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2023 has shaped up to be a banner year for The Spinners. The famed vocal quintet, now in their eighth decade, will be inducted on November 3 into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the illustrious likes of Willie Nelson, Kate Bush, and George Michael. Earlier this year, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music celebrated the group's extraordinary legacy with the release of The Complete Atlantic Singles: The Thom Bell Productions 1972-1979, collecting a whopping 43 single sides on two CDs. Now, SoulMusic Records and Cherry Red are continuing the Spinners party with a comprehensive box set chronicling that halcyon period with eight expanded albums on 7 CDs. Due this Friday, September 29, Ain't No Price on Happiness: The Thom Bell Studio Recordings (1972-1979) brings together every one of The Spinners' studio albums in that span of time, all produced, arranged, and conducted by legendary maestro Thom Bell. All told, it contains 92 tracks (including 25 bonus tracks consisting of single edits, non-LP sides, remixes, and The Spinners' very first Atlantic Records session).
The new set contains:
- Spinners (1973) plus eight bonus tracks;
- Mighty Love (1974) plus five bonus tracks;
- New and Improved (1974) plus two bonus tracks;
- Pick of the Litter (1975) plus two bonus tracks;
- Happiness Is Being with The Spinners (1976) plus one bonus track;
- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (1977) plus two bonus tracks;
- Spinners/8 (1977) plus two bonus tracks; and
- From Here to Eternally (1979) plus three bonus tracks.
Ain't No Price on Happiness is the largest-scale tribute yet to the group that's earned six Grammy Award nominations, eighteen Gold and Platinum albums, twenty top 40 Pop singles, and both Pop and R&B Number Ones. Following such classic records as "It's a Shame" and "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music," The Spinners left Motown Records in the early 1970s, and with the urging of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, joined the roster of Atlantic Records. At Atlantic, producer-arranger-conductor-composer Thom Bell reinvigorated their sound in his sophisticated style. Bell's elegant Philadelphia Sound fit The Spinners like a glove, and Philippé Wynne, Bobbie Smith, Henry Fambrough, Billy Henderson, and Pervis Jackson (and later, John Edwards) played to sold-out audiences around the world even as each successive record climbed the charts and yielded hit after hit.
The Grammy-nominated chart-toppers "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," "Then Came You" with Dionne Warwick, "Mighty Love," and "The Rubberband Man" are all here, as well as hits such as "They Just Can't Stop It (The Games People Play)," "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," "Sadie," and "Are You Ready for Love." The set is also a tribute to Thom Bell's many talented, and often unsung, musical collaborators including MFSB's Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, Vince Montana, Bobby Eli, and Earl Young, as well as The Sweethearts of Sigma; songwriters Charles Simmons, Joseph Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Phil Hurtt, Vinnie Barrett, Sherman Marshall, and Philip Pugh; Bell's lyrical partner Linda Creed; and Anthony Bell, Casey James, and LeRoy Bell.
The deluxe 28-page booklet designed by Roger Williams includes an album-by-album essay by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese drawing on new and previously unpublished quotes from The Spinners' Henry Fambrough, Dionne Warwick, The Spinners' road manager Steve Allen, Atlantic Records Artist Relations Director Barbara Harris, and the late, great Thom Bell. Every disc has been newly remastered by Nick Robbins, and the set has been co-produced by David Nathan of SoulMusic Records and Joe Marchese of TSD.
Ain't No Price on Happiness: The Thom Bell Studio Recordings (1972-1979) is out this Friday, September 29, and it's packed with some of the greatest soul and R&B records of all time. You'll find pre-order links and the track listing below!
The Spinners, Ain't No Price on Happiness: The Thom Bell Studio Recordings (1972-1979) (SoulMusic Records/Cherry Red QSMCR-5212BX, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
CD 1: Spinners (Atlantic LP SD 7256, 1973)
- Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind
- Just You And Me Baby
- Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
- I Could Never (Repay Your Love)
- I'll Be Around
- One Of A Kind (Love Affair)
- We Belong Together
- Ghetto Child
- How Could I Let You Get Away
- Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
Bonus Tracks
- (Oh Lord) I Wish I Could Sleep (rec. 1972, first released on One of a Kind Love Affair: The Anthology, Atlantic 7 8282332-2, 1991)
- I Just Gotta Make It Happen (rec. 1972, first released on Mighty Love, Rhino R2 71586, 1995)
- Big Man (rec. 1972, first released on Mighty Love, Rhino R2 71586, 1995)
- You Sure Are Nasty (rec. 1972, first released on Mighty Love, Rhino R2 71586, 1995)
- One Of A Kind (Love Affair) (New Version) (Atlantic single 2927 (repress), 1972)
- I'll Be Around (Mike Maurro Remix) (from The Mike Maurro Peak Hour Remixes, Harmless HURTXCD127, 2015)
- Could It Be I'm Falling In Love (A Tom Moulton Mix) (from Philly ReGrooved 3: Tom Moulton Remixes, Harmless HURTCD122, 2013)
- One Of A Kind (Love Affair) (A Tom Moulton Mix) (from Philly ReGrooved 3: Tom Moulton Remixes, Harmless HURTCD122, 2013)
CD 2: Mighty Love (Atlantic LP SD 7296, 1974)
- Since I Been Gone
- Ain't No Price On Happiness
- I'm Glad You Walked Into My Life
- I'm Coming Home
- He'll Never Love You Like I Do
- Love Has Gone Away
- Love Don't Love Nobody
- Mighty Love
Bonus Tracks
- I'm Coming Home (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3027, 1974)
- Love Don't Love Nobody - Pt. I (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3206, 1974)
- Love Don't Love Nobody - Pt. II (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3206, 1974)
- Mighty Love - Pt. I (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3006, 1974)
- Mighty Love - Pt. II (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3006, 1974)
CD 3: New and Improved (Atlantic LP SD 18118, 1974)
- Sitting On Top Of The World
- Smile, We Have Each Other
- Then Came You (with Dionne Warwick)
- There's No One Like You
- Living A Little, Laughing A Little
- Sadie
- Lazy Susan
- I've Got To Make It On My Own
Bonus Tracks
- Living Just A Little, Laughing Just A Little (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3252, 1975)
- Sadie (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3268, 1975)
CD 4:
Pick of the Litter (Atlantic LP SD 18141, 1975)
- Honest I Do
- I Don't Want To Lose You
- Love Or Leave
- Sweet Love Of Mine
- All That Glitters Ain't Gold
- You Made A Promise To Me
- They Just Can't Stop It The (Games People Play)
- Just As Long As We Have Love
Bonus Tracks
- They Just Can't Stop It The (Games People Play) (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3284, 1975)
- Love Or Leave (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3309, 1975)
Happiness Is Being With The Spinners (Atlantic LP 18181, 1976)
- Now That We're Together
- You're All I Need In Life
- If You Can't Be In Love
- The Rubberband Man
- Toni My Love
- Four Hands In The Fire
- The Clown
- Wake Up Susan
Bonus Track
- The Rubberband Man (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3355, 1976)
CD 5: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Atlantic LP SD 19100, 1977)
- Me And My Music
- I Found Love (When I Found You)
- I'm Riding Your Shadow (Down To Love)
- You're The Love Of My Life
- I Must Be Living For A Broken Heart
- Honey, I'm In With You
- Just To Be With You
- You're Throwing A Good Love Away
Bonus Tracks:
- Me And My Music (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3400, 1977)
- You're Throwing A Good Love Away (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3382, 1977)
CD 6: Spinners/8 (Atlantic LP SD 19146, 1977)
- I'm Gonna Getcha
- I'm Tired Of Giving
- Painted Magic
- You Got The Love That I Need
- Heaven On Earth (So Fine)
- Back In The Arms Of Love
- (Love Is) One Step Away
- Easy Come, Easy Go
- Baby I Need Your Love (You're The Only One)
Bonus Tracks
- Heaven On Earth (So Fine) (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3425, 1977)
- Easy Come, Easy Go (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3462, 1978)
CD 7: From Here to Eternally (Atlantic LP SD 19129, 1979)
- It's A Natural Affair
- Don't Let The Man Get You
- A Plain And Simple Love Song
- Are You Ready For Love
- I Love The Music
- One Man Wonderful Band
- If You Wanna Do A Dance (All Night)
- Once You Fall In Love
Bonus Tracks
- If You Wanna Do A Dance (Single Version) (Atlantic single 3493, 1978)
- Once In A Life Proposal (Non-LP Single) (Atlantic single 3493, 1978)
- If You Wanna Do A Dance (12" Single) (Atlantic 12-inch single DSKO 125, 1978)
Ace Round-Up: Label Celebrates John Barry, Jackie DeShannon, Thom Bell, Paul Williams, Holland-Dozier-Holland
Release Round-Up: Week of June 28
OUT TOMORROW! SoulMusic, The Second Disc Collect The Spinners' 1979-1984 Atlantic Years on New Box Set
Release Round-Up: Week of May 24
Don’t understand why tracks 11 to 14 on Disc 1 have been included in this set as they weren’t Thom Bell productions and (imho) are sub-standard.
Hi Andy, we indeed wrestled with this. At the end of the day, the decision was made to include them as bonus tracks so they wouldn't be "orphaned." Many fans use these "all-in" box sets to replace past CDs for the upgraded sound, annotations, the space-saving aspect, etc. While we anticipated some fans might be unhappy with including the Jimmy Roach productions, others would have been disappointed to have to hold onto an old SPINNERS reissue just to have them in their collection. I discussed their inclusion with Henry Fambrough, who was supportive and looked back fondly on working with Jimmy as a stepping stone to the group's long collaboration with Thom. Thom, too, considered these tracks part of The Spinners' Atlantic story. With Henry and Thom's comments in mind, the decision was made to include them. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the explanation Joe. If it’s ok with Henry and Thom, I guess it’s ok with me!
Thanks, Andy. Hope you enjoy the collection.
Got my set pre-ordered! Cannot wait!
I sure hope tracks 17-18 on disc 1 are from a better source. The sound on all of these Harmless releases (Tom Moulton Remixes) is appalling - bad mastering with too much compression/limiting.
Surely CD 6 has more tracks than you have listed if it covers two albums
Disc 6 has the album SPINNERS/8 with two bonus tracks, for a total of 11 tracks.
Will get this set, looks awesome, not unlike that Dionne Warwick Warner-era box...I guess the Spinners period afterwards with covers of "Cupid" & "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" were not Thom Bell productions, despite still being on Atlantic, correct?? This is a Thom Bell-era set, not a full Atlantic set it looks like...so does that mean there will be an 80s-era Atlantic set & a Motown Years set in the future?? That would be cool...I think I sent a note about this when the Real Gone set you did was about to drop, if I recall...
Thanks, Larry. Yes, "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me Girl" and "Cupid" are out of the purview of these collections as they're not from the Thom Bell era. I'd absolutely love to complete The Spinners' Atlantic story with those songs and so many other great ones...of course, there are many factors involved, but if these current sets do well, the chance becomes more likely. As for the Motown years, Ace covered them pretty well, but anything's possible!
to much medicore, songs after pick of the litter. big returns even more. so as i buyer the minimum was the deal
to much medicore, songs after pick of the litter. returns big
sorry for duoe didnt take the first time
In working on both this collection and the singles set, I came to gain a further appreciation of the hidden gems on those later albums (which weren't always the singles). I hope listeners will feel the same way.
Any plans for vinyl and a separate mastering?
Joe: as a completist, I opted for this set rather than the singles set released earlier (although the cover artwork on the singles set is far superior to this one) but I absolutely ADORE the content of this set. I have the chrome collection box, but this really fills in the gaps beautifully. Thanks for your continued work in getting the works of the great Thom Bell out to the masses in more coherent way. Hopefully in 2024 you can work with Amherst to get the Stylistics catalog remastered and released properly and with Sony to get Ronnie Dyson’s One Man Band back into circulation. Great job on this set though and I cannot wait to see what’s up your sleeve next!
Thank you, Brad. Your kind words are very much appreciated, and I indeed hope to have more coming from Thom's rich discography down the road. All the best, Joe