Beach Music Classics
The song was written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham and produced by Penn at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. In 1966, “I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify went to #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the U.S. R&B Chart. A re-recorded version went to #12 in the U.K. in 1976.
James and Bobby Purify were a vocal duo of James Purify and his cousin Robert Lee Dickey. Dickey took the stage name of Bobby Purify. He had previously worked as a guitarist with the Dothan Sextet. “I’m Your Puppet” was their biggest hit, but they also had success with “Shake a Tail Feather” an Let Love Come Between Us.” Dickey retired in 1971. James pursued a solo career until 1974 and then teamed up with Ben Moore, who had worked with Otis Redding and James Brown. Moore took the name Bobby Purify, and he and James toured during the 1980s.