Here’s a much welcome release from one of the great names on Motown with the late David Ruffin. Alongside Eddie Kendricks he was THE voice of The Temptations giving us such classics as ‘My Girl’ ‘I Could Never Love Another’ and ‘It’s Growing’ just to name three. Despite the massive success of the Temps throughout the sixties there appears to have been problems within the band which resulted in Ruffin breaking ranks in late ‘68’ to pursue a solo career.

The first solo release brought an album and single in 1969 entitled ‘My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) a mid-tempo song from the pens of Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol that featured David in a style we had all become accustomed to. An infectious bass line that would kill at a hundred yards, and suddenly Ruffin was in business again. Like with any artist a follow up was needed and the equally appealing ‘I’ve Lost Everything I’ve Ever Loved’ had much similarities to the aforementioned single, but even so, was simply fabulous and has become a much sought after ‘45’ over the years.

The bouncy ‘What You Gave Me’ is a pleasant version of the Motown classic that everyone on the label seems to have recorded over the years,

Whilst it was the back end of the sixties that David went solo it wasn’t until 1975 that he achieved his next big hit with ‘Walk Away From Love’ which has not been included on this particular CD (check out Big Motown Hits Vol. 1) and the next three years single releases were simply out of this world. Listen to the highlight of this set ‘I Can’t Stop The Rain’, a Van McCoy/Charles Kipps production from 1977 and you get the best of both worlds with the orchestration, strings, a sound that was so much associated with McCoy, and David’s unbelievable vocal delivery make this song his best yet, and one that makes this CD an essential purchase.

Other Van McCoy produced songs included on this CD include the much sought after ‘Rode By The Place We Used To Know’ (originally a ‘b’ side only in the UK) and gentle beat ballad ‘Discover Me’ and everyone’s favourite ‘Everything’s Coming Up Love’

The untimely death of David Ruffin has unquestionably left a gap that no-one seems to have filled as he literally was one in a million and a talent we will never forget. Whilst both he and fellow singer Eddie Kendricks left the Temptations for pastures new it was David who made more of an impact on myself throughout the seventies where both of them enjoyed commercial success.

It is ironic that in 1987 they both joined up together for a CD release on RCA, which spanned the collectable  ‘I Couldn’t Believe It’, which still manages to fill dancefloors across the world to this very day. Whether you’re an avid Motown collector, or a casual one, this CD compilation is a wonderful experience to enjoy and is an essential addition to anyone’s collection.

Rating 12/10

To experience David Ruffin in action – please click here for some stunning Motown footage from his days with the Temptations