Ain't Too Proud to Beg: David Ruffin's Strained Key and Whitfield's Bet
pplpod2 Nov

Ain't Too Proud to Beg: David Ruffin's Strained Key and Whitfield's Bet

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland's Ain't Too Proud to Beg was voted down twice at Motown's Friday quality control meetings, where Berry Gordy said the song needed more story. On the third attempt Whitfield pitched the song slightly above David Ruffin's comfortable range, forcing a strained, desperate vocal. Otis Williams recalled Ruffin sweating so hard that his glasses flew off. Even then the room picked Smokey Robinson's Get Ready, with Eddie Kendricks singing lead, as the Temptations' next single.

Whitfield struck a deal with Gordy: if Get Ready missed the pop top 20, his song would be next. It missed, and in 1966 Ain't Too Proud to Beg spent eight non-consecutive weeks at number one R&B and reached 13 pop, making Whitfield the group's main producer. The Rolling Stones recorded it for It's Only Rock 'n Roll in 1974, and Rick Astley cut it for his 1988 album after a fire at PWL studios destroyed his first recording. The Big Chill soundtrack and the AFI's list of top film songs kept it alive.

  • Cornelius Grant recalled Whitfield vowing never to lose a release that way again.
  • The Stones' version was a US-only single with Dance Little Sister on the B-side and reached the top 20.
  • It was Mick Taylor's final album with the Stones, and the band later played the song live with Amy Winehouse at the Isle of Wight Festival.
  • Astley's version charted in 1989 and was his last single with Stock Aitken Waterman.
  • The song ranks number 94 on the AFI's 100 Years, 100 Songs list.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(16184)

The Art of Adult Friendship: Why Quality Matters More Than Quantity

The Art of Adult Friendship: Why Quality Matters More Than Quantity

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore how our understanding of friendship changes as we grow old...

9 Nov 18min

Summer Explained: The Science, History, and Traditions of the Warmest Season

Summer Explained: The Science, History, and Traditions of the Warmest Season

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore summer, the season most closely associated with sunshine, ...

7 Nov 18min

Sir Patrick Stewart: From Shakespeare to Star Trek, the Life and Legacy of a Legend

Sir Patrick Stewart: From Shakespeare to Star Trek, the Life and Legacy of a Legend

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the extraordinary life of Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaim...

7 Nov 49min

Larry David: The Genius of Social Awkwardness, Seinfeld, and Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David: The Genius of Social Awkwardness, Seinfeld, and Curb Your Enthusiasm

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life and career of Larry David, the comedian, writer, ...

6 Nov 38min

Why Australian Shepherds Aren't From Australia

Why Australian Shepherds Aren't From Australia

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the history of the Australian Shepherd, an intelligent, en...

5 Nov 45min

Labrador Retriever: From Newfoundland Fishing Dogs to Modern-Day Heroes

Labrador Retriever: From Newfoundland Fishing Dogs to Modern-Day Heroes

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the remarkable history of the Labrador Retriever, one of t...

4 Nov 53min

Discovering Ireland: A Journey Through History, Culture, and the Wild Atlantic Way

Discovering Ireland: A Journey Through History, Culture, and the Wild Atlantic Way

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore Ireland through the philosophy of slow travel: go slower, ...

3 Nov 48min

Willie Hutch: An Overnight I'll Be There Lyric and The Mack's Soundtrack

Willie Hutch: An Overnight I'll Be There Lyric and The Mack's Soundtrack

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!William McKinley Hutchins was born in Los Angeles in December 1944 and raised in Dallas, where h...

2 Nov 21min

Populärt inom Nöje

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
filip-fredrik-svarar
husmodern-med-amanda-schulman
fordomspodden
mardromsgasten
chilla-med-de-vet-du
dialogiskt
podme-bio-4
rss-p3-musikdokumentar
fem-i-topp
badfluence
gott-snack-med-fredrik-soderholm
hemma-hos-strage
mannen-utan-spar
schulman-show
skandal
rss-rockpodden
rss-bl-metal-podcast
rss-made-in-sverige-podcast
sexet