When it comes to male vocalists, it's hard to top the man from Meridian, MS... David Ruffin. One aspect of his voice that I have come to appreciate over the years is its versatility. Not only could he tackle soul numbers (both uptempo and slow), but David could handle show tunes & standards (as he did with the rest of the fellas on their 1967 album The Temptations In A Mellow Mood). The song I chose to feature by David is his first solo hit after being fired from the Temptations in 1968 (I wasn't fired, I quit), the 1969 release My Whole World Ended (the Moment You Left Me). This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:
1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participantsIf you want to join in on the fun, click here.
8 comments:
Hey Malcolm, Now this is a classic! For all his bullshit (and there was plenty) he is one of the greatest singer/performers that ever graced this earth. David was BAD!
Isn't it amazing the music you learn to appreciate when you get older? Sometimes I feel like I'm hearing some of the old school music for the first time. Nice choice. :-)
When I hear this song, I think of I Can't Get Next To You. He has a unique voice, and he was the soul behind the Temptations.
Oh, you went for the voice alone! Good choice, but this had to be hard for you!
I had such a hard time with this post for my blog! I had to narrow it down by some of my own, personalized criteria, lol - think atolls in the middle of the ocean, shipwreaks and application of rational thought!
PopArtDiva
I love David too.My fav by him is "I'm Gonna Walk Away From Love" One of the great voices of our time. Showing us here again why he told Otis " You wish he could work it like me"
A very good choice.
"I wasn't fired, I quit..." That statement alone summed up why he was separated from The Temps...his attitude.
But I agree with everyone here, his voice was simply amazing!
Pjazzy: My favorite David moment is when he was with the Tempts and they appeared on a 1967 episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show". They did a medley of "My Girl" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You". At one point during the latter tune, David did a spin, went down to his knees, and tossed the microphone into his other hand!! I can watch that clip over and over.
Shae-Shae: Thanks for stopping by. I am grateful that David's work (with the Tempts and solo) has been made a available on CD. Although I was familiar with quite a bit of David's work, I dug even deeper when I picked up nearly all of the albums he did with The Tempts and the "Ultimate Collection" of his solo work.
Mrs. Grapevine: When I hear some of the early Temptations hits that feature Dennis Edwards (Cloud Nine, Runaway Child Running Wild, I Can't Get Next To You, etc.), I sometimes imagine that David was still with the group. If only David could have kept his ego in check.
Pop Art Diva: Surprisingly, this was a bit of an easy choice. If I had went through the complete list in my head of my favorite male singers, I would have really made things hard on myself. :-)
Wendy: That was a great line from The Temptations movie you quoted. I remember hearing a critic describe David's voice as sandpaper and honey. That's descriptions right on the money because David's voice could go from rough to sweet just like that.
Johnh985: Thank you!
Ms. Marvulus: When one learns about some of the stunts David pulled (missing shows, recording sessions, riding in a separate limo, wanting to rename the group David Ruffin and the Temptations featuring Eddie Kendricks, etc.), it's clear that they had no choice but to let his ass go. As egotistical as David could be at times, his talent was undeniable.
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