conducted by Paul Riser Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers (specific musicians listed below) and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Guitars by Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin and Paul Warren Fender Rhodes Electric Piano by Earl Van Dyke Organ by Johnny Griffith Trumpet by Maurice Davis Bass by Bob Babbitt or Leroy Taylor Drums by Aaron Smith Sample References External links List of cover versions of ”Papa Was a Rollin' Stone” at SecondHandSongs.com 1972 songs 1972 singles 1987 singles Songs written by Barrett Strong Songs written by Norman Whitfield The Temptations songs Was (Not Was) songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Cashbox number-one singles Funk songs Motown singles Gordy Records singles Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Psychedelic soul songs Songs about loneliness Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield Songs about fathers 1972 neologisms Quotations from music