Tune du Jour: “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?” – Jimmy Ruffin
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Bruce Springsteen vs. Luther Vandross and Boy George vs. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
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Just might be my favorite Motown song …
First Release: June 3, 1966
Jimmy Ruffin:
First Recording: December 21, 1965 (Not Released Until January 12, 2005)
The Isley Brothers:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Bruce Springsteen vs. Luther Vandross and Boy George vs. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
Bruce Springsteen:
Luther Vandross and Boy George:
For a guy that I never cared for, Boy George has managed to sneak himself a few times onto the blog now (and never dreamed I’d see the day when Luther Vandross would grace the blog).
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
Jimmy Ruffin … What a Voice … Just Perfect for the Song!
While all of the covers are above average none of them approach the brilliance of Ruffin’s seminal work.
I had never heard the Isley Brothers version before. Interesting take but it really is an entirely different song. The backbeat is a reasonable facsimile to Ruffin’s classic but the lyrics stray all over the place.
Bruce delivers a worthwhile cover but, surprisingly, I’m putting him in third place in the race.
Luther repeatedly asks the question, “Where did the love go?”. I think the real question should have been, “Where does Boy George get his wardrobe from?”.
Southside delivers a straightforward and reverent cover that is very well performed. He and the Jukes won my vote.
All good versions, including the original.
If I had never heard of any of these contestants, I might easily have chosen any of these three. But I have pre-conceived ideas about all of these artists, so I voted Springsteen, even though Southside Johnny’s vocals are just as good on this number.
I am also voting for Southside Johnny. The original Jimmy Ruffin version is brilliant. Curiously, you note the Isley Brothers’ version was recorded before Jimmy’s version but not released. To me that version seems to be a somewhat different song with different lyrics. Am I missing something? Jimmy’s version of the song also brought back memories of a famous episode of “The Wonder Years” known as “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” They used period music to great effect in that TV show set in the late 60’s and early 70’s. In the same episode they also wrap up with “You’re All I Need to Get By” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Doesn’t get much better than that.
If you remember that show you might remember this:
Surely someone else has mentioned this but the Isley Brothers are clearly singing a different song. Too bad, I’ll bet they would have filleted it. Long lasting, diverse and underrated group. Bruce goes with a sweeping grandeur. Big band, big production, his vocals are solid. So many things are done well but something is missing. A rawness? Southside Johnny has a pitch in his wheelhouse and predictably responds with a fine performance. Live video would have helped. Speaking of live video, Luther and George got my vote. George proved a good foil but Luther did the heavy lifting. Pow!