What makes Gentleman Ruffin by David Ruffin notable?

Gentleman Ruffin is notable for its solid performance on the R&B charts, showcasing Ruffin's vocal prowess outside of The Temptations' shadow. The album is often celebrated for its smooth production and rich instrumentation that became influential in the evolution of soul music during the late '70s and early '80s. Released in 1980, Gentleman Ruffin marked David Ruffin's first solo effort after leaving The Temptations, where he had been a prominent lead vocalist. This album came during a transitional phase in his career as he sought to establish himself as a solo artist following his departure from one of Motown's most successful groups.

How many songs are on Gentleman Ruffin?

Gentleman Ruffin has 8 tracks, running approximately 31 minutes.

Gentleman Ruffin

David Ruffin · 1980

31 min · 8 tracks · soul

Smooth, heartfelt soul melodies intertwine with David Ruffin's powerful vocals, creating an intimate atmosphere throughout the album.

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Top tracks — play these first

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I Wanna Be With You — This track exemplifies Ruffin's ability to convey longing and desire through his emotive delivery, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
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All I Need — The lush arrangement combined with Ruffin's passionate performance makes this song a standout, capturing the essence of romantic yearning.
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Slow Dance — With its slow groove, this track showcases Ruffin's smooth vocal style perfectly suited for intimate moments, highlighting his strengths as a solo performer.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases Ruffin's vocal strength with smooth production but lacks a strong cohesive arc.

What we noticed

The first three tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a slower ballad that shifts the album's energy.
Ruffin's vocal delivery often employs dynamic shifts, moving from soft, intimate tones to powerful crescendos within individual songs.
Several tracks incorporate lush string arrangements that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics and melodies.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 I Wanna Be With You 3:28
2 All I Need 4:13
3 Love Supply 4:05
4 Still in Love With You 3:06
5 I Got a Thing for You 3:50
6 Can We Make Love One More Time 4:30
7 Slow Dance 4:25
8 Don’t You Go Home 4:11

What to play next

Listen next

Ruffin & Kendricks

1987

Go back to

So Soon We Change

1979

Full David Ruffin discography Artists like David Ruffin

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata