The Spinners: search and destroy

Wow, the only others Spinners threat on ILM was a TS: Spinners vs. O'Jays. So I think it's cool to start a new thread.

Anyway, I'm presently blown away by their big singles and I was looking for suggestions for what to seek next. Is this just one of those "listen to everything" acts, or is the greatness distributed in some way that an newbie wouldn't grasp?

Unfortunately in Britain, these are the Spinners:

http://991.com/newGallery/The-Spinners-Sing-Out-Shout-Wi-421244.jpg

... they do have a black guy in them, give them that much

i haven't heard anything beyond "it's a shame", which is awesome.

any of the greatest hits comps would do, but Pick Of The Litter is my favorite LP of theirs...best to stick with the Phillipe Wynne stuff...(anything pre-1977)...

Can't look at a picture of the Spinners without being reminded of their public information film for giving blood, complete with good honest working class overt racism. "It's red! His blood's red!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6aohV3tyF4

Yes, great group. And there albums hold up. They just weren't a singles group. Certainly, get Pick of the Litter. But also worth your trouble are their 1973 self titled Spinners, and 1974's Mighty Love and the slightly lesser New and Improved (also from 1974). As for Compilations either Rhino's Very Best of or the 2disc Anthology. Phillipe Wynne is one of the most overlooked R&B singers of the 70's, and why they aren't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the O'Jays and Dells is beyond me.

On the original LP, the figures were perforated, so you could pluck them out and, uh, play "Spinners" with them...

http://www.geocities.jp/dwbb12/spilitter.jpg

I'm listening to the self-titled 1972 album, which is dense with the singles I know. And it's obviously great. I've been on an early 70s Curtis Mayfield kick and this is at least superficially similar, for instance in the ornate string arrangements dueling with the vocals.

"I'll Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Fallin' in Love" are two of the absolutely most perfect productions I've ever heard. And I have a huge soft spot for "Ghetto Child" (unexpected notes) and "They Just Can't Stop It the (Games People Play)" (wacky punctuation).

Yes on all four of those; I listened to Pick Of The Litter and New and Improved last night, and I'm back with the self-titled 1972 album. So so so great.

I love "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" begin with drums really high in the mix, for an intro, but that their level is lowered as the rest of the instruments come in. "I'll Be Around" doesn't pull this trick, though. I bet these sound(ed) massive in clubs.

Can't look at a picture of the Spinners without being reminded of their public information film for giving blood, complete with good honest working class overt racism. "It's red! His blood's red!"

Holy shit, I would love to see this!

Will rep for "Workin My Way Back/Forgive Me Girl"

Still repping for Workin' My Way Back/Forgive Me Girl

but the Phillipe Wynne stuff before that is pretty much all gold

They're not alone, but one of the sillier Rock and Roll Hall of Fame omissions. They were nominated this year; passed over for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

boo

Surprised to see the Spinners completely struck out on everyhit.com. Zip zero zilch nada. Not a single Top 99 hit from 1952 - 2011. Has there ever been a bigger disparity between U.S. love and UK love? No wonder they can't even fill a "Search and Destroy" thread on ILM. But then again I guess it's hard to be popular in a country when there's already an established act called The Spinners. Truly that's the only explanation why they never made it big... Well I think they're GRATE. The 2-disc set One of a Kind Love Affair is jaw-droppingly awesome, from the Northern Soul in their early Detroit Spinners days of "I'll Always Love You" to "I'll Be Around" ("whenever you WANT ME. I'll be therrree.") Damn they had some good voices. I also recommend "Games People Play," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," "It's a Shame" and "Honest I Do."

Somebody actually started a thread called Working My Way Back to You - The Spinners: Worst song ever?. Fuck you, ILM.

That's one of the reasons I think they should be in the hall: they had major peak value, and career value that stretched across 50 years. There was early '60s stuff, "It's a Shame" comes along in 1970, and then their classic period, where they went head-to-head with Al Green and the Stylistics. Later on in the decade, they had disco-leaning hits. Similar to the Isley Brothers (who are in the HOF), except I don't think the Isleys had a peak that matched the Spinners'.

When I say 50 years, that's how long they been out there performing (some version of them, anyway). It's more accurate to say their career value stretched from 1960 to about 1980.

The Spinners and Pick of the Litter are total classic albums, Mighty Love and New & Improved aren't far behind.

before the Spinners, Phillipe Wynne was in a local Cincinnati band w/Bootsy & Catfish Collins! unrecorded, sadly.

The Isleys had a long career too. maybe not the best comparison as the Isleys crossed over into rock/funk territory while the Spinners were straight R&B.

i was gonna say not being in the rock hall of fame is an honor at this point but seriously who gives a shit

More that they have these compartmentalized periods (especially the Isleys): the "Shout" Isleys, the "This Old Heart of Mine" group, the "Who's That Lady" group. I'm not a big funk fan, which is one reason I prefer the Spinners.

I remain interested in the HOF. Many, many problems, but the process intrigues me.

HOF process: no matter how good the sausage tastes, you don't want to see how it's made ;)

I'm glad I didn't see that worst song ever thread until now ;_;

Posting this, my fave Spinners song, because it hasn't even been mentioned here yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shi36z2LVH8

http://www.soultracks.com/bobby-smith-dies

Singer from the Spinners ("He was also the group's original lead singer, and was the voice on the Spinners' first hit, "That's What Girls Are Made For" and shared the lead with Philippe Wynne - and later, John Edwards - on the group's biggest hits in the 1970s, including "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" and "Games People Play."

:(

Love those '70s hits

fuck! how did I miss this? all time singer for me. RIP

before the Spinners, Phillipe Wynne was in a local Cincinnati band w/Bootsy & Catfish Collins! unrecorded, sadly.

― (REAL NAME) (m coleman), Wednesday, June 20, 2012 8:59 PM (11 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Wynne did a bunch of guest spots with Parliament-Funkadelic. I read one account of P-Funk playing an arena in the late 70s (possibly early 80s), and at the absolute peak of the party-vibe intensity of the show, everything stopped dead, a lone spotlight appeared, and Wynne came out dressed in white tie and tails to sing "A Change Is Gonna Come." Place fucking exploded.

Surprised to see the Spinners completely struck out on everyhit.com. Zip zero zilch nada. Not a single Top 99 hit from 1952 - 2011. Has there ever been a bigger disparity between U.S. love and UK love?

They did have hits in the UK -as the Detroit Spinners.

Listening to Rhino's single disc Very Best Of right now. 'It's a Shame' has got to be one of the most addictive riffs of all time.

Been listening to From Here to Eternally ('79) and Love Trippin' ('80) quite a bit lately, or at least the best tunes on each. Won't front here that there's anything as gorgeous or affecting as the best Spinners, already mentioned here, but each has some moments. "I Love the Music" and "It's a Natural Affair" are the winners from Eternally, which also has one of the wildest front/back cover arts ever. To look at it you expect a pretty wild ride. The disconnect is crazy. Love Trippin' sees 'em moving into the '80s with a more "grown folks" sound and a cast of horns and musicians that nearly takes up the whole back cover. But it's saved by some tunes like "Street Wise" and "Split Decision" imo. And the title track is good. Seek!

Oh, and they do love their medleys, and "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time" on Love Trippin' is pretty indefensible.

Could "Street Wise" be the first recorded instance of the very 80s phrase "take a chill pill"? Historic!

My favorite Spinners collection, for sound and content:

https://www.discogs.com/master/1010341-The-Spinners-A-One-Of-A-Kind-Love-Affair-The-Anthology

Haven't listened to this in a while so I put it on. Absolutely my favorite Philly Soul group, though it's weird how the O'Jays and even Hall & Oates got into the Rock HOF a long time ago while the Spinners are still waiting. (I just found that out when I was looking something up on the Spinners - I would have assumed they were in, the Rolling Stone editors always seemed to love them.)

I have one of the box sets & collect their vinyl - some of the sleeves are really classic 70s soul sleeves. just a fantastic group

RIP Henry Lee Fambrough, the last surviving member of the original group.

<3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5drzx3cIXVs

One of my favorites (possibly for a lot of people - John Hiatt and Elvis Costello recorded a memorable version that also got an amusing video).

Philippé Wynne and Fambrough trade off on the lead vocals.