune as well, but it's very difficult to find. Thank you so much for bringing me back to the 70s :-D 5 stars & faved :-D

[harlembreaker131]

Whoa! I love the vibes of the 70's and all, but what's up with the weird facial make up and sheep hair wigs? Strange stage performance for such a conscious song! Guess I better just except it for what it's worth. Lol. The guitarist has a Fender Stratacaster similar to mine! I was hoping the song extended a little longer just to hear a possible chromatic scale solo outre from him. The lead singer looks like Percy Sledge & the female singer has resemblance of Chaka Khan of early days.

[ilovekansas]

She is Chaka's little sister.

[protectorofillinois]

You're correct :-D The female singer is indeed Chaka Khan's sister - Taka Boom (her real name is Yvonne Stevens). She and Chaka still look beautiful :-D They were born and raised on the south side of Chicago, IL :-D

[harlembreaker131]

Wow I had the slightest clue that the soulful female back up singer was Chaka Khan's sister! Not only do I have an ear for music but now I'm more convinced to say I KNOW MY PEOPLE. lol. Well, I guess I'll also ask you if she had a possible solo career in her own right? Berry Gordy had 3 alternate fashion labels. Tamla (yellow & brown) ; Motown (navy blue & white) whereas Undisputed Truth was on the Gordy label (dark purple & yellow). I'm sure Yvonne S. had skills for Berry's options. : )

[protectorofillinois]

Yes :-D Taka Boom has an excellent solo career :-D You can find a lot of her releases at any record store, or online at Amazon :-D She's still singing, and she even collaborated with other DJs on the house music projects. Her latest CD is called "Middle of the Night." It's pretty good :-D Amazon carries this CD too :-D

[harlembreaker131]

protectorofillinois....Thanks a million! I have new music to check out this week. I'm an average shopper on Amazon and I find everything I want on there. It was very beneficial seeing your comments. I'm sure you write for a music mag or something. : ) I will go share this info with the folk. Stay up!!!

[protectorofillinois]

You're more than welcome :-D I wish I could write for a music magazine (lol), but all I do is just observe the artists, listen to their tunes, then summarize my thoughts on their tunes :-D

[seanbirmingham21]

black music at its best. not the shit they produce today

[Aliendear]

I don't care if you're black or white, this song told a lot of truth. And there WERE A LOT of lies in the 60s and 70s. It's awful to be lied to by someone.

[75andalive]

This performance is amazing,Im shocked VH1 had this on !Cant believe I missed it !

[Sekiel]

I love this live version the guitar is jamming

[TheBipolarSteve]

It is true, smiling faces lie! I hate people who smile! I tell everyone that my daughter is having a manic high when she smiles! I tell everyone she is sick & a liar! I despise people who smile! They are sick.

[SaveyourSavior]

Right......

[lordyendor]

I think Kiss had a large impact.

[philburrell]

you got it backwards. they had the impact on KISS

[Tiny1bme]

Girls singer is Taka Boom aka Yvonne Stevens. She Chaka Khans little sister.

[philburrell]

looks just like Chaka, and just as loud.lol

[gusandspud]

They didn't need gimmicks like these awful stage outfits. Another terrific group that Motown just threw away like they did with so much talent. To me, Motown became far too commercial and somehow lost its soul.

[picposter67]

gusandspud I totally agree with you. Berry Gordy became obsessed with crossover records and Motown became watered down.

[drwhatson]

To be fair, I think the real problem was Norman Whitfield who insisted on re-recording songs he'd written for the Temptations etc. on his new "pet" proto-funkadelic group The Undisputed Truth. However this is pure Soul music. I think that most of their later, space-obsessed funk recordings were an utter waste of their inherent singing talent. I loved this song back in 1971, and still do. The Temps (long album) version is great too, but I prefer this one. An absolute classic.

[harlembreaker131]

drwhatson...Thanks for the music history! I didn't know The Temptations also made a version of the song "Smiling Faces". I have few 70's Temptation albums on vinyl (including Masterpiece) so I will go searching. I'm curious to hear their rendition of it.

[drwhatson]

The Temptations' version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes" on the "Sky's The Limit" album (1971), features Eddie Kendricks on lead vocals - and in the growing tradition of Norman Whitfield's productions, it's about 9 minutes long! I like both versions for different reasons, but could never be without the Undisputed Truth cut.

Incidentally, David Ruffin also recorded the song a couple of years later! - it's on the "Me And Rock n' Roll Are Here To Stay" LP, from 1974.

[harlembreaker131]

Thanks again!  drwhatson...since you're very familiar with the classic soul stuff of Motown, can you please tell us if there actually was a long version of David Ruffin's "I Miss You"? I have the original album entitled "David Ruffin" which contains "I Miss You", but still doesn't include Part 2. It's been a mystery to me and my brother for so long. Also, The Jackson 5 had 2 different versions of "Mamas Pearl" - the LP version & the 45rpm. The 45 sound better, am I right? Help us Dr. lol

[chess1458]

I Was Talking To Joe Harris A Few Days Ago And We Were Talking About This Performance,Great Vid,Thanks For Sharing

[samjabo]

How can you go wrong when you have The Undisputed truth and Rose Royce together on stage. Great job indeed!!

[chess1458]

Damn Right!!!!!!

[samjabo]

Hope that all is well with Joe. Although Rose Royce is still performing, but I don't think that there stage performance is the same as they used to when The Duke was on Bass, Kenji Brown on Guitar, Michael Nash or victor Nix on Key boards, and Terral on percussions. I am not sure even if Walter Mcckiny is still there? Great music from real musicians

[chess1458]

Joe Is Doing Great,And Stills Sounds Great As He Ever Did,We Spoke Mainy Of His Doo Wop Years With The Moroccos,And His Soul Years With The Peps.

[kevkraft]

One of my ALL-TIME favorite songs. I'd never seen them sing it live. Great performance.

[wingnutwally]

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!

I've never seen it.

[sozamaria]

i dont know her but i know lots of people like that!!!!!!

[MUN7001]

thry will never have the soul rock because whitey will be tested against the rock of the blacks stupid whitey bitches

[picposter67]

WOW! I have always love Smiling Faces but I have never heard this version or seen this performance until now. The painted faces and white afros worked so well with this soulful rock version. I can't believe The Undisputed Truth only had one major hit.

[sozamaria]

damn straight it's hot

[timothybender]

One of my favorites from the 70's, I'm a rocker who digs 70's and 80"s hard rock music but this tune grabs me. I love

the psychedelic soul groove rock vibe from this fabulous song. A very cool tune indeed!

[WildWicks]

I remember when they did this on a show that came on friday night called "Don Kershners Rock Concert" Good music will stand the test of times.

[HaliacetusLeuco]

smiling faces in high places and i got proof~+~+~*

[darinmaclachlan]

Great vid so relevant today with politics...btw... I'm raising public awareness about the Chinese Communist Party persecution of 70 million Falun Gong spiritual practitioners for the last 10 years in China. They are put in slave-labor camps and forced to make stuff sold here. They take organs from them to sell on the black market. The media doesn't cover it. It must stop. Thanks.

[hoodiemoney24]

Dr Dre sampled this song

[samjabo]

Kenji Brown was one of Rose Royce's original band members. Kenji Brown left the group and was replaced by Walter Mckinney. Rose Royce's great musicians was what made their songs last until this time. Their musical competance shows up clearly here.

[chriscortez56]

thats taka boom chakas sister

[whyshouldI303]

What a great song and clip

they never made a big splash in the UK,shame

[intrepidsinger]

GREAT song! GREAT performance! GREAT post! Grew up on this - like mother's milk to me - along with what we now call classic rock. Miss the old days of radio when good stuff was played because it was good, not because it fit a radio station's format.

[frndsplz]

now this is music..why can't they do this today?

[aidsjello]

The 30 second guitar trill at the end of the song is insanely good.

[tibiafinger]

Is that Eddie Hazal on lead guitar?

[tmgore64]

I think it is.

[needtashow]

I just recently found out from a very reliable source (someone in the video) that the guitarist is a gentleman named Kenji Brown and the backing band is indeed Rose Royce. -amazing! -can you imagine the sound in the room ?

[kels94]

Sounds like lead Joe Harris influenced Alexander O' Neal.

[loosestudios]

Motown and Norman

Whitfield was known for recording dramatically different versions of the same song with different Motown artists, including Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" ( hit records for Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Marvin Gaye) and

The Temptations' "War" (re-recorded as a hit for Edwin Starr). After Kendricks left The Temptations, an undaunted Whitfield re-recorded the song with his latest protégés, psychedelic trio Undisputed Truth.

[shortist2003]

Man, the chick could wale!

[Baronesslace]

Very galactic Soulful masterpiece by the legendary vocalize group UNDISPUTED TRUTH "Smilin' Faces": it looks like their on the Don KIRSHNER Rock Concert a highly acclaimed music TV show during the Classic 70's which many music Stars appeared on the legendary Host TV show program. Awesome outfits Undisputed Truth are wearing they look like million $'s silver/gold gem clouds. Beautiful!

[redwalls76]

I thought the female singer remind me of Cha kan

[kevatthedisco]

thats becaurse she is taka boom ,chaka kahns sister

[Tatertot073]

i used this song for my julius caeser project hahaha

[fortyeu789]

the lead singer has the face of a baby gangsta rapper lol

[Synthhtnys]

I know Hazel did the studio work... You sure that's him here?

[Synthhtnys]

Man who is playing that smoking guitar lead??

This song is a stone cold classic. Loved it since day one.

[doonasty]

I believe it was Eddie Hazel of the P Funk Mob