The Spinners' move to
Atlantic was precipitated by their hometown label letting their contract expire despite a recent hit with "It's a Shame." As Philly soul co-orchestrator
Thom Bell is quoted in the liner notes of this thorough and unprecedented anthology, "
Motown gave none of them any respect." Presented in 1972 with a list of
Atlantic acts for potential collaboration,
Bell set his sight on the newly signed
Spinners, an admired group he backed on piano at a Philadelphia gig a decade earlier. This brought about an eight-year association that led to the Detroiters becoming just as synonymous with Philly soul as
the Delfonics and
the Stylistics, both of whom had earlier success with
Bell. Joined by the exceptionally versatile
Philippe Wynne in place of cousin
G.C. Cameron -- who remained with
Motown --
Henry Fambrough,
Pervis Jackson,
Billy Henderson, and
Bobbie Smith allied with
Bell and
MFSB, the dozens-strong house band of
Philadelphia International Records, and out of the gate scored a number three pop hit. Fronted with heartwarming finesse by
Smith, the silken "I'll Be Around" began a run of 21 singles over a period that also yielded eight studio albums and a live set, all made with
Bell. These two discs represent the essence of the partnership. They compile the A-sides and B-sides chronologically as they appeared on 7". Around half of the songs, including a number of B-sides, were edited for the format, and many of these versions were previously unavailable on compact disc. (The B-sides were album cuts except in a couple cases when the A-side was either split into two parts or extended on the flip side.) Harmonically rich, sonically resplendent, emotionally resonant moments extend far beyond the major hits such as the joyful trio of "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," "Then Came You," and "The Rubberband Man"; the dipping, diving, and soaring
Wynne showcase "Love Don't Love Nobody"; and the exquisitely heart-wrenching "Games People Play." Somewhat misleadingly titled, the set does not contain
the Spinners' big second single of '79, "Working My Way Back to You"/"Forgive Me, Girl," because it did not involve
Bell, and the group would continue to record for
Atlantic for another half decade. Regardless, it's essential and both long overdue and well-timed, arriving a few months before
the Spinners' belated induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The liners alone are worth the price. ~ Andy Kellman
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