The Spinners - a.k.a. John Edwards, Henry Fambrough, Bobbie Smith, Billy Henderson, and Pervis Jackson - were at a crossroads when longtime producer-arranger-conductor Thom Bell confirmed that he would no longer be working with the group.  Where would they go next?  Tomorrow, June 28, SoulMusic Records and The Second Disc chronicle the next chapter of The Spinners' illustrious career with a new 7-CD box set.  Keep on Keepin' On: The Atlantic Years (Phase Two: 1979-1984) picks up where last year's Ain't No Price on Happiness: The Thom Bell Studio Recordings (1972-1979) left off as The Spinners found themselves "working their way back" to listeners' hearts.

Keep on Keepin' On brings together expanded editions of all six of The Spinners' Atlantic albums released after the Thom Bell years, including collaborations with producers Michael Zager, James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, Freddie Perren, and Leon Sylvers III:

• Dancin' and Lovin' (1979) plus six bonus tracks;
• Love Trippin' (1980) plus three bonus tracks;
• Labor of Love (1981) plus two bonus tracks;
• Can't Shake This Feelin' (1981) plus three bonus tracks;
• Grand Slam (1982) plus two bonus tracks; and
• Cross Fire (1984) plus two bonus tracks.

Both Grand Slam and Cross Fire are making their worldwide authorized CD debuts on this collection.  Eighteen bonus tracks encompass single edits, 12-inch versions, and remixes; unfortunately, The Spinners' Atlantic soundtrack appearance with the theme to Mel Brooks' 1987 comedy Spaceballs was unavailable for licensing.  As a special bonus, 1975's Spinners Live! featuring lead singer Philippé Wynne has been included as a bonus disc, completing The Spinners' 1973-1984 Atlantic Records discography across these two box sets.

Producer-arranger-conductor-songwriter Michael Zager propelled The Spinners into the 1980s on Dancin' and Lovin' with a floor-filling medley of The Four Seasons' classic "Working My Way Back to You" and his "Forgive Me Girl" which skyrocketed to the top ten of the U.S. Hot 100, Dance, R&B, and AC charts as well as to No. 1 in the U.K.; The Spinners followed that up with another enduring medley classic combining Sam Cooke's "Cupid" with Zager's "I've Loved You for a Long Time" and then brought their medley trilogy to a close with Carpenters' "Yesterday Once More" and Zager's "Nothing Remains the Same."

After three sizzling albums with Zager, the group moved onto memorable collaborations with such red-hot producers as James Mtume and Reggie Lucas ("Never Knew Love Like This Before," "The Closer I Get to You"), Freddie Perren ("I Will Survive," "Shake Your Groove Thing"), and Leon Sylvers III of The Sylvers musical family.  On these 1980s albums, the vocal group branched out into funk, dance, and even hip-hop while always retaining the classic, soulful Spinners harmony sound.  This long-overlooked period of The Spinners' history finally gets the comprehensive treatment it deserves on this definitive, bonus-packed box set.  The group would move on to releases on labels including Mirage, Volt, and Click with their most recent release, 2024's Full Circle, proving to be the farewell from founding member Henry Fambrough.

Nick Robbins has remastered all of the audio, and the package (including replica wallets and Atlantic-inspired CD labels) has been designed by Roger Williams.  The deluxe 32-page booklet includes comprehensive, album-by-album notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese drawing on exclusive quotes from John Edwards, Michael Zager, Tawatha Agee, and the late Henry Fambrough, to whom this set is dedicated.

The Spinners' Keep on Keepin' On: The Atlantic Years (Phase Two: 1979-1984) arrives tomorrow from Cherry Red, SoulMusic, and The Second Disc.  You'll find pre-order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Spinners, Keep on Keepin' On: The Atlantic Years (Phase Two: 1979-1984) (SoulMusic/The Second Disc QSMCR-5214BX, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Dancin' & Lovin' (Expanded Edition) (Atlantic LP SD 19256, 1979)

1. Disco Ride
2. Body Language
3. Let's Boogie, Let's Dance
4. Medley: Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me, Girl
5. With My Eyes
6. One, One, Two, Two, Boogie Woogie Avenue (Home Of The Boogie, House Of The Funk)
7. Body Language (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3619, 1979)
8. With My Eyes (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3619, 1979)
9. Medley: Working My Way Back To You/ Forgive Me Girl (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3637, 1979)
10. Body Language (12" Single) (Atlantic 12-inch single DSKO 205, 1979)
11. Working My Way Back To You (1988 Chris Paul Re-Generation Mix) (Atlantic U.K. 12-inch single A 9071, 1988)
12. Working My Way Back To You (1988 Chris Paul Re-Generation Mix Edit) (Atlantic U.K. 12-inch single A 9071, 1988)

CD 2: Love Trippin' (Expanded Edition) (Atlantic LP SD 19270, 1980)

1. Love Trippin'
2. Heavy On The Sunshine
3. Medley: Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time
4. I Just Want To Be With You
5. Streetwise
6. I Just Want To Fall In Love
7. Now That You're Mine Again
8. Split Decision
9. I'm Takin' You Back
10. Pipedream
11. Medley: Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3664, 1980)
12. Now That You're Mine Again (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3757, 1980)
13. Medley: Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time (12" Single Remix) (Atlantic promo 12-inch single DMD 237X, 1980)

CD 3: Labor Of Love (Expanded Edition) (Atlantic LP SD 16032, 1981)

1. Long Live Soul Music
2. Standing On The Rock
3. Medley: Yesterday Once More / Nothing Remains The Same
4. Almost All The Way To Love
5. The Winter Of Our Love
6. Be My Love
7. Give Your Lady What She Wants
8. A Man Just Don't Know What A Woman Goes Through
9. The Deacon
10. Medley: Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains The Same (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3798, 1981)
11. Long Live Soul Music (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3814, 1981)

CD 4: Can't Shake This Feelin' (Expanded Edition) (Atlantic LP SD 19318, 1981)

1. Can't Shake This Feelin'
2. Knack For Me
3. You Go Your Way (I'll Go Mine)
4. Love Connection (Raise The Window Down)
5. Never Thought I'd Fall In Love
6. Didn't I Blow Your Mind
7. Send A Little Love
8. Love Is Such A Crazy Feeling
9. Got To Be Love
10. Love Connection (Raise The Window Down) (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3882, 1981)
11. Got To Be Love (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-3865, 1981)
12. Never Thought I'd Fall In Love (Single Version) (Atlantic single 45-4007, 1982)

CD 5: Grand Slam (Expanded Edition) (Atlantic LP 80020-1, 1982)

1. City Full Of Memories
2. Magic In The Moonlight
3. If I Knew
4. I'm Calling You Now
5. So Far Away
6. Just Let Love In
7. Funny How Time Slips Away
8. Lover Boy
9. No Other Love
10. City Full Of Memories (Single Version) (Atlantic single 7-89862, 1982)
11. Magic In The Moonlight (Single Version) (Atlantic single 7-89962, 1982)

CD 6: Cross Fire (Expanded Edition) (Atlantic LP 80150-1, 1984)

1. Two Of A Kind
2. Right Or Wrong
3. (We Have Come Into) Our Time For Love
4. Cross Fire
5. Keep On Keepin' On
6. Not Just Another Lover
7. Love Is In Season
8. All Your Love
9. Secrets
10. Right Or Wrong (Single Version) (Atlantic single 7-89689, 1984)
11. (We Have Come Into) Our Time For Love (Single Version) (Atlantic single 7-89648, 1984)

CD 7: Spinners Live! (1975) (Bonus Disc) (Atlantic LP SD2 910, 1975)

1. Fascinating Rhythm
2. I've Got To Make It On My Own
3. Living A Little, Laughing A Little
4. One Of A Kind (Love Affair)
5. Then Came You
6. Sadie
7. How Could I Let You Get Away
8. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
9. Superstar Medley: It's Not Unusual/ Don't Mess With Bill/Paper Doll/Stop! In The Name Of Love/ If I Didn't Care/ Hound Dog/Hello, Dolly!
10. Love Don't Love Nobody (Pts. 1 & 2)
11. Mighty Love