Search - The Spinners :: The Very Best Of The Spinners

Outstanding collection of one of the 70's top groups!!!!

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 04/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Originally known as the Detroit Spinners, this group was discovered by Moonglows great Harvey Fuqua around 1960. In fact their very first release "Thats What Girls Are Made For" (sadly not included in this collection) was done in the Moonglows style. The Spinners were signed by Berry Gordy in the early 60's but struggled mightily to find their sound. They released a dozen or so singles before finally hitting paydirt in 1970 with "It's A Shame". Convinced that the group needed to go in an entirely different direction, good friend Aretha Franklin convinced they to leave Motown and sign with Atlantic Records where she introduced them to producer Thom Bell. This was a match made in heaven. And the rest is history. Over the next dozen years or so, the group would place about two dozen songs on Billboards Hot 100. Of these, seven made the Top Ten including the 1974 number one smash with Dionne Warwick "Then Came You". The Spinners turned out to be one the most consistant chart performers of the decade. This collection from Rhino records includes fifteen of the very best tracks including "It's A Shame", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "The Rubberband Man" and two medleys from the early 80's "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" and "Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time". But the entire CD is a delight and I don't believe there is a mediocre track on the disc. As per usual, Rhino has included an eight page booklet with the history of the group and photos. Where are they now? According to their official website, the Spinners continue to perform in small venues around the country. Unfortunately, lead singer John Edwards fell ill in 2002. As a result, the group contacted their lead singer from the Motown days G.C. Cameron who agreed to rejoin the group after some 30 years. If you grew up in the 1970's, this CD should be an essential part of your music collection. Most highly recommended!!!"

Their best is the best

Eric V. Moye | New York, by way of Dallas | 10/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"More kudos to Rhino Records. These guys (the Spinners, not Rhino) were around for so long, and made so much good music over twenty some years. Most of it is here.Sorry about the bad luck of Music Fan, but my copy had "Mighty Love", "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "Then Came You". Also included were some of their earlier smooth songs like "I'll Be Around" and "Its a Shame". We even get the Spinners foray into disco, the remake of the Four Season's Working My Way Back To You" is happily included. They were so polished, and if you have gone a few decades (like I did) withoug hearing these songs, they return like a good old friend. My only complaint? I would prefer the full versions of "Mighty Love", "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "Rubberband Man". But not enough of a problem to dog this one out."

Hand Me Down My Walking Cane, Hand Me Down My Hat

El Lagarto | Sandown, NH | 06/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are several Spinners Best Of anthologies knocking about but this one, from Rhino, is definitely the one to get. Don't let the "pop" label fool you, the Spinners have every bit as much to offer as any other R&B group, they are way out among the front runners. These guys are as tight as a kettledrum, their singing is beautiful, they've got plenty to say, and funk is in abundance. No matter what you're after, the Spinners deliver the freight. Games People Play - a classic - is so smooth it glistens, while songs like The Rubberband Man, It's A Shame, and Then Came You - featuring the turbo-charged addition of Dionne Warwick - offer a feel good appeal that sneaks right inside your soul. Mighty Love, I'm Coming Home, and Ghetto Child provide hard-nosed funky impact, and Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, I'll Be Around, and One Of A Kind will have you singing along without even knowing it. As good as all these upbeat numbers are, the Spinners are never better than when they slow it way down and dig deep into the blues. How Could I Let You Get Away, Sadie, and Love Don't Love Nobody take you to the hurtin' part of town with such elegance, purpose, and raw sincerity that you can't help but be moved. Treat yourself."