Song Of The Day: Nov. 30, 2017
Underground Motown Week brings you the very sad story of Rodger Penzabene. The Motown songwriter found out that his wife had cheated on him, became inconsolable, wrote the lyric for this melancholy classic based on his own experience, and then committed suicide on New Year’s Eve, 1967, a week after the song was released:
An underrated classic, featuring a great vocal from the inimitable David Ruffin, one of the greatest soul singers of all time.
If your a vocalist the Temps are one of your favorites, I know their one of mine. Never knew the backstory on this tune.
As someone who likes to sing, much to the chagrin of family and co-workers, just trying to do what David Ruffin does on ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ is well nigh impossible. A very difficult vocal done to perfection by Ruffin. He’d at least be in a Field Of 16 of Greatest Soul Singers, IMHO.
Just to show the kidz that people used to be able to do this live, without enhanced vocals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrjJeP1GGxY
Ruffin also invented that four-headed mic stand.
Two solidly erect thumbs up.
I’m late to the party again. One of my favourite R&B songs from that era was recorded on Bert Berns’ Shout label. Although it didn’t do much on the record charts for the original artist, it went on to become the signature song for another singer.
The song was “Piece of My Heart,” by Erma Franklin. Erma spent most of her career in the shadow of her younger sister Aretha. She passed away in 2002, but her song lives on as a blues rock classic. Erma’s version is on YouTube.