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Could it be you're falling in love?
On August 4, just three months before their long-awaited induction into the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the world-renowned Spinners will be celebrated by Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records with 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.
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 songwriter-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.
The Complete Atlantic Singles: The Thom Bell Productions 1972-1979 features the timeless songs which are the cornerstone of the group's legacy, for a total of 43 mighty tracks on 2 CDs, including 19 Pop hits and 22 R&B hits. More than half of these are unique edits. Most are new to CD, and all are freshly remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision from new transfers of the original single master tapes. Note that the 12-inch single of "If You Wanna Do a Dance" has not been included for timing reasons, while the previously-unavailable-on-CD short promotional edit of "I Love the Music" has been included instead of the commercially issued version which mirrors the readily-available album version. Finally, the "censored" New Version of "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" has been included as a bonus track.
The collection includes a deluxe 28-page 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. Joe also contributes a heartfelt tribute to the late, great Bell, who was a good friend. The package has been designed by Bill Pitzonka.
Spinners' Complete Atlantic Singles is a "One of a Kind" collection for the ages...truly the pinnacle of sweet '70s soul! Look for it from TSD and Real Gone Music on August 4. You'll find pre-order links (directly from the label and at Amazon) and the full track listing below.
Spinners, The Complete Atlantic Singles: The Thom Bell Productions 1972-1979 (Real Gone Music/Second Disc Records RGM-1604, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
CD 1
- How Could I Let You Get Away (Atlantic single 2904, 1972)
- I'll Be Around (Atlantic single 2904, 1972)
- Could It Be I'm Falling in Love (Atlantic single 2927, 1972)
- Just You and Me Baby (Atlantic single 2927, 1972)
- One of a Kind (Love Affair) (Atlantic single 2962, 1973)
- Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You (Atlantic single 2962, 1973)
- Ghetto Child (Atlantic single 2973, 1973)
- We Belong Together (Atlantic single 2973, 1973)
- Mighty Love Pt. I (Atlantic single 3006, 1974)
- Mighty Love Pt. II (Atlantic single 3006, 1974)
- I'm Coming Home (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3027, 1974)
- He'll Never Love You Like I Do (Atlantic single 3027, 1974)
- Then Came You - with Dionne Warwick (Atlantic single 3029, 1974)
- Just as Long as We Have Love - with Dionne Warwick (Atlantic single 3029, 1974)
- Love Don't Love Nobody Pt. I (Atlantic single 3206, 1974)
- Love Don't Love Nobody Pt. II (Atlantic single 3206, 1974)
- Living a Little, Laughing a Little (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3252, 1975)
- Smile, We Have Each Other (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3252, 1975)
- Sadie (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3268, 1975)
- Lazy Susan (Atlantic single 3268, 1975)
- They Just Can't Stop It (The Games People Play) (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3284, 1975)
- I Don't Want to Lose You (Atlantic single 3284, 1975)
CD 2
- Love or Leave (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3309, 1975)
- You Made a Promise to Me (Atlantic single 3309, 1975)
- Wake Up Susan (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3341, 1976)
- If You Can't Be in Love (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3341, 1976)
- The Rubberband Man (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3355, 1976)
- Now That We're Together (Atlantic single 3355, 1976)
- You're Throwing a Good Love Away (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3382, 1976)
- You're All I Need in Life (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3382, 1976)
- Me and My Music (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3400, 1977)
- I'm Riding Your Shadow (Down to Love) (Atlantic single 3400, 1977)
- Heaven on Earth (So Fine) (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3425, 1977)
- I'm Tired of Giving (Atlantic single 3425, 1977)
- Easy Come, Easy Go (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3462, 1978)
- (Love Is) One Step Away (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3462, 1978)
- If You Wanna Do a Dance (All Night) (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3493, 1978)
- Once in a Life Proposal (Atlantic single 3493, 1978)
- Are You Ready for Love (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3546, 1979)
- Once You Fall in Love (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3546, 1979)
- I Love the Music (Short Version) (Atlantic promotional single 3590, 1979)
- Don't Let the Man Get You (Atlantic single 3590, 1979)
- One of a Kind (Love Affair) (New Version) (Bonus Track) (Atlantic single 2962 (second pressing), 1973)
NOW WITH LINKS! (Don't) Walk On By: Dionne Warwick's "Make It Easy on Yourself: The Scepter Recordings 1962-1971" Due in June on 12 CDs from SoulMusic, Second Disc
Just As Long As We Have Love: Rhino's Quadio Series Continues with Aretha, Spinners, Curtis Mayfield, Billy Cobham
Ace Round-Up: Label Celebrates John Barry, Jackie DeShannon, Thom Bell, Paul Williams, Holland-Dozier-Holland
Looking forward to this release
"I second that emotion!" (different group, same sentiment) - - I'll eagerly welcome plenty of new-to-me singles edits, along with Henry and Thom's insights, as shared with Joe. Time to pre-order!
Sweet, except for the price
$44.99 on Amazon but only $31.99 directly from RGM/
I was hoping this was an update to the 3CD boxset "The Chrome Collection" but it's not...that one has some Motown tracks & early 80s gems like their hit 4 Seasons cover "Working My Way Back To You"...oh well...
“The Chrome Collection” is as fine a career overview as any, and I can’t think of any reason to revisit it, especially as the group hasn’t recorded a great deal of music since it was issued. The Spinners have never had a proper singles collection, and this set was designed to fill that gap. Should this do well, I’d love to continue with the subsequent Atlantic years.
"Should this do well, I’d love to continue with the subsequent Atlantic years."
Glad to hear that, Joe! Meanwhile I'll order this when I can. I love these singles collections.
And perhaps the Motown years as well?? Perhaps that Chrome set can be expanded into 3 sets...this one, then Atlantic part 2 & the Motown years??
I’m a big fan of the Motown material as well, Larry!
Sold!
I am ALL in on this. Looking forward to it and will order direct from RGM!
Joe,
Look forward to reading your tribute to Thom Bell. I've been a big fan of Mr. Bell's since high school (early 1970's). It got so if I saw his name on an album, I'd just pick it up because I knew it would be great. I had hoped to meet him someday but sadly that won't happen. His musical arrangements were just impeccable, with every instrument falling into place and fitting like a glove.
Would love to see a Stylistics compilation of their Philly recordings. This could include a singles collection (A&B sides) from their first three albums on Avco Records from 1971-1973 (with Thom Bell at the helm) and their three albums on TSOP/Philadelphia International from 1980-1982 (including reuniting with Mr. Bell on the "Closer Than Close" album). Maybe Russell Thompkins, Jr. (original lead singer) could provide comments on the recordings. Just a suggestion 🙂
"...new tape transfers of the original stereo singles" is a weird construction. These weren't mastered from vinyl, were they?
Apologies if the verbiage is unclear here; it wouldn't have made much sense to transfer vinyl to tape to digital! 😉 The master tapes for the original stereo singles were transferred to digital sources which were used to master this CD (i.e. new tape transfers but not an all-analog chain; after the recent Mobile Fidelity controversy, I feel it's important to make this point). Hope this clears it up for you...we're very proud of this collection, and no vinyl was used whatsoever as a source.
Thanks for clearing that up Joe! Looking forward to getting this set.
The commercial 45 of I'll Be Around was mono, though there was a stereo promo.
Is it mono or stereo on this new collection?
Hi Steve! After talking it over with Thom, the decision was made to present all of the tracks in stereo, including "I'll Be Around." Thanks for your question!
I'm loving this, listening today. Was "It's A Shame" on an earlier label prior to Atlantic?
Hello Robert - - finally picked it up this week, and isn't it fantastic? I actually dove into the 2nd disc first, as my familiarity with the post-Rubberband Man material has been weak at best. These tunes may not have done as well on the charts, but they're so very well arranged, produced and performed - - I'm loving the entire set. Also, haven't checked out the copious notes and interviews yet, but THANK YOU, JOE M.
'It's A Shame', as amazing of a gateway to the Spinners oeuvre as any song, was from their years at Motown - and it's a shame the way they we're mishandled on that label, but that only served to lead them to the glory years and wealth of material on Atlantic!
It's a Shame (haha) it couldn't have been licensed for this. I know another company did it once on a greatest hits. (Rhino I think) It's fantastic at any rate great job Joe and company. I got mine a while back just had time to listen last couple days.