Search - David Ruffin :: At His Best

Hey Motown! Ruffin deserves a Box Set!

dgow@mailexcite.com | Baltimore, MD | 06/05/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"David Ruffin was the gruff-voiced master of the early Temptations. His pencil-thin physique and black-rimmed glasses camouflaged a voice of pure soulful gold, and he drove the Tempts to higher and higher peaks with hits like "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You", all included in this collection.The collection, however, merely scratches the surface of the later material Ruffin recorded after his glory days with the Temptations. True, "I Miss You (Pt. 1)" and "Walk Away From Love" are some of the best recordings he made during the period, but they were not the only songs worth hearing after Ruffin's salad days. Motown Records has left the bulk of Ruffin's material unreleased since the initial album issues, and for fans like myself who came along too late to buy up the vinyl albums when they were issued, it is a terrible shame. David Ruffin At His Best should have been a boxed set....or at least a completist 2-CD set. More's the pity...."

The Real Best of David Ruffin isn't on CD

jabari simama | United States | 11/26/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I read your reviews of "David Ruffin at his Best." The CD is great showing the continuity of Ruffin from the Tempts to a remarkable, though not commercially successful, solo career. My favorite non-tempts tune from "DR at his Best" collection is "Just Let Me Hold you for a Night." It is presented with such authenticity you believe he will make everything alright. I am puzzled why Motown added "I Miss You," a re-recorded old Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes Tune. Ruffin doesn't take this song beyond where Teddy Pendergrass had already taken it. Some of Ruffin's best post tempts stuff is missing from this collection. One writer asked about "So Soon We Change. The song "So Soon We Change" was written by John Glover and James Dean from a Warner Bros. album by the same name. The album was released in 1979. I agree "So Soon We Change" is Ruffin at his best. There is another tune on the same album that was more commercially successful (and great) entitled "Break My Heart," written by David Garner. It's an excellent interpretation by Ruffin. Ruffin did a final album with Warner Bros. a year later entitled "Gentleman Ruffin." This LP has two great tunes by Ruffin, one duet with Laverna Mayson entitled "I Wanna be With You" and a solo entitled "All I Need." If any readers have been able to find the CDs, I hope they will send me a message. Ruffin's last album was with RCA (Victor) entitled Ruffin and Kendrick (1987). Kendrick joined him but Ruffin's voice dominates. He has two great tunes here: "One more for the Lonely Hearts Club" and "One Last Kiss." I am sure all Ruffin fans will enjoy these songs, if they're lucky enough to find them."

Pure gold from an R & B legend

jabari simama | 04/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Ruffin is probably the finest R & B singer of all time. His soulful delivery gave the Temptations some of their biggest hits; although they continued to have success after his departure, his absence was always felt. Ruffin's solo efforts, although not as commercially successful, are nonetheless brilliant. This compilation features some of his best Temptations cuts, as well as a few of his best solo tracks. The only real fault with this album is that it could have easily been a double set. Hopefully, Motown will see fit to release a more comprehensive set from this masterful artist. Until then, this is an excellent sampler from the finest singer Motown ever produced."