David Ruffin‘s “Rode by the Place (Where We Used to Stay)” just belted out of my “MellowMix” playlist right now.

Ruffin was the co-lead singer along with Eddie Kendricks of the awesome 60s R&B act the Temptations.  He could not only rock a pair of geek glasses but had a slightly gruff delivery that was the perfect counterpoint to Kendricks’ controlled falsetto. In classic Soul Man style, he will sometimes jump up into a pained scream for maximum emotional effect.  This wonderful quality of his is shown beautifully on this solo effort, which is never maudlin or hysterical, but is still suffused with the longing for bygone days, an irrevocably changed past that ain’t coming back.  The galloping beat and Ruffin’s understated delivery cannot hide the pain from the memories stirred up driving by his old house and hood.  Gives me chills every time, which doesn’t happen too often on such an up tempo pop song.  God bless classic R&B for its sweet sounds wrapped around such serious and soulful themes.

Plug it into your Pandora or download it from iTunes or Amazon.