Customer Reviews

The Best of Jimmy Ruffin: 20th Century Masters (Millennium Collection)

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As one in the Millennium Collection series from Universal Music, this mid-priced CD offers up a basic, no-frills gathering of Jimmy Ruffin's Motown recordings. All but one of his Soul label top-100 singles are here with one exception. With a relatively skimpy 11 tracks, the compilers could have squeezed in one more - the never-on-domestic-CD "Maria (You Were The Only One)", Ruffin's last top-100 charting single of the era. And speaking of omissions, the inclusion of "Hold On To My Love", a well-crafted pop hit from 1980 and Ruffin's only other top-10 chart entry, would have made this a true greatest hits collection. Being done for another label however, that may have involved cross-licensing - an effort usually beyond the scope of this series of CD's. For its intent, this CD does offer a decent collection of Ruffin's smooth soul ballads, anchored by the staple "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted".

Sound quality is mostly typically early muddy Motown, mostly stereo with two of the early singles (2,3) in mono. Liner notes are decent with a brief musical history and track info. This is a respectable collection that, with a little more attention, could have been significantly better.

Jimmy Ruffin's greatest hit, "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," is such a powerful classic that it makes a place for him as one of the twentieth century's unforgettable artists. From the opening bass line to Ruffin's aching vocals, the song oozes a sense of loss & articulates emotions that transcend generations, "The roots of love grow all around, but for me they come a-tumbling down; Everyday heartaches grow a little stronger; I can't stand this pain much longer." With a similar theme, "I've Passed This Way Before" aches of love lost. Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong's "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" strikes a more hopeful romantic groove. "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)" pleasantly captures a sweet soul groove. Smokey Robinson's "As Long As There Is L-O-V-E Love" glows joyfully. "Living in a World I Created for Myself" thumps to an infectious beat of a different drummer, "Some folks call me a hippie, They tell me I've got peculiar ways, The funny clothes I'm wearing -- you might say I'm a big disgrace." "Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby" percolates to a throbbing bass. The set concludes with Jimmy's brother David joining on the Ben E. King classic "Stand By Me." "The Best of Jimmy Ruffin: The Millennium Collection" is a good disc telescoping this soul crooner's career. Enjoy!