Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)

"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.

"Ball of Confusion
(That's What the World is Today)"
Single by The Temptations
from the album Greatest Hits II
B-side"It's Summer"
ReleasedMay 7, 1970
RecordedApril 12 and 14, 1970
StudioHitsville USA (Studio A)
GenrePsychedelic soul
Length4:06
LabelGordy
G 7099
Songwriter(s)Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong
Producer(s)Norman Whitfield
The Temptations singles chronology
"Psychedelic Shack"
(1969)		 "Ball of Confusion
(That's What the World is Today)"
(1970)		 "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)"
(1970)
UK single cover
"Ball of Confusion"
Single by B.E.F. featuring Tina Turner
from the album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One
B-side
  • "Ball of Confusion"
  • (Instrumental)
Released1982
Recorded1982
Genre
Length3:50
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Tina Turner singles chronology
"Music Keeps Me Dancin'"
(1979)		 "Ball of Confusion"
(1982)		 "Let's Stay Together"
(1983)

The song was used to anchor The Temptations' 1970 Greatest Hits II LP. It reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts.[3] Billboard ranked the record as the #24 song of 1970.[4] It reached #7 in the UK Singles Chart.[5]

Although a nearly eleven minute long backing track was recorded by The Funk Brothers, only slightly more than four minutes was used for the Temptations' version of the song. The full backing track can be heard on the 1971 self titled debut album of the Motown group The Undisputed Truth.

Cash Box said of the song that the Temptations came up with "another shocker featuring studio-work voltage and the charge of new-Temps lyric power" and "another electrifying experience."[6]

Personnel

Randy Shilts quoted the lyrics from "Ball of Confusion" when he named his award-winning journalistic account of the AIDS epidemic, And the Band Played On. In the song, the repeated usage of the phrase "and the band played on" signaled that no one was paying proper attention to world problems, in the same manner the AIDS epidemic was initially ignored.[7][8]

The Undisputed Truth’s 1971 cover of the song was featured in the trailers for the 2022 film Nope.[9][10]

The thrash metal band Anthrax covered this song in 1999. Other covers of this song include versions by Red Rockers and by Love and Rockets. It was also sampled by multiple artists.

The film Sister Act 2 features a performance of the song by the nuns while the students are on a field trip.

Tina Turner version

The song "Ball of Confusion" plays an important part in the career of Tina Turner - if only indirectly. Her recording of the track was included on the 1982 album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One, a tribute by the British Electric Foundation featuring members of the new wave band Heaven 17, Love and Rockets and a number of guest vocalists covering 1960s and 1970s hits, among them Sandie Shaw, Paul Jones, Billy Mackenzie, Paula Yates and Gary Glitter.

Turner's synth-driven interpretation of "Ball of Confusion" opened the album, was also issued as a single, and became a top five hit in Norway; this led to Capitol Records signing Turner and to Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh recording another 1970s cover with her in late 1983. The track was Al Green's "Let's Stay Together", which became a surprise hit single on both sides of the Atlantic and the starting point of Turner's comeback, with the following 1984 album Private Dancer going multi-platinum in 1984.

Track listing and formats
  • European 7" single
  1. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" – 3:50
  2. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (Instrumental) – 3:50

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Norway (VG-lista)[11] 5

See also

References
  1. Rolling Stone Staff (May 24, 2023). "Tina Turner: 15 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 24, 2023. ...when British New Wave band Heaven 17 invited her to sing on their 1982 hit "Ball of Confusion." It was her first foray into the world of synth pop...
  2. Breihan, Tom (August 31, 2020). "The Number Ones: Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It". Stereogum. Retrieved July 29, 2023. ...she sang on the UK production duo BEF's synthy 1982 dance-pop cover of the Temptations' 1970 classic "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)".
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 571.
  4. "Top Records of 1970 | Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 82, no. 52. December 26, 1970. p. 58. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  5. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)". Official Charts. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  6. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 23, 1970. p. 34. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) (lyrics by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong)". Genius.com. April 2, 2017.
  8. Engel, Margaret. "AIDS and Prejudice: One Reporter's Account of the Nation's Response." The Washington Post, December 1, 1987, p. Z10.
  9. NOPE | Final Trailer, retrieved June 9, 2022
  10. Pearis, Bill (June 9, 2022). "Jordan Peele shares final 'Nope' trailer". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  11. "B.E.F. feat. Tina Turner – Ball of Confusion". VG-lista. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
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