Tag Archives: The Spinners

Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell: United

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On August 29, 1967, “Tamla” label released “United”, album by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (the first of three collaborative albums). It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, Jr.,

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals
  • Tammi Terrell – lead and backing vocals
  • Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, The Originals, The Andantes, The Spinners – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  2. You Got What It Takes – Berry Gordy, Jr., Gwen Gordy, Tyran Carlo
  3. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  4. Somethin’ Stupid – C. Carson Parks
  5. Your Precious Love – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. Hold Me Oh My Darling – Harvey Fuqua
  7. Two Can Have a Party – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Thomas Kemp
  8. Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl – Harvey Fuqua, Etta James, Brook Benton
  9. If This World Were Mine – Marvin Gaye
  10. Sad Wedding – Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers
  11. Give a Little Love – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Clyde Wilson
  12. Oh How I’d Miss You – Hal Davis, Frank Wilson, Vance Wilson

Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell: You’re All I Need

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In August 1968, “Tamla” label released “You’re All I Need”, the second Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, and was produced by Robert Gordy, Harvey Fugua, Johnny Bristol and Ashford & Simpson.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals
  • Tammi Terrell – lead and backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Nicholas Ashford – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  2. Keep on Lovin’ Me Honey – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. You’re All I Need to Get By – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. Baby Don’t Cha Worry – Johnny Bristol, Jackie Beavers
  5. You Ain’t Livin’ Till You’re Lovin’ – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson)
  6. Give In, You Just Can’t Win – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  7. When Love Comes Knocking at My Heart – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Gladys Knight, Vernon Bullock
  8. Come on and See Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  9. I Can’t Help but Love You – Robert Gordy, Thomas Kemp, Marvin Gaye
  10. That’s How It Is (Since You’ve Been Gone) – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  11. I’ll Never Stop Loving You Baby – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Beatrice Verdi
  12. Memory Chest – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol

Thom Bell

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On December 22, 2022, Thomas Randolph Bell died aged79. He was producer, arranger and songwriter, regarded as one of the creators of the Philadelphia soul in the 70’. As songwriter, arranger and producer he worked with Hattie Winston, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, New York City, Elton John, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Denice Williams, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell, Dionne Warwick, The O’Jays, Dusty Springfield.  and James Ingram. In 2016, Bell was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and into the ”Musicians Hall of Fame”.

Marvin Gaye: Moods of Marvin Gaye

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On May 23, 1966, “Tamla” label released “Moods of Marvin Gaye”, the seventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Hitsville” in Detroit, US, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Clarence Paul and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Miracles – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I’ll Be Doggone – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarpin
  2. Little Darling (I Need You) – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  3. Take This Heart of Mine – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
  4. Hey Diddle Diddle – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fugua, Marvin Gaye
  5. One More Heartache – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin, Ronald White
  6. Ain’t That Peculiar – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
  7. Night Life – Walt Breeland, Paul Buskrik, Willie Nelson
  8. You’ve Been a Long Time Coming – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  9. Your Unchanging Love – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  10. You’re the One for Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. I Worry ‘Bout You – Norman Mapp
  12. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

Reginald Lucas

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On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), songwriter and producer, started his career performing and recording with Billy Paul and Miles Davis. As producer, composer and sideman he worked with Madonna, Models, The Four Tops, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, John Adams, Elisa Fiorillo, The Weather Girls, Nick Scott, Stephanie Mills, Gary Bartz, The Spinners, Lou Rawls, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, James Mtume, Carlos Garnett, Norman Connors, Babatunde Olatunji, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zbigniew Seifert, Masabumi Kikuchi and Shunzo Ohno. As leader Lucas released two albums.

Robert Kreinar

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On July 16, 2012, Robert Kreinar aka Bob Babbitt died aged 74. He was musician (bass), member of the “Motown Records” studio band The Funk Brothers, MFSB for “Philadelphia International Records”, and founding member of Scorpion. As a session musician Babbitt recorded for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, Alice Cooper, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Freda Payne, The Temptations, and The Main Ingredient. “Bass Player” magazine ranked Babbitt at number 59 on its list of the “100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.

Spinners: Pick Of The Litter

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In August 1975, “Atlantic” label released “Pick of the Litter”, the sixth Spinners studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitars
  • Thom Bell– keyboards
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • MFSB– strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Honest I Do – Sherman Marshall, Philip Pugh, Thom Bell
  2. I Don’t Want to Lose You – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  3. Love or Leave – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  4. Sweet Love of Mine – Vinnie Barrett, Bobby Eli
  5. All That Glitters Ain’t Gold – Philip Terry, Theodore Life, Talmadge Conway
  6. You Made a Promise to Me – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. Games People Play – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
  8. Just as Long as We Have Love – Vinnie Barrett, Bruce Hawes

Spinners: Same

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In April 1973, “Atlantic” label released the third, self-titled Spinners album. It was recorded 1972-1973, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Bobby Eli– guitar
  • Thom Bell– piano
  • Ronnie Baker– bass
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • Vince Montana– vibes, marimbas
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Joe DeAnglis, Robert Martin – French horn
  • Freddie Joiner, Bobby Moore, Richie Genevese, Eddie Keskarella – trombone
  • Don Renaldo – strings
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Yvette Benton – backing vocals
  • Thom Bell– arranger, conductor
  • Joe Tarsia– recording, re-mix engineer
  • Loring Eutemey – design
  • Merrill A. Roberts, Jr. – photography

Track listing:

  1. Just Can’t Get You Out of My Mind – Vinnie Barrett
  2. Just You and Me Baby – Yvette Davis
  3. Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You – Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellman, Victor Drayton, Reginald Turner
  4. I Could Never (Repay Your Love) – Bruce Hawes
  5. I’ll Be Around – Thom Bell, Phil Hurtt
  6. One of a Kind (Love Affair) – Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. We Belong Together – Yvette Davis
  8. Ghetto Child – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  9. How Could I Let You Get Away – Yvette Davis
  10. Could It Be I’m Falling in Love – Melvin and Mervin Steals

Spinners: Mighty Love

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In March 1974, “Atlantic” label released “Mighty Love”, the fourth Spinners studio album. It was recorded 1973-1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals
  • MFSB– instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, and Bruce Hawes, except where noted.

  1. Since I Been Gone
  2. Ain’t No Price on Happiness
  3. I’m Glad You Walked into My Life
  4. I’m Coming Home- Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  5. He’ll Never Love You Like I Do
  6. Love Has Gone Away
  7. Love Don’t Love Nobody – Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson
  8. Mighty Love