| The Best of the Spinners | ||||
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| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Recorded | Various sessions from 1970 to 1977 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Soul | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Thom Bell | |||
| The Spinners chronology | ||||
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| The Spinners compilations chronology | ||||
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The Best of the Spinners is a 1978 greatest hits album from Philly soul vocal group The Spinners, released on Atlantic Records.
This is the second domestic Spinners compilation (after a 1977 British compilation, Smash Hits ) and includes recordings from a series of successful albums produced by Thom Bell for Atlantic Records in the 1970s. [1] A previous compilation by the same name from 1973 collects the group's first singles and tracks from their two Motown albums. [2] By 1977, vocalist Philippé Wynne left the group for a solo career and to work in the music business, [3] leading to a commercial decline for the group and a pair of less successful albums in 1977. This compilation came at the end of their collaboration with Bell: they would record the 1979 release From Here to Eternally with him, as well as a few tracks for his film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh , [4] but the group enlisted a different producer for their disco release Dancin' and Lovin' later that year. [5]
The editors of AllMusic Guide scored this compilation 4.5 out of five stars, with reviewer Ron Wynn calling this "a definitive work" until Atlantic released a two-disc set in the compact disc era. [6]
The Best of the Spinners reached 56 on the R&B chart and peaked at 115 on the Billboard 200. [7]
Muddy Waters (1913–1983) was an American blues artist who is considered a pioneer of the electric Chicago blues and a major influence on the development of blues and rock music. He popularized several early Delta blues songs, such as "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "Walkin' Blues", and "Baby, Please Don't Go", and recorded songs that went on to become blues standards, including "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Mannish Boy", and "Got My Mojo Working". During his recording career from 1941 to 1981, he recorded primarily for two record companies, Aristocrat/Chess and Blue Sky; they issued 62 singles and 13 studio albums.
Philippé Wynne was an American singer, best known for his role as a lead vocalist of The Spinners. Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away", "The Rubberband Man", and "One of a Kind ". After leaving The Spinners, Wynne never regained the same success, although he was featured in hits by other artists such as "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic. Wynne died of a heart attack while performing at a nightclub.
The Spinners are an American rhythm and blues vocal group that formed in Ferndale, Michigan, United States, in 1954. They enjoyed a string of hit singles and albums during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with producer Thom Bell. The group continues to tour, with Henry Fambrough as the only original member.
Wilfred "Will" Downing is an American singer and songwriter. He is married to singer Audrey Wheeler, who was a member of the R&B group Unlimited Touch.
Crossroads is a 1988 music collection box set of the work of Eric Clapton released by Polydor Records. The set includes his work with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his solo career.
Reginald Grant Lucas was an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is perhaps best known for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, and for playing rhythm guitar with the Miles Davis electric band during the first half of the 1970s.
Glenn Jones is an American R&B/soul singer. He is best known for his songs "Show Me", "We've Only Just Begun " and "Here I Go Again", which reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1991/1992 as well as the track "I've Been Searching ".
"Shake Me, Wake Me " is a song recorded by the American quartet Four Tops for their third studio album, On Top (1966). It was released in February 1966 as a 7" vinyl single through Motown records. It was written and produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland. A gospel rock track, its lyrics detail a relationship that has ended. It has since been regarded as one of Four Tops' most successful singles ever. It charted moderately well in both the United States and Canada, and became the group's fifth consecutive entry to chart within the top five of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Four Tops has performed "Shake Me, Wake Me " on various occasions throughout their careers and have included it on several greatest hits albums, including on The Four Tops Greatest Hits (1967) and The Ultimate Collection (1997).
Two of a Kind is the second album by Earl Klugh and Bob James, released in 1982. The album received a nomination for Best Selling Jazz Album at the NARM Awards in 1983, and peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Jazz chart in January 1983.
"Here We Go Again" is a country music standard written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall that first became notable as a rhythm and blues single by Ray Charles from his 1967 album Ray Charles Invites You to Listen. It was produced by Joe Adams for ABC Records/Tangerine Records. To date, this version of the song has been the biggest commercial success, spending twelve consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 15.
Donald Bradford Gerrard, known professionally as Donny Gerrard was a Canadian singer. He was a member of the band Skylark in the early 1970s, and in later years performed and recorded as a baritone backup singer for such artists as Mavis Staples.
Four Tops Live! is the first live album by American rhythm and blues vocal band The Four Tops, released on Motown in 1966. The album was recorded as part of a series of concerts by the record label featuring their premier artists held in Detroit and had positive critical and commercial reception.
I Thank God is a 1960 compilation album of gospel songs by Sam Cooke along with The Gospel Harmonettes and The Original Blind Boys, released on Keen Records.
Spinners Live! is a 1975 live album from American soul act The Spinners. The release was a modest commercial success and has received positive critical assessment.
8 is a studio album by American soul vocal group The Spinners, released in 1977. The recording represents a transition in the band's make-up that led to a commercial and critical decline.
The Best of the Spinners is a 1973 greatest hits album from Philly soul vocal group The Spinners, released on Motown.
From Here to Eternally is a 1979 studio album from Philly soul vocal group The Spinners, released on Atlantic Records. This album represents their last collaboration with producer Thom Bell and marks a decline in the critical and commercial success of the group.
Dancin' and Lovin' is a 1979 studio album from Philly soul vocal group The Spinners, released on Atlantic Records. This album represents comes after a long-time association with producer Thom Bell and marks a shift to disco, resulting in a commercial success after a short string of decline.
Love Trippin' is a 1980 studio album from rhythm and blues vocal group The Spinners, released on Atlantic Records. This album comes after a shake-up in the band's sound, shifting from their Philly soul roots and a series of successful albums produced by Thom Bell to a disco sound recorded with several New York-based jazz musicians on 1979's Dancin' and Lovin'. That album's producer Michael Zager returned for this release which was a modest commercial and critical success and brought the musicians back to a more familiar soul sound.
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