Jimmy Ruffin is worthy of being remembered for way over simply “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted.” Amongst his many different nice recordings at Motown and elsewhere, the follow-up to that well-known music, “I’ve Passed This Way Before,” made its debut on Billboard’s High Promoting R&B Singles chart of Christmas Eve, 1966.
As a measure of how pop radio and audiences had cherished “Brokenhearted,” Ruffin’s sequel made its debut on the pop Sizzling 100 absolutely three weeks earlier than its soul chart bow, on December 3. The music rose to No.17 pop, however regardless of its later begin on the R&B aspect, turned the larger hit on that chart, reaching No.10. For all his different superb singles, Jimmy would by no means make the soul High 10 once more.
Motown dominated that Christmas R&B chart, on which the Temptations climbed to No.1 with “(I Know) I’m Losing You,” changing the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hanging On” on the prime. With singles by the Miracles at No.4 “(Come ‘Round Here) I’m The One You Need,” Stevie Marvel at No.6 (“A Place In The Sun”) and Martha & the Vandellas at No.7 (“I’m Ready For Love”), Motown had 5 of America’s prime seven soul sides of the week. One other of the brand new entries on that very same chart was the 4 Tops’ “Standing In The Shadows Of Love.” Golden days certainly.
Like its predecessor, “I’ve Passed This Way Before” forged Ruffin because the lonely loser in love, though it was somewhat inaccurately described by Billboard as a “rocking blues belter.” The music was written by James Dean and William Weatherspoon, each of whom had served within the army with Jimmy. The recording of the music, which began in September 1966, prolonged over no fewer than eight periods.
The one made the UK charts in February 1967, reaching No.29. A reissue by Motown there two and a half years later produced an analogous end result, because the monitor peaked at No.33.
Hearken to the Finest Motown Songs Ever playlist.
