By Common (209.2.55.168) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 10:35 am:

Hello everyone,

I just purchased Jimmy's millennium collection & was wondering about something. I think I read somewhere that Jimmy said that as a suggestion(?) that there be a spoken word intro at the beginning of 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted' but the producer(s) didn't think it was a good idea. Is this true? BTW, I'm enjoying the millennium collection immensely! :o)

Peace!

By sdl (63.72.98.2) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

HMMM.. The Temptations version with DAVID Ruffin singing lead had a spoken word intro by Melvin.

Who was copying whom here? Which version was first please? TIA

By Common (209.2.55.168) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 12:26 pm:

Hello sdl,

You're talking about "I've Passed This Way Before", which was done by Jimmy first. I like both versions, btw. :o)

Peace!

By P.J. (216.151.67.105) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 02:40 pm:

Harry Weinger has announced on the Motown Bulletin Board the track listing for U.K. 2 cd sets on Barbara McNair, Billy Eckstine, and Jimmy Ruffin. The last song on disc 2 of the Jimmy Ruffin set is an alternate mix of 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' with the spoken intro. It will be a joy to hear it. All 3 sets contain many rareties and previously unreleased selections from the vault. Release is targeted for May or June of this year.

By John Lester (217.40.203.227) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 03:02 pm:

Common.

I too was pretty over the moon with the Millennium collection on Jimmy.

Diana also does a spoken intro on her version of "Brokenharted" on Let The Sunshine IN

By Eli (205.188.209.38) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 03:13 pm:

Unbeknownst to most, I had the distinct pleasure of producing three songs on Jimmy Ruffin when he was with Epic in '77. There was a turnabout of the "powers that be " right around that time and one of the "mavens" that were let go was the a7r person who was responsible for Jimmy and therefore they decided to can three splendid sides.
But wait... there may be a light at the end of the tunnel as I think that I have a company who is going to put it out. I will keep you posted.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 03:13 pm:

Hey everyone!

PJ: Thanks for that info! I can't wait to hear it! I also purchased "Cellarful of Motown"(I know I'm a year late! LOL!) & I'm enjoying that as well. The Tammi Terrell & Jimmy's tracks are on constant rewind! Not to mention the Marvelettes....sorry to digress! I get a little excited when I hear all these great gems on CD!

John: I've been playing it at work & it really sets the mood. BTW, I noticed on "Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby", the bass intro is a little similar to "No Time" by the Tempts. I found that pretty interesting.

Peace!

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 03:57 pm:

Jimmy and his writers and producers came up with the goods over and over. Brokenhearted, Passed this way before, Wonderful, Gonna Give her all the love I got, Farewell is a lonely sound - everyone a masterpiece 3 minute pop single and everyone a showcase of finest Funk Brotherliness.

The greatest JR tracks gave you the idea he was passing through, imparting his experience and gained wisdom and passing on. He elways ended on a fade, as if he was passing this way again and on to the next burg, where he had the same tale to share.

Brokenhearted and Passed this way were nostalgic the first time you heard them in the sixties. They still sound great. Jamerson's licks on Farewell are joyous.

By john dixon (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 07:26 pm:

Hey Common, thanks to your thread here, I also just bought Jimmy's Millennium Collection CD. Man, what a revelation! I was very familiar with 'Brokenhearted' and 'Passed This Way', but none of the rest. Actually I faintly remembered 'Gonna Give Her' but it had been 30 years since I last heard it; hearing it again for the first time in so many years gave me chills. I knew Jimmy had gone the expatriate route but didn't realize that it was because he had enjoyed 3 top ten hits over there that never even charted here. Those three UK-only hits and the Whitfield/Strong "Since I Lost You" are excellent.

And I thoroughly enjoyed Dave's analogy of Jimmy as the wandering guy, always passing through, imparting sage advice about love and life before moving on at the record's fade.

By Common (209.2.55.170) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

Hello everyone,

Mr. Eli: Please keep us informed if & when those tracks will become available to the public. I've seen a couple of his records up for bid on ebay & had no idea that he recorded for other labels besides Motown(well, except for "Hold On To My Love" for RSO). Were the tracks you recorded in the disco mode or R & B?

BankHouseDave & John: He does seem to speak from a place of experience. I've fallen hard for "It's Wonderful" & "Farewell Is A Lonely Sound". Nice tale about a man leaving his woman for duty & how even the guy sheds a tear over having to leave her. There are also a couple of tracks off of the "Cellarful" CD that are excellent! The melody on "On the Avenue" reminds me of Dobie Gray's "The In-Crowd". Nice loose, jazzy feel. And "Lucky, Lucky Me" has got that big band style goin on! I like Jimmy's version of this song better than Marvin's. And I love me some Marvin! :o) Anyhow, I think one song that I really wanted to hear that wasn't included in the collection was "Maria (You Were The Only One)". I heard the song done by the Jackson 5 on the 45 flip of "Got To Be There" & I would've love to hear his interpretion of it.

Peace!

By John Lester (213.123.157.81) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 10:02 am:

Common

You can still get Maria on CD.....

try www.soulsearchingplus.co.uk

By John Lester (213.123.157.81) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 10:04 am:

Sorry...too quick with the button there

It's on Jimmy Ruffin's Greatest Motown Hits

By BUBBA (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 10:29 pm:

Does anybody know how I might contact Jimmy Ruffin. I am an old friend and fellow artist. I am a member of the Holidays singing group. Jimmy Ruffin and Cyril Clark wrote a couple of songs for the Holidays entitled "I Can't Wait" and "Walk Right Out the Door" released on MARKIE Record Label, Chicago, Illinois in 1964.

By John Lester (217.40.235.184) on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 01:48 am:

Bubba

You might want to ask Carl Dixon a regular on this site for help