The Spinners: search and destroy

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.