The Spinners: Their Early Years | |
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Compilation album by | |
Released | 2000 |
Recorded | May 1961 – May 1963 |
Genre | Pop, R&B, Doo-Wop |
Label | Tri-Phi/Hardye TP 1001 |
Producer | Harvey Fuqua |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
The Spinners: Their Early Years is a compilation album featuring The Spinners and other various artist that were signed to the Tri-Phi Records/Harvey Records label(s) from 1961 to 1963 (when it was sold to Motown Records). It contains the five singles (and their B-sides) that the group made while signed at Tri-Phi (which was to be compiled into an album that was cancelled due to the label closing), and a few tracks where they sang backing vocals for other acts on both labels. The album also contains songs performed by various other acts that didn't make the transition to Motown.
While Henry Fambrough remained a member of the group during the whole period, he was not featured on their last two singles for the label, as he was serving in the U.S. Armed Services at the time the tracks were recorded (1962–1963). Edgar "Chico" Edwards would fill in while he was away; he would later permanently replace George Dixon when he left the group just prior to their signing at Motown Records. This albums contains all the leads (and recorded material) performed by Dixon, and most of the leads performed by Edwards, though, like most of their Motown material, Bobby Smith was their main lead singer.
Also, this album marks the first appearance of Ann Bogan, singing here with the Challengers, who would later replace Gladys Horton in The Marvelettes and be a part of the New Birth subgroup, Love, Peace & Happiness along with Leslie and Melvin Wilson.
All selections produced by Harvey Fuqua.
All songs written by Harvey Fuqua and/or Gwen Gordy Fuqua*, unless otherwise noted.
The lead vocalists on each track are identified by superscripts: (a) Bobby Smith, (b) George Dixon, (c) Henry Fambrough, (d) Chico Edwards, (e) Pervis Jackson, (f) Billy Henderson.
Instrumentation by various session artist including The Funk Brothers and Junior Walker & the All Stars
The Moonglows were an American R&B group in the 1950s. Their song "Sincerely" went to number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 20 on the Billboard Juke Box chart.
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.
United is a studio album by soul musicians Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, released August 29, 1967 on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol produced all of the tracks on the album, with the exception of "You Got What It Takes" and "Oh How I'd Miss You". Fuqua and Bristol produced "Hold Me Oh My Darling" and "Two Can Have a Party" as Tammi Terrell solo tracks in 1965 and 1966, and had Gaye overdub his vocals to them in order to create duet versions of the songs.
You're All I Need is the second studio album by soul musicians Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, released in August 1968 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Highlighted by three hit singles written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, You're All I Need was recorded throughout 1966 and 1967 and features two Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "You're All I Need to Get By". It peaked at #60 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Album Chart. You're All I Need was the two singers' final collaboration effort, as Terrell would become ill following recording, before succumbing to a brain tumor in 1970.
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye is the debut studio album by Marvin Gaye, released in 1961, and the second long-playing album (TM-221) released by Motown. The first was Hi... We're the Miracles (TM-220). It is most notable as the album that caused the first known struggle of Gaye's turbulent tenure with the label.
John William Bristol was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a native of Morganton, North Carolina, about which he wrote an eponymous song. His composition "Love Me for a Reason" saw global success when covered by The Osmonds including a number 1 in the UK charts in 1974. His most famous solo recording was "Hang On in There Baby" recorded in 1974, which reached the Top Ten in the United States and number 3 in the United Kingdom. Both singles were in the UK top 5 simultaneously.
"My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" is the solo debut single for former Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, released on Motown Records in early 1969 (see 1969 in music). The song was written by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Pam Sawyer, and James Roach. Fuqua and Bristol handled the recording's production.
Irresistible was the only solo album for Tammi Terrell, which was released in January 1969 by Motown Records. Due to complications with a malignant brain tumor in 1968 which caused her death in March 1970, Terrell did not record a subsequent solo album. This album compiles solo recordings Terrell made for Motown between 1965 and 1968. Two of the tracks included on this album were dubbed with vocals from Terrell's frequent singing partner Marvin Gaye to create album tracks for the duo's joint albums. These tracks were "Hold Me Oh My Darling" and "I Can't Believe You Love Me". A re-recorded version of "Come On and See Me" appears on the 1968 Gaye/Terrell album You're All I Need. "This Old Heart of Mine " is a remake of the 1966 Isley Brothers' hit by the same name.
The Complete Duets is a two-disc compilation album of duet recordings by Motown Records artists Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, recorded between 1965 and 1969. The set compiles all of the tracks from the duo's three albums - United,You're All I Need and Easy - as well as several of Tammi Terrell's solo recordings and other previously unissued material.
New Birth is an American funk and R&B group. It was originally conceived in Detroit, Michigan by former Motown songwriter/producer, Vernon Bullock and co-founded in Louisville, Kentucky by him with former singer and Motown songwriter/producer Harvey Fuqua and musicians, Tony Churchill, James Baker, Robin Russell, Austin Lander, Robert "Lurch" Jackson, Leroy Taylor, Charlie Hearndon, Bruce Marshall and Nathaniel "Nebs" Neblett (1946–2016).
Robert Steel Smith, professionally known as Bobby Smith, also spelled Bobbie, was an American R&B singer notable as the principal lead singer of the classic Motown/Philly group, The Spinners, throughout its history. The group was formed circa 1954 at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Michigan, just north of the Detroit border. The group had their first record deal when they signed with Tri-Phi Records in early 1961.
Gwen Fuqua was an American businesswoman, songwriter and composer, most notably writing hit songs such as "Lonely Teardrops", "All I Could Do Was Cry" and "Distant Lover". She acquired her full name after marrying Harvey Fuqua and kept the name after their divorce.
"It's a Shame" is a song co-written by Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright and Lee Garrett and produced by Wonder as a single for the Spinners on Motown's V.I.P. Records label. The single became the Detroit-reared group's biggest single on the Motown Records company since they had signed with the company in 1964 and also their biggest hit in a decade.
"I'll Always Love You" is a song co-written by William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter and produced by Stevenson and Hunter as a single for The Spinners on the Motown Records label. The single became the Detroit-reared group's first charting single on the Motown Records company since they had signed with the company in 1964. The song was a top 40 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, on which it peaked at number 35. On the Billboard R&B singles chart, "I'll Always Love You" peaked at number 8. The song featured lead vocals by the group's main lead singer, Bobby Smith.
"That's What Girls Are Made For" is the debuting single for the American R&B/Soul vocal group The Spinners, released on Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi Records label in 1961.
The Original Spinners is the 1967 debut album by The Spinners for Motown Records. The LP includes the group's earliest singles on the label, as well as their first ever single "That's What Girls Are Made For". None of the group's other material from Tri-Phi appear on this album.
2nd Time Around is a studio album recorded by American R&B group The Spinners, released in October 1970 on Motown's V.I.P. label. This is their only album with G. C. Cameron. This is also the group's last album made while they were under contract with Motown Records; by the time of their next album, they had signed at Atlantic Records.
"Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" is a 1967 song co-written by Richard Drapkin and Marty Coleman. In 1968 it was assigned to Artie Fields' Top Dog label in Detroit and issued as a 45 by rhythm and blues singer Joe Towns.
James Nyx Jr., sometimes credited as James Nyx, was an American songwriter for the Motown label. He co-wrote "Inner City Blues ", which became a #9 hit for Marvin Gaye in 1971.
Harvey Fuqua was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.