Marvin Gaye – I Want You
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David Ruffin – Gentleman Ruffin
David Ruffin
Gentleman Ruffin
Style: Soul
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Catalog Number: BSK 3416
Released: 1980
David Ruffin is best known for being in The Temptations but his solo career is nothing to overlook. Raised by a baptist minister, David intended to follow in his father’s footsteps but fell into singing instead and eventually joined a local gospel group with his brother Jimmy. Fast forward to 1963, David caught the attention of Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, and was chosen to replace The Temptations’ Eldridge Bryant. Sadly the fame got to him, and David was eventually kicked out of the band for his drug addiction and erratic behavior. Gentleman Ruffin was his last solo record and one of the strongest in his catalog. The album features an all-star cast of background singers including Ronnie McNeir (Four Tops) and Leon Ware (co-producer on Marvin Gaye’s I Want You) as well as Norma Jean Bell (Pandemonium, Peace Frog Records) on tenor horn. B3 “Slow Dance,” is a highlight with Ruffin’s raspy, anguished tenor and unique charisma gliding over a grown and sexy groove. – Ally
Recommended – B3 Slow Dance
Tracklist:
A1 I Wanna Be With You
A2 All I Need
A3 Love Supply
A4 Still In Love With You
B1 I Got A Thing For You
B2 Can We Make Love One More Time
B3 Slow Dance
B4 Don’t You Go Home
Credits:
Backing vocals- Brandye (track: A1), Carolyn Franklin (tracks: A2,B4), Diane Davis(tracks: A2,A3,B4), Patsy Lewis (tracks: A2,A3,B4), Diane Hogan(tracks:A3), Leon Ware*(tracks:A3,A4,B1,B3), Marc Laroi Cummings(tracks:A3,A4,B1,B3), Ronnie McNeir*(tracks:A3,A4,B1,B3)
Vocals [Guest]- Laverna Mason (tracks: A1, A3)
Tenor Horn [solo]- Norma Bell
Bass- Anthony “Tony” Williams, Greg Coles
Drums- Jerry Jones, Lee Nathan Marcus
Engineer- Allen Sides, Christopher Banninger, Gregg Ward, Jim Vitti, M. Ettel, Mike Lacopelli, Pete Bishop
Guitar- Bruce Nazarian, Eddie Willis
Keyboards- George Roundtree, Rudy Robinson
Percussion- Carl “Butch” Small, Lawrence Fratangelo
Producer- Don Davis
Synthesizer- Gary Nester, Vassal Gradington Benford
