The Spinners-"The Complete Atlantic Singles 72-79" [2-CD Real Gone-8/4/2023]

[Motown Eddie]

Description from Real Gone Music-
Could it be you’re falling in love? With six Grammy Award nominations, eighteen Gold and Platinum albums, twenty top 40 Pop singles, and both Pop and R&B chart-toppers, The Spinners more than earned their place in pantheon of American popular song. Working with producer-arranger-conductor Thom Bell, the five-man group consisting of Philippé Wynne, Bobbie Smith, Henry Fambrough, Billy Henderson, and Pervis Jackson [and later, John Edwards] came to define the sound of smooth and sophisticated Philadelphia soul in the 1970s even as they paved the way for disco. With Bell’s singular arrangements and the unmistakable musicianship of MFSB supporting them, The Spinners delivered rich, textured harmonies on hit after hit including “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “One of a Kind [Love Affair],” “Sadie,” “The Rubberband Man,” and the No. 1 duet “Then Came You” with Dionne Warwick. From soul and pop to funk and dance, The Spinners transcended the tag of R&B to make a style all their own. On the eve of their long-awaited induction into the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to celebrate The Spinners on The Complete Atlantic Singles: The Thom Bell Productions 1972-1979. This definitive 2-CD anthology presents every one of the quintet’s beloved A- and B-sides helmed by Thom Bell on Atlantic Records during that halcyon period–with each and every song in its original single version [7” only…we had to leave out the 12-inch version of “If You Wanna Do a Dance” for timing reasons]. That’s a total of 43 mighty tracks on 2 CDs, more than half of which are unique edits, including 19 Pop hits and 22 R&B hits! Most of these are new to CD, and all are freshly remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision from new tape transfers. The Complete Atlantic Singles: The Thom Bell Productions 1972-1979 also includes a deluxe booklet with rare photos and memorabilia. The track-by-track liner notes from The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese draw on a new interview with the last surviving member of the classic Spinners lineup, Henry Fambrough, as well as an unpublished interview with the late Thom Bell [Marchese also contributes a heartfelt tribute to the late, great Thom Bell, who was a good friend]. The Spinners’ Complete Atlantic Singles is a “One of a Kind” collection for the ages…the pinnacle of sweet ‘70s soul!
1. How Could I Let You Get Away
2. I’ll Be Around
3. Could It Be I’m Falling in Love
4. Just You and Me Baby
5. One of a Kind [Love Affair]
6. Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You
7. Ghetto Child
8. We Belong Together
9. Mighty Love Pt. I
10. Mighty Love Pt. II
11. I’m Coming Home [Single Version]
12. He’ll Never Love You Like I Do
13. Then Came You
14. Just as Long as We Have Love
15. Love Don’t Love Nobody Pt. I
16. Love Don’t Love Nobody Pt. II
17. Living a Little, Laughing a Little [Single Version]
18. Smile, We Have Each Other [Single Version]
19. Sadie [Single Version]
20. Lazy Susan
21. They Just Can’t Stop It [The Games People Play] [Single Version]
22. I Don’t Want to Lose You
23. Love or Leave [Single Version]
24. You Made a Promise to Me
25. Wake Up Susan [Single Version]
26. If You Can’t Be in Love [Single Version]
27. The Rubberband Man [Single Version]
28. Now That We’re Together
29. You’re Throwing a Good Love Away [Single Version]
30. You’re All I Need in Life [Single Version]
31. Me and My Music [Single Version]
32. I’m Riding Your Shadow [Down to Love]
33. Heaven on Earth [So Fine] [Single Version]
34. I’m Tired of Giving
35. Easy Come, Easy Go [Single Version]
36. [Love Is] One Step Away [Single Version]
37. If You Wanna Do a Dance [All Night] [Single Version]
38. Once in a Life Proposal
39. Are You Ready for Love [Single Version]
40. Once You Fall in Love [Single Version]
41. I Love the Music [Short Version]
42. Don’t Let the Man Get You
43. One of a Kind [Love Affair] [New Version] [BONUS TRACK]



The Spinners The Complete Atlantic Singles 72-79 [2-CD Set] – Real Gone Music

[daviddesper]

As I have been known to say before.........Keep em coming!!!!

[jack020]

These ReaL Gone compilations are great but for us Europeans getting more expensive and hard to get. Still waiting for my Dionne singles set.

[mysterysinger]

In the UK this set can currently be pre-ordered on Amazon for £38.79 and free delivery. That is very expensive and has to come down somewhat. Undoubtedly a golden era for The Spinners and the music is bound to be great.

As regards Philippe Wynne, I understand he replaced his cousin G.C. Cameron on joining The Spinners. He left in 1977 which is before the end of the period covered by the new CD release. Apparently he wanted the name of the group changed to Philippe Wynne and The Spinners [[the cheek of it) and he was refused so he went solo. Such a shame as they were a great group and videos on YouTube seem to show a good togetherness. But my favourite lead singer for The Spinners will always be Bobby Smith anyway.

Hope this release does well - who doesn't love Thom Bell productions?

[heikki]

Hi!

Please find here some comments from the group members on Philippe leaving the Spinners:

Henry Fambrough: "Philippe was taken sick in 1975. We asked John [[Edwards) to take his place. John toured with us for about six weeks, and when Philippe came back and then decided he was gonna leave again, we contacted John to replace him, and he agreed."

Billy Henderson: "Philippe had sent spies to our concert [[in Philadelphia) to see, if we can make it - - Then Philippe wanted to come back earlier, but we said 'no, we got a contract with the man. We gotta finish it out.'"

In early '77 Philippe left for good. Henry: "He wanted to go on his own and he said that he wanted to do some spiritual work by himself. We tried to get him to stay, but he was determined to go out on his own and there wasn't anything we could do about it."

Bobbie Smith: "I think it was the ego problems, but he said he left because he wanted to do spirituals, although he never did one."

Billy: "Let me tell you like Jesse Jackson said - - Jesse said 'you better watch that man. Whatever goes up, gotta come down. Whenever a man is confused about his religion, he'll look a way to go off anytime. I got one religion and I get hell keeping up with that one, that man got two or three.' "

Those days Philippe also announced in the press that he was supposed to enter the ministry. He said that he wanted to get more involved in producing and writing, the business side of things, as he had done some writing earlier as a young boy.

[[Soul Express: The Spinners Story, part 4, 1976-79)

Best regards
Heikki

[Danno]

[QUOTE=mysterysinger;771429]In the UK this set can currently be pre-ordered on Amazon for £38.79 and free delivery. That is very expensive and has to come down somewhat. Undoubtedly a golden era for The Spinners and the music is bound to be great.

I guess this could become the going rate for limited run specialist releases like this. To be honest, even a 50% discount would still be a bit steep. There's a 7 disc set of their Atlantic albums due in September for about the same price.

[Motown Eddie]

Hi!

Please find here some comments from the group members on Philippe leaving the Spinners:

Henry Fambrough: "Philippe was taken sick in 1975. We asked John [[Edwards) to take his place. John toured with us for about six weeks, and when Philippe came back and then decided he was gonna leave again, we contacted John to replace him, and he agreed."

Billy Henderson: "Philippe had sent spies to our concert [[in Philadelphia) to see, if we can make it - - Then Philippe wanted to come back earlier, but we said 'no, we got a contract with the man. We gotta finish it out.'"

In early '77 Philippe left for good. Henry: "He wanted to go on his own and he said that he wanted to do some spiritual work by himself. We tried to get him to stay, but he was determined to go out on his own and there wasn't anything we could do about it."

Bobbie Smith: "I think it was the ego problems, but he said he left because he wanted to do spirituals, although he never did one."

Billy: "Let me tell you like Jesse Jackson said - - Jesse said 'you better watch that man. Whatever goes up, gotta come down. Whenever a man is confused about his religion, he'll look a way to go off anytime. I got one religion and I get hell keeping up with that one, that man got two or three.' "

Those days Philippe also announced in the press that he was supposed to enter the ministry. He said that he wanted to get more involved in producing and writing, the business side of things, as he had done some writing earlier as a young boy.

[[Soul Express: The Spinners Story, part 4, 1976-79)

Best regards
Heikki

Thanks for the additional information about Philippe Wynne's departure from The Spinners. I remember seeing the group profiled on Unsung several years ago and they went over Philippe's desire to go solo. Their producer Thom Bell tried to get him to stay with the group, however, he left and John Edwards took his place. I also remember a quote from one of the members of the group saying that when Philippe's solo career didn't take off that he realized he make a mistake.

[mysterysinger]

Heikki thanks for the info - if anyone knows The Spinners, you do!

Wynne seems so at home with The Spinners on YouTube videos so "it's a shame" he wanted out. It's also sad that I've never seen the group live - in any permutation. "Too late I learned" that they'd been to Prestatyn [[though I didn't live here then). Same with The Velvelettes too. Fate has its way.

[SoulfulMsT]

It's a great set. I'm especially proud of the liner notes on this one - Joe Marchese did a fine job and it includes excerpts of his interview with Henry Fambrough that I arranged this past summer!

[woodward]

I am undecided which new Spinners compilation I should get. I have not seen much mention of the "other" competing Spinners release. In case you are unaware, here they are.

Released 8/4/23
Real Gone Music
2 CDs
43 songs
$35 USD Estimate

Ain't No Price on Happiness
Released 9/29/23
Soul Music Release
7 CDs
92 songs
$60 USD Estimate


Has anyone obtained the Soul Music release?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[soulster]

Thanks to SoulfulMissT for posting here. I started a thread but didn't see that this one existed.

Anyway, it's a great set made from fresh transfers, and it sounds like it. I mainly bought this for the tracks not found anywhere else. And, I like having singles collections.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I won't be purchasing either of The Spinners' new sets, as I already have every one of their Atlantic albums on CD. Because of that, I can't justify buying any duplicates at this stage of my life. It's a shame, as I freaking LOVE the front cover of their new "Complete Atlantic Singles" box! If I could, I would buy it for that alone.