By Bradburger (172.183.128.26 - 172.183.128.26) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 06:00 pm:

This is probably a question HW will be able to answer!

In the Motown Story documentry Jimmy Ruffin talks of how he got this now classic song which was originally intended for the Spinners.

He mentions that the intro was a spoken part but I've yet to hear a version with this on it.

So the questions are:

1)Does such a version exist?
2) Was it ever released or was it a totaly different version that is in the vaults?
3)Also did the Spinners ever get around to recording a version?

All the Stereo versions I have are the same as the Single mix - no spoken intro.

Lastly, will the up & coming Jimmy Ruffin 2 CD set use the original singles masters? I've always wanted a CD with the single mix of I've Passed This Way Before. Sounds a whole lot better than the Stereo version IMO. And it has strings on it!

Cheers

Paul

By John Lester (213.1.128.77 - 213.1.128.77) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:14 pm:

In the Motown Story...Jimmy also talks about the boss (BG) getting Diana Ross to record the song and if her version was voted as better, then she got the release....you know what happened!

So why don't you check out the album Let The Sunshine In.....

By Suslowicz (12.227.35.89 - 12.227.35.89) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 02:30 am:

On the Ultimate Rareties Collection Vol. 1 (Motown Sings Motown Treasures) 1998, there is a version of "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" credited to the Contours (but also listed as actually recorded as a Dennis Edward solo project) which includes a spoken intro. Perhaps this is the intro Jimmy Ruffin also recorded. It seems to make sense.

By Suslowicz (12.227.35.89 - 12.227.35.89) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 02:37 am:

Also, I thought that Harry (and JL) put the mono single version of "I've Passed This Way Before' on the 20th Century Masters:Millenium Collection
for Jimmy Ruffin. Or was I just dreaming?

By John Lester (213.122.201.135 - 213.122.201.135) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 06:46 am:

I really wanted the 45 version of "Gonna Give Her All the Love I got".

and HW made me get on my hands and knees to beg for it!!!!

Naaah, only kidding...I wanted that 45 for so long and HW promised me that as soon as there was an oppportunity he would put it out.

Fantastic Four do a nice version of Brokenhearted too....

By HW (68.37.217.106 - 68.37.217.106) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 12:38 pm:

The track for WBOTBH was 'assigned' to the Isley Brothers. A rough vocal was recorded with different lyrics. A lousy copy of it has circulated as 'Smile.' If we get to Cellarful Vol. 2... (hint).

There is no early version of it by the Spinners using that track.

Re the Jimmy Ruffin 2-CD set and single versions: it's too early to say but that's the plan. Oh did I say that?

By John (213.122.204.194 - 213.122.204.194) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 10:13 pm:

Mr W!!

Get to your room and there's no supper for you tonite!

By Chip - HP (64.216.12.156 - 64.216.12.156) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 06:08 pm:

Suslowicz - You are not dreaming. IPTWB is in mono and the same length (2:46) as the 45 - I assume it's the original but don't have the 45 to compare. Is there a true stereo version of IPTWB on CD?

By Bradburger (172.183.15.33 - 172.183.15.33) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 09:00 am:

Hi Chip

Yes there is. It's on the old U.K CD 'Jimmy Ruffin's Greatest Motown Hits' which I should imagine is now deleted.

Maybe someone knows of another compilation it's on too.

Cheers

Paul

By Bradburger (172.183.15.33 - 172.183.15.33) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 09:08 am:

Just checked Amazon.uk and the above CD is still available.

Cheers

Paul

By keith hughes (195.92.67.74 - 195.92.67.74) on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 06:43 pm:

Paul, IPTWB is also in true stereo on "Motown Year by Year/The Sound of Young America 1966"

Issued 1995 and equally probably deleted.