His voice was so powerful — like a foghorn on the Queen Mary… It jumped out of the speakers and ravished my soul..
~Rod Stewart
One of the greatest lead singers the Motown stable ever had
~John Lowe (allmusic.com)
One of the greatest “Motown voices”.. and thus one of the greatest voices in recorded american music history.
The Temptations – My Girl:
From Wikipedia:
Birth name
David Eli Ruffin
Born
January 18, 1941
Whynot, Mississippi, U.S.
Died
June 1, 1991 (aged 50)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
R&B, pop, soul, disco, gospel
Occupations
Singer
Instruments
Vocals, drums
Years active
1956–1991
Labels
Anna, Chess, Motown, Warner Bros., RCA
Associated acts
The Temptations, Eddie Kendrick, Jimmy Ruffin
Davis Eli “David” Ruffin (January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968 (or the group’s “Classic Five” period as it was later known). He was the lead voice on such famous songs as “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Known for his unique raspy and anguished tenor vocals, Ruffin was ranked as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2008. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 for his work with the Temptations. Fellow Motown recording artist Marvin Gaye once said admiringly of Ruffin that, “I heard in [his voice] a strength my own voice lacked.”
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – Live 1966:
His voice had a certain glorious anguish that spoke to people on many emotional levels
~Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates)
I don’t know what kind of voice I have, I really don’t… it’s just about the feeling I get for the song.
~David Ruffin
We are very excited about this new EP from Lily & Madeleine and so should you all be! I do not know the complete tracklist but we will include the three songs we have heard here.
“I don’t really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself.” – Steve Earle
One of JV’s Greatest heroes
SteveEarle (born January 17, 1955) is known for his rock, folk and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play.
Birth name
Stephen Fain Earle
Born
January 17, 1955 (age 58)
Hampton, Virginia United States
Origin
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Genres
Country-rock, Texas country, folk,Americana, heartland rock, alt-country,roots rock
Me and Egil have seen Steve Earle in concert several times and have followed him since his magnificent debut. We love the man.
He is always exciting to follow, as a musician, as a writer or as an actor. He has integrity. We’re always looking forward to his new albums and hope he will return to our shores as soon as possible.
Happy birthday Steve Earle!
Allmusic:
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
In the strictest sense, Steve Earle isn’t a country artist; he’s a roots rocker. Earle emerged in the mid-’80s, after Bruce Springsteen had popularized populist rock & roll and Dwight Yoakam had kick-started the neo-traditionalist movement in country music. At first, Earle appeared to be more indebted to the rock side than country, as he played a stripped-down, neo-rockabilly style that occasionally verged on outlaw country. However, his unwillingness to conform to the rules of Nashville or rock & roll meant that he never broke through into either genre’s mainstream. Instead, he cultivated a dedicated cult following, drawing from both the country and rock audiences. Toward the early ’90s, his career was thrown off track by personal problems and substance abuse, but he re-emerged stronger and healthier several years later…(READ MORE)
One of his best – Goodbye:
Photo: Senor McGuire
Last year for his birthday we picked our favourite songs by Steve Earle.
..But it is “Long Black Limousine” and “I’ll Hold You in My Heart” which mark the high point of the album and indeed may mark the high point of Elvis’ career to date. “Long Black Limousine” is the almost quintessential C&W ballad, whose melody bears traces of such mournful standards as “Old Shep” and “Green, Green Grass of Home”.
~Peter Guralnick (Rollingstone Magazien – Aug 1969)
One of the strongest songs from one of the best albums ever released… nothing less.
Wikipedia
Released
June 17, 1969
Genre
Rhythm and blues
Length
3:44
Label
RCA Victor
Writer
Vern Stovall, Bobby George
Producer
Chips Moman, Felton Jarvis
Long Black Limousine is a song written by Vern Stovall and Bobby George; the best known version is probably the one by Elvis Presley, who turned the original country tune into a soulful rhythm and blues song.
Stovall and George, country musicians based in southern California, probably wrote the song in 1958, when it was first recorded (but not released until many years later) by Wynn Stewart. The first released version was Stovall’s, in 1961, followed by Glen Campbell’s in 1962. The only charting single of the song (in 1968 it reached #73 on the US country charts) was Jody Miller’s, her version was also on her 1968 album The Nashville Sound of Jody Miller. O. C. Smith’s version was released as the B-side of his million-selling crossover hit “Little Green Apples” in 1968. Elvis Presley’s version appeared on his classic 1969 From Elvis in Memphis album.
The sound produced at American had little to do with high-tech equipment and everything to do with its stable of musicians, who had developed a heavily R&B-influenced style that far transcended any bluesy edges the Nashville players might have boasted.
~Ernst Jorgensen (Elvis Presley – A life in music)
Elvis & Chips Moman
All southerners, all close to Elvis’s age, they shared a musical heritage that blended country, gospel, and rhythm and blues.
To the musicians Chips Moman was a godfather-like figure in the studio, who would tolerate nothing less than total commitment.
~Ernst Jorgensen (Elvis Presley – A life in music)
An even better version – Long Black Limousine (Take 6):
Lyrics
There’s a long line of mourners driving down our little street
Their fancy cars are such a sight to see, oh, yeah
They’re all of your rich friends who knew you in the city
And now they’ve finally brought, brought you home to me
When you left you know you told me that some day you’d be returnin’
In a fancy car all the town to see, oh, yeah
Well, now everyone is watching you, you finally had your dream
Yeah, and you’re ridin’ in a long black limousine
You know the papers told of how you lost your life, oh, yeah
The party, the party and the fatal crash that night
Well, the race upon the highway, oh, the curve you didn’t see
When you’re riding in that long black limousine
You’re riding in that long black limousine
Through tear filled eyes I watch as you ride by, oh, yeah
A chauffeur, a chauffeur at the wheel dressed up so fine
Well, I never, I never, never, never, oh, my heart, all my dreams
Yeah, they’re with you in that long black limousine
Yeah, yeah, they’re with you in that long black limousine
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they’re with you in that long black limousine
Yeah, yeah, they’re with you in that long black limousine
Producer: Chips Moman & Felton Jarvis
Produced by Felton Jarvis and Chips Moman Engineered by Al Pachucki
Overdubs arranged by Mike Leech and Glen Spreen
Digital Engineer: Dick Baxter
Personnel
Elvis Presley – vocals, guitar, piano
String and Horn Arrangements – Glen Spreen
Ed Kollis – harmonica
John Hughey – pedal steel guitar on “In the Ghetto”
Reggie Young, Dan Penn – electric guitar
Bobby Wood – piano
Bobby Emmons – organ
Tommy Cogbill, Mike Leech – bass
Gene Chrisman – drums
Overdubbed:
Wayne Jackson, Dick Steff, R.F. Taylor – trumpets
Ed Logan, Jack Hale, Gerald Richardson] – trombones
Tony Cason, Joe D’Gerolamo – french horns
Andrew Love, Jackie Thomas, Glen Spreen, J.P. Luper – saxophones
Joe Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Mary Greene, Charlie Hodge, Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay Millie Kirkham, Ronnie Milsap, Sonja Montgomery, June Page, Susan Pilkington, Sandy Posey, Donna Thatcher, Hurschel Wiginton – backing vocals
Ray Price has covered — and kicked up — as much musical turf as any country singer of the postwar era. He’s been lionized as the man who saved hard country when Nashville went pop, and vilified as the man who went pop when hard country was starting to call its own name with pride.
~Dan Cooper (allmusic.com)
For The Good Times:
From Wikipedia:
Birth name
Ray Price
Also known as
The Cherokee Cowboy
Born
January 12, 1926 (age 87)
Origin
Perryville, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Country, Western swing
Occupations
Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Years active
1948–present
Associated acts
Johnny Bush, Merle Haggard, Rosetta Tharpe, Harlan Howard, George Jones, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck
Ray Price (born January 12, 1926) is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music. His more well-known recordings include “Release Me”, “Crazy Arms”, “Heartaches by the Number”, “City Lights”, “My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You”, “For the Good Times”, “Night Life”, “I Won’t Mention It Again”, “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”, and “Danny Boy”. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996 and—now in his 80s—continues to record and tour.
….He relocated to Nashville in the early 1950s, rooming for a brief time with Hank Williams. When Williams died, Price managed his band, the Drifting Cowboys, and had minor success…..
Heartaches by the number:
Industry Awards:
Academy of Country Music
1970 Album of the Year – “For The Good Times”
1970 Single of the Year – “For The Good Times”
Country Music Association
1971 Album of the Year – “I Won’t Mention It Again”
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Inducted in 1996
Grammy Awards
1971 Best Male Country Vocal Performance – “For The Good Times”
2008 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals with Willie Nelson – “Lost Highway”
Elvis & Chips Moman
