Jimmy Ruffin

...we lost Jimmy this week!

Thanks for visiting the Science of Soul website, by now I'm sure your aware we lost Motown legend Jimmy Ruffin. Jimmy's career was always more successful in Europe than in his homeland. I was blessed to get to know Jimmy very well over the years. I never thought I would miss those midnight phone calls that would last two hours but looking back I do.

His passing was not unexpected but somehow still came as a surprise to me. Looking back I remember buying "Farewell Is A Lonely Sound" as a kid in high school. On a personal level Jimmy was a complex character often sounding insecure and feeling he was overlooked and then on other occasions he would sound like he could take on the world, we would spend hours talking about his childhood in Mississippi and how he was rejected by the army for having flat feet,lol.....at the time I took those conversations and times spent around him for granted. I had not been in touch with Jimmy much for the last few years and  that I regret.

If I could have one more conversation with Jimmy I would thank him for not just the music but for the memories he shared, it's only as I get older, do I fully understand how blessed I have been to share those times ... Ahh those "Magic of Motown" tours with Jimmy, Edwin Starr and Junior Walker, you could write a book about those ..... I remember one day driving from Birmingham to Exeter, Jimmy called me just as I'd hit the Motorway, 125 miles later we were still talking, lol and for the life of me I can't remember about what!. Please excuse my indulgence, I'm feeling nostalgic and 'Farewell Is A Lonely Sound....Rest In Peace Jimmy,' you wont be forgotten!

On this weeks show we feature the new compilation CD from Soul Junction Records: "We Got A Sweet Thing Going On" if you like your vintage soul on the sweet side like I do your gonna love this set. Be sure to visit the Soul Junction website for info on all there releases www.souljunctionrecords.co.uk they do a great job and fully deserve our support. Also got new music this week from Uvee Hayes and Terri Tobin and as always loads of classics from recent and distant past. Sit back enjoy the music and tell a friend.

Playlist for Sunday 23-11-2014



Hour One
Victor Haynes - My Time Is Here
Incognito - Stop Running Away
Uvee Hayes - You Make Me Happy
Terri Tobin ft Shawn Hibbel - Love Happens
Maysa ft Dwele - Flower Girl
Citation - We've Come Along Way
Elbowed Out - Book Of Guinness
Clay Hammond They Just Don't Make Them No More
Hyleen Gil ft Omar - Can You Love Me
Jimmy Ruffin - Foolish Thing To Do/
Do You Feel The Way You Make Me Feel/
I Got You Girl

Hour Two
Ty G - I'm Really Not Concerned About Your Past
Willie Tee - First Taste Of Hurt
Lamont Johnson - This Must Be Heaven
Exceptional 3 - Unlucky Girl
Rhonda Clark/Chuck Howard - Your My Everything
Dee Robinson - Feel A Little Tired
Rick James - Teardrops
Bobby Wade - Four Walls & A Window
The Spinners - You Go Your Way I Go Mine
Junior Walker - What Does It Take
Curtis Mayfield - Another Fool
Natural Impulse - She Went Away
Norman Scott - Baby Don't Go
The Temptations - Hoops Of Fire

Jimmy Ruffin Biography:

Jimmy Ruffin was born in Collinsville, Mississippi, and was approaching his fifth birthday when his brother David was born. As children, the brothers began singing with a gospel group, the Dixie Nightingales. 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. 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 so Jimmy decided to resume his solo career. Jimmy Ruffin recorded for Motown's subsidiary Soul label, but with little success. More at wiki

Gerald Levert

I was listening to Gerald Levert's Album "Do I Speak For The World" as I was driving around this week and I realized that it's been 8 years this month since his passing, wow, it seems just like yesterday. I couldn't let this pass, so this week I have featured four tracks from Gerald's solo years. History will prove what an amazing artiste he was. He had all the Levert trademarks inherited from his father but was still his own man, something that many artists struggle with when they come from that kind of background, so please forgive my indulgence! I could have done a full show, lol.

An artist I only really stumbled on a couple of years ago is Chicago based General Crook,  I believe his output was not massive, but most of what he did do was just soooooooooooo good, I have included his interpretation of the soul classic "If This World Were Mine" .... this week it's pretty special ... I think.  I'll be album tracking from; Kindred Family Soul, Gwendolyn Collins and Avery Sunshine and please take '3 minutes & 30 seconds' to really listen to Jimmy Hughes "I Was The Closest At Hand," a true masterpiece of song writing and Jimmy's vocal is just soul perfection.

My thanks to Mickey for updating everything so quickly last week, I know it's pretty tough right now.. Ok as always it's on with the music, and by the way, I was asked the other day; "why do I never use Science of Soul Jingles or artist drops" it's only because there is soooo much music to share I really don't wanna waste 5 mins out of each hour on jingles, etc, if your tuned in you already know it's The Science Of Soul the music tells you that, lol.

Playlist for Sunday 16-11-2014

Hour One
The O'Jays - Mr Lucky
Gwendolyn Collins - Take A Walk
Bobby Womack - I Wish It Would Rain
Fathers Children - Hollywood Dreaming
Maryanne Ito - Feeling You
Kindred Family Soul - Everybody's Hustling
Eddie Kendrick - Skippin Work Today
Avery Sunshine - See You When I Get There
The Superb's - Baby's Gone Away
Concious Platt - Sistars
Wilson Williams - Take Me The Way That I Am
Reggie Garner - That Ain't The Way To Make Love
Ted Taylor - Houston Town

Hour Two
Gerald Levert - Click A Glass
Gerald & Teena Marie - A Rose By Any Other Name
Gerald Levert - Groove On
Gerald & Miki Howard - That's What Love Is
General Crook - If This World Were Mine
Jimmy Hughes - I Was Closest At Hand
Dorothy Norwood - ...Some Rain In Your Life
Ali Ollie Woodson - Angel
Aretha Franklin - United Together
Pete Belasco - Wonderful Woman
Eddie Levert - What If

Gerald Levert's Biography:

Soul man Gerald Levert had an auspicious childhood as the son of R&B legend Eddie Levert, the lead singer of the O'Jays, and the choice gene pool seemed to kick in at an early age. It ultimately led to him becoming one of the most popular R&B singers in the world as well as a prodigious songwriter. Sadly, at the peak of his career in 2006, Levert's memorable life was cut short by a fatal heart attack.

While still a teenager, Levert joined with brother Sean and friend Marc Gordon to form the soul group LeVert and, after one independent release, signed with Atlantic Records in 1985. Gerald's voice was a near dead-ringer for his father's distinctive, growling baritone, and his engaging lead took the group to the top of the Soul charts with "Pop Goes My Mind" and followed the next year with the top five Pop and Soul Atlantic single, "Casanova," an infectious midtempo tune written for the group by Midnight Star's Calloway brothers that elevated LeVert to the top of the late 80s Soul music pyramid. More Chris Rizik

Gene Van Buren

Dad & The Mayflower he built

Welcome to this edition of the Science of Soul. First off my condolences go to Mickey who's Father made his transition to a better place on the 9th November aged 89. He was quite a character and very independent to end, a good man who raised a fine son. A job well done 'Rest In Peace' Mr Norton. [thanks Bill - Ed]

Featured artist the week is Gene Van Buren I played a track last week from is excellent new album "Still" it's been a while since we heard from Gene but it's been worth the wait. I thought I might remind you of a few albums we have featured over the last few months just in-case you missed them we have tracks from Lee Fields excellent "Emma Jean" set and the Reverend Smokie Norful "Forever Yours" plus a track that's been getting a lot of play The Soulutions "Philly Line" been meaning to play this for some time now but it kept getting overlooked.

Ok on with the music and as always thanks to all the people who share the link and help us grow.

Playlist for Sunday 9-11-2014
Hour One
Fatback Band - Groovy Kinda Day
The Soulutions - Philly Line
Love Committee - Tired Of Being Your Fool
Smokey Norful - I've Got What You Need
Gene Van Buren - One People One World
Gene Van Buren - Something New
Ray Bashara - So In Love
The Impressions - All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
Willie Clayton - Where As Love Gone
D Goss - Old School Love
Lee Fields - Magnolia
A T Toombs - Wanna Be Your Man

Hour Two
The Manhattans - We Made It
The Dramatics - Try Love Again
The O'Jays - Desire Me
Gene Van Buren - The One To Blame
The Contours - That Day When She Needed Me
James Brown - A Man As To Go Back To The Crossroads
Johnny Bristol - Love Takes Tears
Lenny Williams - Sunshine
Kenny Lattimore - Ain't No Way
William Bell - You got The Kind Of Love I Need
Luther Vandross - Think About You
Ray Goodman & Brown - I'll Remember You With Love

Gene Van Buren's biography:

R&B singer and former Motown artist Gene Van Buren has released a new single, “One” from his forthcoming independently released CD Still on GVR Records, the label headed up by Jimmy Levine. Gene has been keeping himself busy singing jingles, doing sessions, soundtracks and live performances with such noted artists as, Lenny Kravitz, Michael Bolton, Julio Iglesias, Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Buffet, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Henry Mancini and a host of others. Gene Van Buren’s debut CD for GVR Records is simply titled, “Still”, and the music could be compared to a fine aged wine.

Science Of Soul

Angel Sent

I just got back from a short trip to Paris, so it's back to 'live shows' as normal! We have been having a few technical issues at The Bridge Radio with distorted microphone sound but hopefully it's now all sorted. It's been a really busy week so I have not had time to put all the new music in that I wanted to share but did manage to sneak in new releases from Willie Hill, Tawana, Angel Sent and a the new single from Gene Van Buren. I will be looking at Burden's new album "Still" in more depth next week.

I am counting down the days to my Chicago trip at the end of the month, it will be at The Star Plaza in Merriville, Indiana on the 28th, so any of my Chi Town friends who are planning to be there be sure to let me know so we can hook up. Whilst on the subject of travel, be heading to Australia via China in January 2015, working on a project to take some soul down under, keep you posted on that if it all comes together, it's gonna be a great event. On with the good stuff please remember to share the S-O-S link and spread the word and remember as well as live on The Bridge radio and the pod cast you can get The Science of Soul at 2 PM EST every Sunday at www.legend107radio.com that's a great place to visit any time of of the week..
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Hour One
Tawana Frankie Beverly & Maze - Before I Let Go
Indie Soul United - Call Me Up
Michael Jackson - Girl Don't Take Your Love
Rome - I Like Ya'
Eddie Kendrick - Can't Help What I Am
Willie Hill - I Gotta Get My Groove On
Tawana - Addicted
Eric Nolan - I Can Love You
Walter Williams - Love Wont Let Me Wait
Victery Tutson - Let Somebody Love You
Ivy Joe Hunter - Yea Yea Yea
Curtis Mayfield - Little Child

Hour Two
Larry Saunders - Where Did Peace Go
Gene Van Buren - One
Angel Sent - I'm Not Sleeping By Myself Tonight
S Highenergy - Something I Know About Jesus
3 PC - Other Thangs
Jae Mason - Woman You Can't Be With Me
Sir Charles Jones - So Beautiful
David Brinston - Tied Down
Little Beaver - Katie Pearl
Joe - Future Teller
Freddy Gorman - My Love
Anthony Hamilton - I'll Wait For You To Fall In Love.