anogete | The Tempts

When I was seventeen, I asked my parents for The Emperors of Soul, a Temptations box set. In hindsight, it was the turning point in my relationship with both of them. Before then I was withdrawn, refusing to discuss my life with them and refusing to accept or approve of anything they liked. You know, the typical teenage thing. They both loved The Temptations, and I very well couldn't admit that I wanted to listen to the same music as my parents. But, I desperately wanted the box set, and at the age of seventeen, I had never had one hundred dollars in my possession at any given point in time. So, I swallowed my pride and asked for it. My parents were disgustingly elated and equal parts smug and surprised.

David Ruffin was my favorite member of The Temptations simply because his voice can cut out my heart. I'm aware of what a total jerk and junkie he was. I don't think his astounding arrogance has ever come into question, but that still can't stop me from swooning when he belts out a line. However, Paul Williams comes in a very close second to Mr. Ruffin. He was actually the lead singer before the record label shuffled Ruffin into the mix. Paul Williams had health problems and Ruffin taking over the leads for the group really damaged his ego, which led to alcoholism. The drinks didn't help his sickle-cell disease, nor did his affair and problems with the IRS. He died of a gunshot wound to the head almost thirty-four years ago. Officially, it was ruled a suicide, which wouldn't be inconsistent with his mental health. Everyone knew he was unbalanced, if not suicidal. However, the evidence seemed off. He was found in an empty parking lot. The cornor said he used his right hand to shoot himself on the left side of his head. One would think that he would shoot himself in the right side of the head. Also, the gun had been fired once before he shot himself, but the bullet was nowhere to be found. I think, to this day, his family believes he was murdered.

Anyway, I was listening to some of Paul's songs this morning. Why aren't there singers like him out there in the mainstream? I've seen a couple episodes of that silly Making the Band program on MTV, and all those boys turn me off. They have that whine to their voice that is so prevalent in R&B music today. I can't stand it. I uploaded a couple songs for anyone who'd like to hear Paul being awesome. Many of the hits from the 1960s were sung by Ruffin or Eddie Kendricks, so I thought I'd post two of the lesser-known songs here, ones that aren't usually included on the greatest hits collections.

I'll Love You 'Til I Die - I put all my faith in you. If you ever leave me my whole life would be through.

I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To - You ask if I remember when we first met. Girl, tell me how I could ever forget.

The first chapter of my post-DH fic--Breathing Love--has been uploaded to TTP: here.