“Walk Away from Love” (David Ruffin)

Today’s classic Motown song of the day is “Walk Away from Love” by David Ruffin. Released in November of 1975, it rose to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart.

“Walk Away from Love” was written by Charles Kipps and produced by Van McCoy. Kipps wrote songs for Faith, Hope and Charity, the Choice Four, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Peaches and Herb; McCoy was a producer who had a huge hit of his own with the disco classic, “The Hustle.”

David Ruffin, of course, was most famous as one of the lead singers for the Temptations. He sang lead on “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “I Wish It Would Rain,” and other Temptations classics. Ruffin left that group in 1968 for a solo career; he scored two hits as a solo artist, “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” (#9 in 1969) and today’s song, “Walk Away from Love.”

Unfortunately, that was about it for Ruffin’s solo career. He released several other singles through 1977 but none of them made a mark. His continuing drug use and propensity for domestic abuse definitely had an impact on his career and his life; he died on June 1, 1991, of a crack cocaine overdose.

Still, Ruffin’s legacy as part of the Temptations and on his own is major. He was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame both as a Temptation and as a solo artist, and the city of Detroit renamed the street where he used to live David Ruffin Avenue. His voice was sweet but raspy, just perfect to put over the anguish in “Walk Away from Love” and other hit songs. It’s a shame he never could get his life together to realize his full potential.