The Linear Canvas

I was watching American Idol last Wednesday and was watching the contestant Elise Testone. She has been my favorite contestant all along. They had her sing two songs and the second was supposed to be a soul song from the 60’s or 70’s. Elise picked Let’s Get It On originally by Marvin Gaye. I think she did OK, but I don’t think it was a good fit for her voice. My first thought was she’s too young to have a broad knowledge of the best music from that era. Then I thought she should have sang My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)  by former Temptations singer David Ruffin. My next thought was I don’t know her telephone number, so I should record it.

My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) is my number one favorite song of all time, bar none. I bought the 45 RPM record in 1969 and just have always thought it was the my favorite song. Even after all these years. I have never recorded a Motown song before. I think the arrangement only hints at the Detroit sound. It’s more 1970’s folkie meets Auto-Tune.

I have never used Auto-Tune as a hard effect before. I have used it for pitch correction here and there. The common name for the settings are the “T-Pain Effect”. I used the “Drake” setting and then went a little past that in smoothness. I just thought the juxtaposition of a 60’s soul song, ‘70’s folk style and and Auto-Tune was too extreme to pass up.

My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) was originally recorded by David Ruffin. It was written by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Pam Sawyer, and James Roach. I played acoustic guitar and piano on this track. I sang all the vocals.

My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)