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Post by paulmyfavtemp on Aug 20, 2009 16:47:25 GMT -5
I believe the movie was pretty accurate of David Ruffin. My father had always said that it was David Ruffin who wanted to change the name to David Ruffin and the The Temptations. He was definitely one of the dominant singers during that time. It was also known how he treated his women. Some blame David for the death of Tammy Terrell (physical abuse). But, like it was said, David might have been a good person, but wealth, drugs and bad influences changes you.
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Post by AnnaK on Aug 24, 2009 13:53:11 GMT -5
I don't think David's asking for top billing is really such a big deal. He had a point in doing so.
The story about poor Tammi is truly sad; but she apparently has suffered severe physical abuse from different men in her short life. One who has been mentioned as having caused severe damage is James Brown. I've read that actually it was that injury who caused her death. I also read that it was a malignant brain tumor. So, it's probably not clear whether David Ruffin can be accused.
I am not questioning O's insider knowledge, but I (still) think his portrayal of David is colored by a heavy dose of mean spirit. And both David and Eddie made it clear in several interviews that there were issues with O ...
Thank goodness, more and more people begin to realize that, and the movie has actually contributed to a renewed interest in David Ruffin's work: In the end his fantastic talent will be his legacy!
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Post by DC on Sept 8, 2009 19:04:44 GMT -5
I don't think David's asking for top billing is really such a big deal. He had a point in doing so. The story about poor Tammi is truly sad; but she apparently has suffered severe physical abuse from different men in her short life. One who has been mentioned as having caused severe damage is James Brown. I've read that actually it was that injury who caused her death. I also read that it was a malignant brain tumor. So, it's probably not clear whether David Ruffin can be accused. I am not questioning O's insider knowledge, but I (still) think his portrayal of David is colored by a heavy dose of mean spirit. And both David and Eddie made it clear in several interviews that there were issues with O ... Thank goodness, more and more people begin to realize that, and the movie has actually contributed to a renewed interest in David Ruffin's work: In the end his fantastic talent will be his legacy! Amen. And the thing about is. What is the difference between David Ruffin & The Temptations and Otis Williams and the Distants (which was Otis's group). I love O too but there seems to be a bit of jealousy here. Not only that but considering other Motown groups had the same treatment I can understand where David was coming from. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. |
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Post by mcribs on Sept 10, 2009 11:01:34 GMT -5
So...what would happen when Eddie got a lead, or Paul? Both of them still got leads at that point. I think the name as David wanted it would have been appropriate ONLY if he was the only lead singer, such as Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, or Smokey Robinson.
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Post by DC on Sept 11, 2009 12:06:16 GMT -5
So...what would happen when Eddie got a lead, or Paul? Both of them still got leads at that point. I think the name as David wanted it would have been appropriate ONLY if he was the only lead singer, such as Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, or Smokey Robinson. He might as well of been. On "I Wish It Would Rain" and "With Alotta Soul" he got 7-8 leads out of the twelve songs. And how come "Otis Williams and The Distants" was ok when Otis didn't ever sing the leads? How come "Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes" was ok with Teddy P singing all the leads? |
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Post by mcribs on Sept 11, 2009 18:49:12 GMT -5
So...what would happen when Eddie got a lead, or Paul? Both of them still got leads at that point. I think the name as David wanted it would have been appropriate ONLY if he was the only lead singer, such as Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, or Smokey Robinson. He might as well of been. On "I Wish It Would Rain" and "With Alotta Soul" he got 7-8 leads out of the twelve songs. And how come "Otis Williams and The Distants" was ok when Otis didn't ever sing the leads? How come "Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes" was ok with Teddy P singing all the leads? No, I never said anything about Otis Williams and Distants or Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. I think it is all fine, well and good to acknowledge the founder of a group, such in these examples, but if the name of a group has a person's name in it, I expect him to be the lead singer. ;D |
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Post by AnnaK on Sept 16, 2009 8:46:37 GMT -5
So...what would happen when Eddie got a lead, or Paul? Both of them still got leads at that point. I think the name as David wanted it would have been appropriate ONLY if he was the only lead singer, such as Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, or Smokey Robinson. He might as well of been. On "I Wish It Would Rain" and "With Alotta Soul" he got 7-8 leads out of the twelve songs. And how come "Otis Williams and The Distants" was ok when Otis didn't ever sing the leads? How come "Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes" was ok with Teddy P singing all the leads? I agree, ((DC)). After a while, most groups were called by their group names only, anyway. I never talked about Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, for example. It's always been "Harold Melvin" or the "Blue Notes" only. I doubt anyone uses the formal name for Dennis Edwards' Tempts. To me it's rather irrelevant what name a group has as long as their music stays true to what the name promises. |
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Post by mcribs on Sept 18, 2009 12:11:30 GMT -5
He might as well of been. On "I Wish It Would Rain" and "With Alotta Soul" he got 7-8 leads out of the twelve songs. And how come "Otis Williams and The Distants" was ok when Otis didn't ever sing the leads? How come "Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes" was ok with Teddy P singing all the leads? I agree, ((DC)). After a while, most groups were called by their group names only, anyway. I never talked about Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, for example. It's always been "Harold Melvin" or the "Blue Notes" only. I doubt anyone uses the formal name for Dennis Edwards' Tempts. To me it's rather irrelevant what name a group has as long as their music stays true to what the name promises. Does anyone understand what she is talking about?   |
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Post by estylovestempts on Oct 19, 2009 8:32:06 GMT -5
I think it was probably pretty accurate portrayal of David from everything I have read.
However, factually, Tammy's sad early demise was not caused by David
she had a brain tumor (cancer)
but yes...she was in abusive relationships in her short sad life...James Brown
and David and from what I have read others
I think David Ruffin was such a huge talent, so vibrant...it is really sad that
his ego and drugs got in the way
I also strongly feel that the group should NOT have been "David Ruffin and the Temptations" since one of the hallmarks of the Tempts was the shared lead roles....Eddie and David shared the lead and sometimes Paul *(not often enough IMHO)
In other groups, like the Supremes, Diana did all the leads (Thanks to Barry Gordy LOL)
and look at the Four Tops....Levi could have easily had a solo career or demanded top billing, but he was the ultimate loyal buddy to his friends....I do admire the way those guys held together "till death do us part"
Levi also was married for 48 years....and in any Motown "confidential" or "tell all" book you can't find one bad word about Levi Stubbs or his group
The Temptations were so talented...but they did fall prey to the "temptations" of fame, money and life on the road I guess, and no real fan can somehow overlook that but I do feel we can "forgive" it and be glad the music kept coming.
I admire Otis and Melvin for holding it together. And I love to hear the songs with David, with the Tempts, on his own, with Eddie, with the Reunion
The saddest words in the English language are "if only" they say...and sometimes I do think "if only"...but hey....what is, is.
David left us a great legacy of music and sometimes I think that it is just wrong to try to overshadow that with his sad life story. Let the man "sing" to us!
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Post by AnnaK on Oct 19, 2009 10:52:46 GMT -5
I would like to put it this way: the portrayal of David Ruffin in the movie was heavily slanted in the direction that suited the Motown enterprise and Otis Williams' view of the subject "Ruffin." There are many more intricate issues behind David Ruffin's so called ego problem than the movie wants to show. One of these reasons, for example, is the problematic contract as a solo artist David had signed with Motown.
Wiki has mentioned it in a nice short paragraph: "Meanwhile, Ruffin filed suit against Motown Records, seeking a release from the label and an accounting of his money. Motown countersued to keep the singer from leaving the label and eventually the case was settled. The settlement required Ruffin to remain with Motown to finish out his initial contract (Ruffin joined Motown as a solo artist and always had a separate contract from the other Temptations, which some felt caused a lot of the in-fighting within the group). ..."
What I think happened in the movie was that mostly David Ruffin's reactions were shown; but not the underlying issues that caused them. JMHO (smiles)
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Post by estylovestempts on Oct 20, 2009 7:57:25 GMT -5
Oh I agree...any movie has to be shortened, and used for dramatic effect
there had to be many different reasons and problems
as for the "contract">> Ruffin's brother Jimmy also had a contract, and one real hit, and
faded away...many people had contracts (I think Otis had a couple with his various groupings)
The Temptations were MAGIC together as the Classic 5 and sometimes it would be best not to
mess with that magic IMHO
David's demands and ego might have been tolerated, but from varioius sources it seems clear the final end came with him missing shows...
he missed a show to go to see Dean Martin's daughter perform (they were briefly dating) and that was it
Their show contracts required all 5 to perform to get paid
and David apparently didn't care
I really love David Ruffin, such a voice....but he must have been hard to deal with
Addicts ARE hard to deal with
we look back upon him as fans
Otis and the Temptations and the Managers and Motown had to deal with him missing
rehersals, recording sessions, and shows..
and deal with him coming to all of the above in various states of being high and bringing
dealers, hangers ons etc with him
(the guy in the movie Flynn is a composite...and frankly it probably was even worse
than in the movie)
Years later...the reunion..the dream...was also destroyed by the same problems
And, IMHO, for the most part the other shifts of singers in the group were sometimes
the same deal.
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