‘Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone’ by The Temptations peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1972)

(Saturday, December 2, 1972) — “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.

The record was the group’s fourth of four #1 hits on the chart (1965-1972) and ranked #168 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.