What becomes of the broken hearted

by Jimmy Ruffin

“As an idea, probably something that many have had cross their minds from time to time, this contemporary ballad of epic proportion is not just the groundwork for R&B as we know it today; it’s also quite easily one of the most iconic bass lines.”

It is a truly remarkable song that was released in 1966 and covered by Paul Young in the 1992 movie Fried Green Tomatoes. The song has instrumentation done by the legendary Motown Records house band known as The Funk Brothers ( a group I will undoubtedly speak much about throughout other articles). "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," with the level of instrumentation quite easily, is a song that has transcended many genres over the years, which I am beyond delighted to get into in this article. Let's start with the very beginning of the track and remember that in 1966, there were no 808s or 303s. Firstly, make sure the song above is playing so you can follow along and hear what I refer to. 

The first portion this writer believes is worth noting is the percussion in the first six seconds. If you listen closely, it could sound familiar to anyone who has been a fan of hip-hop and rap over the last thirty-plus years. The snaps/claps on those highs and the kick, even listening to Easy-E's "Real Muthaphuckkin G's," reminds one that the instrumental similarities between the two are almost uncanny, albeit at a different tempo with "What Becomes of The Brokenhearted" at ninety-eight beats per minute and "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" coming in at 171 beats per minute. Some of the differences you may notice are the keys in which they were made, Real Muthaphuckkin G's being in the key of B and its predecessor in the key of C major. It becomes very easy to see how when Roland TR- 808 was released, this would be a phenomenally easily percussive loop to duplicate. 

Now, staying within those first six seconds, we hear a piano (I believe ) that is helping to fill in the low end for percussion and the ease with which the TB-303 can handle something of that nature, an item we view today as iconic, again not available in '66. And the way The Funk Brothers arranged this was incredible and the groundwork for today's hip hop and R&B.

Now for a few fun facts about What Becomes of the Brokenhearted 

the song peaked at number 7 on the US Billboards Hot 100 and did one position better on the US Billboard R&B charts in 1974. It peaked at number 4 on the UK charts. In 1992, with the cover by Paul Young for the Fried Green Tomatoes soundtrack, it hit 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It hit #1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, an awe-inspiring feat to hit #1 nearly 25 years after its original release!