The Spinners appreciation
kala
3,361 Posts
the "best of" has been bumpin' in the deck of my whip for a few weeks nowIt ain't rareIt ain't "heavy"It ain't the hippest shit everBut those guys were fucking awesome,the "black sheep of motown" who didn't blow up until they signed with Atlantic.you really can't fuck with their vocals or song writingphilly representin' hard1.It's A Shame 2. I'll Be Around 3. How Could I Let You Get Away 4. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love 5. One Of A Kind (Love Affair) 6. Ghetto Child 7. Mighty Love-Pt. 18. I'm Coming Home9. Then Came You 10. Love Don't Love Nobody-Pt. 1 11. Living A Little, Laughing A Little 12. Sadie 13. They Just Can't Stop It The (Games People Play) 14. The Rubberband Man
Comments
This song is on some G.O.A.T. status.
The intro has given me chills every time I've
heard it, for over 30 years now.
For over 30 years now, huh?
Well, you kinda answered your own question. How can we recommend something you already sold?
Seriously, though...I don't have ALL of their Phillippe Wynne-era albums, but most of the ones I have I can recommend. Pick Of The Litter, New & Improved, their self-titled, and especially their live album are worth getting. Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow was their last album with Wynne and isn't very good; it sounds as if the best songs were all used up and these were the leftovers.
What I like about the Spinners from the Wynne era is how subliminal a lot of their stuff is..."One Of A Kind Love Affair" is so bouncy and happy-sounding that it was decades before it dawned on me that the narrator's lover just left him. On the other hand, "I'll Be Around" is so paranoid-sounding that it doesn't match the lyrics (which are generally positive). And even as a kid listening to the radio, I picked up on "Games People Play" right away, with it's trick ending (SPOILER ALERT:[/b] dude thinks he's been stood up, but in reality his date shows up late). Motown treated them like stepchildren, and the John Edwards "Working My Way Back To You" era (1977-present) doesn't really thrill me, but during the 1972-76 era, they could do no wrong.
Always thought it was funny that they had two lead singers who sounded exactly alike (Wynne and Bobbie ______ - I forget his last name). They're trading off on several of their hits, but I can't tell the difference. Wynne is slightly higher-pitched and does a lot of the adlibs, but apart from that, they do sound like the same person.
I have one single from his Cotillion album, plus a later single from the 80s on Sugarhill. Neither one of them are doing anything for me.
I love the Spinners, especially the Phillippe Wynne era material on Atlantic (though the Motown stuff was great too). I have to say, "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love?" is my favorite jawn (with "I'll Be Around" as a close 2nd), soul for days!!!
Peace,
Big Stacks from Kakalak