The Spinners

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Spinners, 1965

The Spinners (German die Kreisel or the (wool) spinner ) is an American soul vocal group that was founded in 1954 and had its greatest success in the 1970s. To distinguish them from the British band of the same name, the group was called "The Motown Spinners" in the UK during their Motown time, but mostly - after their place of origin - "The Detroit Spinners".

Career

The High School -Freunde Billy Henderson , Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, James Edwards and Spencer CP occurred in their home area around since 1954. Detroit to as "The Dominguez Goes". Bobbie Smith and George Dixon soon followed for Edwards and Spencer. There were various changes in the line-up later.

From 1961 the group called itself "The Spinners". That same year they had their first hit on Tri-Phi Records with That's What Girls Are Made For , number 27 on the US pop charts . In 1963 Motown Records bought Tri-Phi. Except for a few successes, however, the commercial breakthrough that had been hoped for initially failed to materialize.

After five years without a Billboard Hot 100 placement, the Spinners reached # 14 in 1970 for It's a Shame , written and produced by Stevie Wonder . The group left Motown and signed with Atlantic Records . Philippé Wynne joined as the new lead singer.

From their first album on Atlantic alone, The Spinners (1972), five top 100 singles were released, two of which reached the top 10, I'll Be Around (3rd place) and Could It Be I'm Falling in Love (4th place). This album was produced at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, where the Spinners stayed until 1974. Motown also benefited from the success at Atlantic, where the old Spinners titles were re-released.

In 1974 the group had their first number 1 with Then Came You , a collaboration with Dionne Warwick . With the departure of Wynne in 1977, the success waned for some time. In 1980, however, they found their way back to the top with the medleys Working My Way Back to You / Forgive Me, Girl (No. 2 in the US, No. 1 in the UK) and Cupid / I've Loved You for a Long Time (No. 4 in the USA).

Poster for a concert by the Spinners, 2006

The Spinners had their last hit on the Hot 100 in 1983 with Funny How Time Slips Away , the cover of a piece by Willie Nelson . But they are still on stage today (2008).

Awards

The Spinners have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 1997 they received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation , and in 1999 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame .

Discography

Label of the single games People Play

Studio albums

year Title
music label 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US R&B R&B
1970 2nd Time Around
V. IP 405 		- US199 (2 weeks)
US 		R&B46 (3 weeks)
R&B
First published: October 1970
1973 Spinners
Atlantic 7256 		- US14th
gold
gold

(28 weeks)US 		R&B1 (25 weeks)
R&B
First published: April 1973
Producer: Thom Bell
1974 Mighty Love
Atlantic 7296 		- US16
gold
gold

(35 weeks)US 		R&B1 (49 weeks)
R&B
First published: March 1974
Producer: Thom Bell
New and Improved
Atlantic 18118 		- US9
gold
gold

(26 weeks)US 		R&B1 (32 weeks)
R&B
First published: December 1974
Producer: Thom Bell
1975 Pick of the Litter
Atlantic 18141 		- US8th
gold
gold

(26 weeks)US 		R&B2 (26 weeks)
R&B
First published: July 1975
Producer: Thom Bell
1976 Happiness Is Being with the Spinners
Atlantic 18181 		- US25th
gold
gold

(30 weeks)US 		R&B5 (28 weeks)
R&B
First published: July 1976
Producer: Thom Bell
1977 Yesterday Today & Tomorrow
Atlantic 19100 		- US26 (13 weeks)
US 		R&B11 (14 weeks)
R&B
First published: March 1977
Producer: Thom Bell
1978 Spinners / 8
Atlantic 19146 		- US57 (13 weeks)
US 		R&B34 (10 weeks)
R&B
First published: December 1977
Producer: Thom Bell
1979 From Here to Eternally
Atlantic 19219 		- US165 (4 weeks)
US 		R&B61 (3 weeks)
R&B
First published: May 1979
Producer: Thom Bell
Dancin 'and Lovin'
Atlantic 19256 		- US32 (20 weeks)
US 		R&B11 (29 weeks)
R&B
First published: November 1979
Producers: Michael Zager , Will Hatcher
1980 Love Trippin '
Atlantic 19270 		- US53 (13 weeks)
US 		R&B16 (31 weeks)
R&B
First published: June 1980
Producer: Michael Zager
1981 Labor of Love
Atlantic 16032 		- US128 (6 weeks)
US 		R&B40 (11 weeks)
R&B
First published: March 1981
Producer: Michael Zager
Can't Shake This Feelin '
Atlantic 19318 		- US196 (4 weeks)
US 		R&B34 (10 weeks)
R&B
First published: December 1981
Producer: Reggie Lucas
1982 Grand Slam
Atlantic 80020 		- US167 (6 weeks)
US 		R&B43 (7 weeks)
R&B
First published: October 1982
Producer: Freddie Perren
1984 Cross Fire
Atlantic 80 150 		- - R&B47 (9 weeks)
R&B
First published: April 1984
Producers: Leon Sylvers III, William Zimmerman

literature

  • Warner, Jay: The Billboard Book of American Singing Groups. A History 1940–1990 . New York City / New York: Billboard Books, 1992, pp. 454-456.

swell

  1. ↑ Chart sources: Singles UK1 UK2 US

Web links