not only a #1 pop hit, but a three-time Grammy Award winner as well. The O'Jays' similarly themed 1972 hit "Back Stabbers" quotes the lyrics "smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes...(tell lies)" in the refrain near the end of the song. Whitfield later revisited the song for the 1973 album Ma, recorded by Motown's white rock band, Rare Earth, which he produced and wrote. Virginia "Vee" McDonald, who was the female lead singer in the second incarnation of The Undisputed Truth (after Brenda Evans and Billie Calvin left in 1973), recorded a solo version of the song in 1990 for Ian Levine and his Motorcity Records project. Chart history Weekly charts Year-end charts In popular culture In 1995, it was featured in the film Dead Presidents. In 2013, "Smiling Faces Sometimes" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V. In 2019, "Smiling Faces Sometimes" was featured in American Soul, Season 1 Episode 1 "Man is First Destiny". In 2017, "Smiling Faces Sometimes" was featured in the TV series Snowfall. In 2005, "Smiling Faces Sometimes" was featured in the movie Four Brothers. Personnel Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong Produced by Norman Whitfield Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers Temptations version Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards Background vocals by Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Otis Williams Undisputed Truth version Lead and background vocals by Joe Harris, Billie Rae Calvin, and Brenda Joyce East Of Underground version Released on their self-titled album in 1971 and re-issued in 2007. Bobbi Humphrey version Released on her 1972 album Dig This!. Rare Earth version Released on their 1973 album Ma, also produced by Norman Whitfield, with lead vocals by Peter Hoorelbeke. Contains Spanish lyrics at the beginning that are ignored in all transcriptions of the lyrics. David Ruffin version Released on his 1974 album Me 'N Rock 'N Roll Are Here To Stay, also produced by Norman Whitfield. Joan Osborne version Released on her 2002 album How Sweet It Is with Isaac Hayes References External links List of cover versions of "Smiling Faces Sometimes" at SecondHandSongs.com 1971 singles The Temptations songs Songs written by Barrett Strong Songs written by Norman Whitfield Psychedelic soul songs Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield Cashbox number-one singles 1971 songs Gordy Records singles David Ruffin songs