Jimmy Ruffin writers that he should record it himself. His recording of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" became a major success. The song reached #7 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and #6 on the R&B Chart. It also initially reached #8 in the UK singles chart, rising to #4 when it was reissued in the UK in 1974. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" remains Ruffin's best-known song. It was the lead single from his debut album "Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten" (released as "The Jimmy Ruffin Way" in the UK), which was released on the Motown's Soul subsidiary label in 1967. Follow-up
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted singers The Originals and The Andantes. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" peaked at number seven on the "Billboard" Hot 100, and at number six on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, as well as No. 8 on the UK Chart. Eight years later, the song was reissued (with a B-Side of Ruffin's minor US hit "Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby"), and surpassed its original chart position, reaching No. 4, and thus making it his highest-placed chart single in the UK. The song originally featured a spoken introduction by Ruffin, similar in style to many of Lou Rawls' performances