"Spinners" by SPINNERS [Known as 'The Detroit Spinners' in the UK] - March 1973 US Debut Album on Atlantic Records – Featuring Producer, Arranger and Songwriter Thom Bell (November 2015 UK Big Break Records (BBR) 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Wayne Dickson and Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Falling In Love (Again)..."

I already own this fabulously evocative Atlantic Records Soul LP from 1973 inside the SPINNERS "Original Album Series" 5CD set on Rhino – something I reviewed extensively way back in the mists of 2010. So why buy it again?

Because this new 2015 CD reissue is on Big Break Records of the UK (BBR is part of Cherry Red) and I always get a bit excited by their sensationally good Remasters. The Audio on this peach is best ever and along with quality presentation, a Previously Unreleased in the Bonus Tracks that actually enhances, a total playing time of nearly 78 minutes and a miserly mid-price – and I'm a very happy satin-suited bunny. Life ain't easy indeed...here are the Ghetto Children...

UK released 6 November 2015 – "Spinners" by SPINNERS on Big Break Records WCDBBRX 0321 (Barcode 5013929062139) is an 'Expanded Edition' BBR CD Remaster with 8 Bonus Tracks and plays out as follows (77:43 minutes):

1. Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind [Side 1]
2. Just You And Me Baby
3. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
4. I Could Never (Repay Your Love)
5. I'll Be Around
6. One Of A Kind (Love Affair) [Side 2]
7. We Belong Together
8. Ghetto Child
9. How Could I Let You Get Away
10. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Spinners" by SPINNERS - released March 1973 on Atlantic SD 7256 in the USA and Atlantic K 40477 in the UK. In Britain the band was known as and credited as - THE DETROIT SPINNERS. THOM BELL Produced the album (JIMMY ROACH Produced tracks 11 to 14) and it peaked at No. 1 on the US R&B charts - No. 14 on Pop.

BONUS TRACKS:
11. (Oh Lord) I Wish I Could Sleep
Previously unreleased track - first appeared in 1991 on the 2CD Spinners set "A One Of A Kind Love Affair: The Anthology" on Atlantic/Rhino Remasters 7 82332-2 – also on the 1995 CD Remaster Reissue of "Mighty Love" as one of four bonuses

12. I Just Gotta Make It Happen
13. Mr. Big Man
14. You Sure Are Nasty
Tracks 11 to 14 first appeared as 4 Bonus Tracks on the 1995 CD Reissue of "Mighty Love" on Atlantic/Rhino Remasters R2 71586

15. I'll Be Around (Mike Maurro Mix) – 2015 Previously Unreleased
16. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love (A Tom Moulton Mix)
17. One Of A Kind Love Affair (A Tom Moulton Mix)
Tracks 16 and 17 first appeared on Tom Moulton's "Philly ReGrooved 3: Tom Moulton Remixes" 2CD set from June 2013 on Harmless HURTCD122

18. I'll Be Around (Single Version) - see Single No. 2 below

SINGLES:

This CD will allow fans to sequence the following UK and US 7" Singles 

[09] = Track Number:
1. How Could I Let You Get Away [9] b/w I'll Be Around [5]
July 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2094

2. I'll Be Around [18] b/w How Could I Let You Get Away [9]
August 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2904
September 1972 UK 7" single on Atlantic K 10243 with sides reversed

3. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love [10] b/w Just You And Me Baby [2]
December 1972 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2927
April 1973 UK 7" single Atlantic K 10283

4. One Of A Kind (Love Affair) [6] b/w Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You [3]
April 1973 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2962
May 1973 UK 7" single on Atlantic K 10311

5. Ghetto Child [8] b/w We Belong Together [7]
July 1973 US 7" single on Atlantic 45-2973
September 1973 UK 7" single on Atlantic K 10359

SPINNERS [aka Detroit Spinners] were:
BILLY HENDERSON – Tenor
BOBBIE SMITH – Tenor
PHILLIP WYNNE – Tenor
HENRY FAMBROUGH – Baritone
PERVIS JACKSON - Bass

I've had the Rhino CD of the album from 1995 – but this remaster by WAYNE A DICKSON (of BBR) and NICK ROBBINS (of Ace) is superlative – full of warmth and presence. The 16-page booklet is the usual BBR fan fest of American 45 repros, trade adverts and band photos intertwined with in-depth and affectionate liner notes from noted Soul buff CHRISTIAN JOHN WIKANE. This CD Remaster also comes in one of those round-corner super jewel cases – tasty...

In some respects – it's hard in the distance of 2015 to imagine what a Soul Monster this album really was in 1972 and 1973. Three of the US 45s listed above hit the coveted No.1 spot on their R&B charts – three of them - - all million sellers - "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" and "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" - while the sublime and socially informative "Ghetto Child" peaked at an impressive No. 4 (and should have been a foursome with its illustrious predecessors). But even these belie just how good the 'whole' album is - with the exception for me of the vaudeville jazz brass of "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You" which I always thought was wildly out-of-place.

But the album's masterpiece is the hidden one never edited for a 45 – Lead Tenor PHILLIP WYNNE giving it some serious Soul pleading throughout the gorgeous 6:56 minutes of "I Could Never (Repay Your Love)" that ends Side 1. Surely this is what great Seventies Soul is all about – written by BRUCE HAWES – it features melody, passionate vocals and a complimentary arrangement that elevates rather than swamps. Another less-famous gem is "We Belong Together" where vibes and treated guitars ease in the smooth vocals and heartache of "...where's the love we said would never die..." Atlantic chose "How Could I Let You Go" as one of the representations of Quality Soul on their Rhino Handmade "Atlantic Soul" 4CD Box Set of 2009. And what can you say about the gorgeous "Ghetto Child" – a song that resonated lyrically and musically with British and Irish fans - giving it a No. 7 placing in September 1973 on the UK singles charts.

I must admit that the four bonus outtakes that appeared on the 1995 remaster of "Mighty Love" (presented as tracks 11 to 14 on this CD) are massively disappointing. Those looking for the sophistication of the album should look away. Far better is the very cool and complimentary Remix by Mike Maurro of "I'll Be Around" which bigs-up the intro and emphasizes those wonderful string arrangements – although at 7:06 minutes it kind of out-stays its welcome a tad. The Tom Moulton Remixes of "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" and "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" run to 6:40 and 5:51 minutes respectively and do the same trick as the Mike Maurro stab at "I'll Be Around" – with "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" definitely coming off best (what a tune).

I've loved returning to this SPINNERS album - I really have - and I'm quite certain Soul fans out there will smile just looking at its cover. Well done to BBR for doing the business by this affectionately remembered LP and those halcyon days. Buy it and do the Soul Step with your sister on the kitchen floor like you used to. Or just think of that special gal. "...Could It Be I'm Falling In Love..." once again, yes I am...