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Post by iratherlikeme on Apr 1, 2003 0:20:13 GMT -5
Ah ha... I gotcha!  |
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Post by Ivory Fair on Apr 1, 2003 0:42:53 GMT -5
One thing that strikes me about that performance of "Losing You" on TCB is how much BETTER it is when you're actually watching it. It's kind of like that Kennedy-Nixon debate that was on TV. The people who saw it on TV thought Kennedy "won" those who heard it on the radio gave it to Nixon. I've got that TCB performance as an MP3 file as well and when I listen to it it's ok. But when I watch it, that's a whole 'nother matter. I can't even sit down!!!  Just a random thought. |
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Post by sukkafu on Apr 1, 2003 3:59:43 GMT -5
which is why radio was overpowered by tv after a few short years-cause we need to fill up our eyes with visuals!
it's like saying-what's better -an apple or an orange- they're bothgreat in their own right- it's a personal preference. i like david ruffin, and i also like dennis edwards-for different reasons in their own respect.
i don't think they were better than each other- just like 2 great coaches that may have a different approach, but still have winning results.
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Post by MikeNYC on Apr 2, 2003 2:14:15 GMT -5
I don't know... there's just certain things you can't outdo.Except in those rare instances when someone DOES.  But not A David Ruffin song,not in this lifetime! Dennis is my man,but David Ruffin on Ed Sullivan .........throwin the mic...........doin' the split..........and taking that falsetto to a new height.................  That cannot be out done!  Now to Dennis's credit ,he takes it in another direction,his! But that's Dennis,the man can sing!  Ya think David could sing Maryann like Dennis ? 1&-) |
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Post by sukkafu on Apr 2, 2003 2:21:10 GMT -5
read my post before yours and you'll see where i stand, truth man! dennis is apple, david is orange- two great tastes -both satisfying!
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Post by selfishreasons on Apr 2, 2003 22:09:24 GMT -5
IRLM, interesting point, kitten. I agree with you on your basic premise that Dennis' version of "I'm Losin' You" is as good as David's version - hence no Ruffin fan is seriously going to just faint when someone reveals they prefer Dennis' version. It's not that unbelievable that someone would prefer Dennis' because it's not like Dennis' is so extraordinarily horrible or just could never compare. Now, if Ivory would have said "I love this Pat Boone version of 'I'm Losing You'" (here's hoping such an abomination doesn't in fact exist), then I wouldn't even engage her in debate. I'd just say "She's off her rocker and there's no saving the gal." But I think part of why we can do these comparisons is that somewhere deep down - no matter what side we come out on, Dennis' or David's - we feel their talents are close enough that comparing them doesn't offend the artistic stature of the other. For instance - I want someone to slap me silly if I ever try to compare Marilyn Monroe's voice to Sarah Vaughan's. However, if I compare Sassy's voice to Ella F. or Carmen M., now that doesn't seem so offensive. I said all that to say, I think by subjecting Dennis and David to comparison, in a way we are already saying they are just as good as the other. I will have to agree. To compare is truly a matter of taste. And in the end it wouldn't hurt to say there doesn't need to be a comparison, because both are great. But to me taste is everything. It's the joy's is seeing why one thinks Sarah near operatic voice is better or not as good as Carmen McRae's laid back cynical phrasing. To compare and judge is what separates the fans from the novices. |
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Post by Nish on Apr 2, 2003 22:36:43 GMT -5
I will have to agree. To compare is truly a matter of taste. And in the end it wouldn't hurt to say there doesn't need to be a comparison, because both are great. But to me taste is everything. It's the joy's is seeing why one thinks Sarah near operatic voice is better or not as good as Carmen McRae's laid back cynical phrasing. To compare and judge is what separates the fans from the novices. I like how you described Carmen's phrasing as "laid back and cynical"... how fitting and appropriate for her! It reminds me of one of my favorite versions of "Body and Soul"... it's one of her later live performances, but I don't remember the year. Anyway, her voice at this performance is much drier than it had been in previous years. And Sassy - well, her voice can do absolutely NO WRONG! |
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Post by selfishreasons on Apr 2, 2003 23:13:20 GMT -5
Her voice is the absolute truth. Carmen's voice, to me, is the voice of america. It's so bluesy and telling. I love her sound. It cries the pain and the joy of soul. I've got quite a few Carmen tunes and it still amazes me how everytime I listen to Carmen sing a standard It's never the same. She owns every tune she's every done. When Carmen does, "How Long Has This Been Goin On" she sells all of the sex, the longing, the urgency, the grief, the lust, and everything the song didn't have in it. Carmen is a genius. I often compare her storytelling to the homey, churchy story telling of Paul. I always wondered why paul didn't sing the panty droppers.
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Post by Aba21 on Apr 3, 2003 0:07:21 GMT -5
Check out Ray Charles' version of HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON
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Post by sukkafu on Apr 3, 2003 4:21:02 GMT -5
they were good, but miss billie holliday and dinah washington were even more classic singers. carmen and sarah are very very good, and i like etta james' rawness.
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Post by selfishreasons on Apr 3, 2003 10:30:37 GMT -5
they were good, but miss billie holliday and dinah washington were even more classic singers. carmen and sarah are very very good, and i like etta james' rawness. Don't leave out Ella, the Queen. She's the Top's. Everyone had to reach for Ella. |
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Post by sukkafu on Apr 3, 2003 21:52:06 GMT -5
and with a voice like ella's ringing out there's no way the band could lose..........
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Post by SoulStirrer on Apr 6, 2003 3:21:59 GMT -5
Dennis had the advantage of getting to sing a little freer than the rest of the classic acts. BG wanted a certain sound and a certain decorum to his songs. Even as Whitfield whipped up on Marvin's and David's voice, he didn't let the feeling overtake the music, because it might harm the vision.
However, Dennis' leads with the Contours show the power and feeling needed to match the stuff coming out of Memphis, Cincinnati, Muscle Shoals and other areas. But DE was raw, maybe too raw for Hitsville, which might be the reason we are now hearing his stuff, like "Baby Hit and Run", "It's Growing", "Brokenhearted" and others.
With BG being "preoccupied", Whitfield could be a little freer. Which means he can loosen the reins on Dennis, Edwin Starr, and Gladys Knight, a bit. Following the new format also means that Dennis would not have to carry the song, he would be eased into that role.
Dennis' true value would've been to be a solo artist. Would Whitfield done what he did had Ruffin not left?
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Post by sukkafu on Apr 6, 2003 3:29:49 GMT -5
dennis really worked well in the group setting,ss.
he still does today.
how've you been ,soul brother? we've missed you !
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Post by SoulStirrer on Apr 6, 2003 3:55:51 GMT -5
dennis really worked well in the group setting,ss. he still does today. how've you been ,soul brother? we've missed you ! With Marvin Gaye entering his self imposed exile, David Ruffin entering HIS semi-exile and Stevie Wonder starting to come into his own, but not fully in control yet, guess who could've been THE male voice at Hitsville. (MJ and Jermaine don't count, but they were soulful too!) Or who goes up against people like Pickett, JB, the IceMan,etc... I'm OK, I'm going back to my bat-cave to work on some stuff, so I'm just taking a break!  |
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