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

Jimmy Ruffin

Happy birthday Jimmy!

Welcome to this weeks edition of the science of soul, I am sending out congratulations to my old friend Mr Jimmy Ruffin who turned 75 this week, Jimmy was one of Motown's most popular artists in Europe, so I
thought I would celebrate by playing a couple of Jimmy classics neither of which came out on Motown incidentally, they really show the smooth side of Jimmy and are so often overlooked.

Other new music on this weeks show comes from Alonzo Reid, you will also spot Reggie P on the playlist this guy was amazing if you like soul drenched with emotion one time member of The Barkays Reggie is your man, Check out the YouTube video of Reggie's last ever performance filmed in Texas shortly before his sad passing.
 
Southern soul legend Bigg Robb has a new tune this week and if you get chance to catch the big man live don't you miss it.....Bigg Robb live is an experience. I am not a great fan of Incognito but I have to say there new set "Amplified Soul" has a few nice moments and I have included a track on the show that jumped out at me and I think you might like it.

Thanks to all the people who share the Science of Soul link week in and week out I really appreciate your support and friendship, sometimes I don't have the time to promote the show like I should and the help you give in spreading the word is invaluable. One thing I love about presenting the science of soul is that it reminds me of music and artists that I sometimes take for granted, then I hear something that still blows me away and I get a chance to share it with you, that's the greatest joy in the world. On with the music sit back relax and enjoy...

Playlist for Sunday 11th. May 2014


Hour One

Dunn Street - Even A Fool
Shelia Moore - I Get Excited
Bigg Robb - Getting It In
Tristan - Odds To Win
O. B. Buchanan - It's Over
Mighty Pope - If You Want A Love Affair
Jimmy Ruffin What You See Is What U
"    " + Heaven 17 Foolish Thing To Do
Cleveland Eaton - Pure Love
The Whispers - Butta
Phil Perry - Pretty Lady
The Individuals - I Love The Way You Love

Hour Two
Incognito - Stop Running Away
Alonzo Reid - I Tried
Al Hudson - Baby Let Me Love You
Al Green - Look What You've Done For Me
Little Milton - That's How Strong My Love Is
Maurice Wynn - The Part Of Making Love
Reggie P - Playing Me For A Fool
Kool & The Gang - Love Affair
Isaac Hayes - Eye Of The Storm
Curtis Mayfield - Show Me Love
The Dramatics - Just Shopping

Jimmy Ruffin Biography:

Born 7 May 1939, Collinsville, Mississippi, USA. The son of a minister, Ruffin was born into a musical family: his brother, David Ruffin, and cousin, Melvin Franklin, both became mainstays of the Temptations. Ruffin abandoned his gospel background to become a session singer in the early 60s, joining the Motown Records stable in 1961 for a one-off single before he was drafted for national service. After leaving the US Army, he returned to Motown, turning down the opportunity to join the Temptations and instead recommending his brother for the joBorn His commercial breakthrough came in 1966 with the major US and UK hit "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted", which displayed his emotional, if rather static, vocals. After three smaller hits, Ruffin found success in the USA hard to sustain, concentrating instead on the British market. "I'll Say Forever My Love" and "It's Wonderful" consolidated his position in the UK, and in 1970 he was voted the world's top singer in one British poll. Ruffin left Motown in the early 70s after an unsuccessful collaboration with his brother, and achieved minor success with singles on Polydor Records and Chess Records. Despite his popularity as a live performer in Britain, he enjoyed no significant hits until 1980, when "Hold On To My Love", written and produced by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, brought him his first US Top 30 hit for 14 years. A duet with Maxine Nightingale, "Turn To Me", was a big seller in 1982, while Ruffin's only other success of note in the 80s was the British chart-contender "There Will Never Be Another You" in 1985. He joined Ian Levine's Motor City label in 1988 and recorded two singles with Brenda Holloway.