David Ruffin ~ Walk Away From Love 1975 Disco Purrfection Version

I've had Van McCoy on my mind lately, looking for something of his that hasn't been played or remixed to death when I remembered this little jewel from David Ruffin. Back in the mid-seventies Van was working with Faith, Hope & Charity as well as his own music when he was approached by Motown Executive Suzanne DePasse who wanted to pair McCoy up with a client of hers, the fabulous David Ruffin. McCoy's gentle but full production style sweetness was tempered by the rough hewn but emotional vocalizing that Ruffin had perfected since his first records on Motown. David began his career in earnest by replacing The Temptations founding member Elbridge "Al" Bryant. With David as lead singer that group entered its golden era starting with 1964's "My Girl" and ending in June of 1968 when he was ousted from the group for his drug abuse and resultant ego issues. He began recording solo efforts, his first single being #9 hit "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) a song originally intended for the Temptations. He did not score another top 40 pop hit until 1975's "Walk Away From Love" produced by Van McCoy and written by Charles Kipps, became a #1 R&B hit in January, 1976. At the time, Ruffin was in bad shape physically and financially as he saw his professional career wither away to nothing and unable to free himself of his cocaine addiction. Once in the studio, Ruffin made the song his own on the first take by finishing the chorus on a much higher note than what was written. Everyone in the studio agreed that that one was the keeper, but Ruffin thought he could do better. He gave up after the eighth take when he realized they were right. Released November 8, 1975 it entered the chart at #90, then 72-60-37-33-25-21-17-13-11-10 then peaking on January 24, 1976 at #9 for two weeks. His last solo album was released in 1980. Hall & Oates resurrected Ruffin's career by including him along with fellow ex-Temptation Eddie Kendricks on their 1985 "Live At The Apollo" album. Ruffin & Kendricks became immensely popular in the UK after that and they toured there in 1991 for a month. Ruffin had also completed a new recording, "Hurt The One You Love" but did not survive to see it released when an accidental overdose ended his life on June 1, 1991. There was an outpouring of support for their fallen comrade and the music industry wanted to send Ruffin off in style. Did you know that Michael Jackson paid all the expenses for David's funeral out of his own pocket? In the TV telepic "The Temptations", Ruffin's death seemed to be sensationalized for dramatic effect by the dumping of his beaten body in front of the the hospital from a moving vehicle and the week it took before his body was claimed by family from the morgue. Ruffin's family and estate sued NBC for depicting the defamatory way David died, having been beaten and shoved out of a moving limousine onto the pavement near the entrance of the hospital and indicating that it was a week before his body was claimed. Interestingly enough, the family lost the lawsuit and a subsequent appeal. "Walk Away From Love" was released November 8, 1975 and entered the chart at #90, peaking at #9 pop, but went all the way to #1 on the R&B charts for one week on January 3, 1976. David's story is a sad one, but he left behind an incredible body of work graced by his emotional baritone. RIP David. Hang on to the very end, his vocals here were cut out in the single version.