The Tempest

Jimmy Ruffin was born in Collinsville, Mississippi, the son of a minister, and was approaching his second birthday when his brother David was born.[1] As children, the brothers began singing with a gospel group, the Dixie Nightingales.[2] In 1961, Jimmy became a singer as part of the Motown stable, mostly on sessions but also recording singles for its subsidiary Miracle label, but was then drafted for national service.[1][2][3] After leaving the Army in 1964, he returned to Motown, where he was offered the opportunity to join the Temptations to replace Elbridge Bryant. However, after hearing his brother David, they hired him for the job instead[1] so Jimmy decided to resume his solo career. Jimmy Ruffin recorded for Motown's subsidiary Soul label, but with little success. In 1966, he heard a song about unrequited love written for The Spinners, and persuaded the writers that he should record it himself.[4] His recording of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" became a major success and he felt he was on his way to becoming a star.[5] The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the R&B Chart. It also initially reached #10 in the UK singles chart, rising to #4 when it was reissued in the UK in 1974. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" remained Ruffin's best-known song. The intended follow-up, "East Side West Side," written by Ron Welser and Flamingos' member Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, was released only in Australia, due to an argument with Motown head Berry Gordy.[citation needed] Nevertheless, follow-ups in the US were successful, with "I've Passed This Way Before" and "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" reaching the US charts in late 1966 and early 1967. In April 1971, Dorothy Leyden was brutally raped and murdered in Manchester after going to see Ruffin in concert with friends. In her handbag was a towel which Ruffin had thrown into the audience and she'd caught. Ruffin was asked if he had seen anyone watching Dorothy while he was performing, or acting suspiciously in the club. Leyden's murder was reconstructed on Crimewatch in 2008, after the case was re-opened. Her killer is yet to be found, and the murder remains unsolved. Many locals suspected serial killer Trevor Hardy was the killer, after he confessed to three similar murders before, but DNA tests proved that Hardy did not kill Leyden; therefore, the killer remains unknown. Jimmy Ruffin found success in the US hard to sustain, and began to concentrate instead on the British market. In 1970, "Farewell Is a Lonely Sound," "I'll Say Forever My Love" and "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)" each made the UK top ten, and he was voted the world's top singer in one British poll.[1] He also teamed up with brother David to record the album I Am My Brother's Keeper, a modestly successful album for Motown that included the songs "When The Love Hand Comes Down," "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For" and a cover of Ben E. King's Stand by Me."[3] Following the success of his first two hits, he found it hard to maintain an identity, as most of his songs were later covered by other Motown artists, most prominently "Everybody Needs Love," a hit when covered by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Maria (You Were The Only One)," a hit for Michael Jackson and "If You Let Me," a minor hit for Eddie Kendricks. In addition, he had recorded the first version of The Temptations hit "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep."[3] He then left Motown, and recorded for the Polydor and Chess labels,[4] where he recorded "Tell Me What You Want." In 1980, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees produced his album Sunrise and the hit single "Hold On To My Love," which reached #10 in the US and #7 in the UK, on the RSO label.[3][5] In the 1980s Ruffin moved to live in Britain, where he continued to perform successfully. In December 1984 he collaborated with Paul Weller of The Style Council for his benefit single "Soul Deep." This went under the name of The Council Collective and Jimmy appeared with Paul on Radio 1 to say he is involved because his father worked down the mines and "he understands the suffering." In 1986 he collaborated with the British pop group Heaven 17, singing "A Foolish Thing To Do" and "My Sensitivity" on a 12" EP record. He also recorded duets with both Maxine Nightingale and Brenda Holloway.[1][4] Later, Ruffin hosted a radio show in the UK for a time, and became an anti-drug advocate following the death of his brother David in 1991.[3] Ruffin was portrayed by Lamman Rucker in the 1998 Temptations miniseries. Jimmy Ruffin currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since January 2011, Jimmy Ruffin has been working on writing and recording new songs for his new album which he plans to release on his 74th birthday, May 7, 2013.

Thanks to PhillyDaveG Track getting played just before 8pm 2moro night

Always loved it , but agreed you never hear nowadays

Having a tough time getting a decent sound copy of this for broadcast …sadly the audio on you tube of this song is not good enough to play on air … can anybody assist ?

An early spin for Colin Law during the mid eighties after it's outing at the Casino in the late seventies , I still love it

Missed out last month on the last copy that went for a tenner , anybody selling

Mega rare, private press record celebrating Bahamian freedom. You will find "ËœIndependent Bahamas' by "ËœBiosis Now', and the very indemand "ËœA New Day Is Dawning' by "ËœBobby Smith' along with "ËœFunky Nassau' by "ËœThe Beginning Of The End'. Cover / Vinyl - Ex / Ex NOW SOLD Paypal

I think the black label 12" is original or according to popsike it is !! , not sure about the white label ? Anybody else comment

I always thought these were reissues , produced at the height of the records popularity on the modern scene

Always thought it was Searling myself back in the mid - late 80's when he was on Red Rose Radio , I remember him playing it and advising people to play the flip of Dr Love

Still stumped on a few of these Steve , any chance of that track listing ?

Waited a good few years for this one to surface and after serious bidding even I was blown away at the finishing price of over £1100.00 !!! I knew it was seriously rare but going by previous prices and a couple I knew had sold amongst mates had gone for not even half that it was a shock !! Anybody else " educated " this year

Both the original and repress are virtually identical , the later reissues are all pressed on 180 gramms vinyl, check the weight

As a youth growing up in central Scotland late 70's and early early eighties I was brought up / listened to and collected your stable diet of Motown / 6t's soul , All of that changed when I was listening to a recently purchased " Live " Mecca tape from Richard Domar and The Carstairs filled my headphones in my bedroom, My favourite stuff is that lazy drumbeat found in all good quality tracks from the philly / mecca period as below , my only regret was never being old enough at the time to go , despite getting dragged round there as a kid at the time on holiday !!!

Top selection Steve , always loved the Voices track , Any chance of a full track listing for the mix

Nice clean copy please

gone

Back from a sunday night dinner debate with two old and bold non soul source members who love to ask me what's in and out currently !! When asked for their input regarding " forgotten " and " underplayed " stuff from " their " glory days !! both of these stood tall !!! I had never hear the Wheel / Torch Chris Farlowe track " Don't Just Look At Me " before and was very surprised Little Johnny Blair , a big spin at Wigan mid 70's and one I'd forgotten myself , but still love it , just never hear it played out nowadays Any others for the new year ?

Yes a spin for Keb early to mid 80's , he always use to introduce it as " Something to separate the men from the boys " !!!!! A true hundred mile an hour track and a bit tricky to dance to unless you can spin like Mr Darge The last copy I saw at the beginning of the year was priced at £200.00 , Don't know if it sold though , I hope that helps