There have been at least three groups called The Spinners: 1. a soul group, 2. a 1960s folk group and 3. a Turkish female punk band.
1. A soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul. In the UK they were known as "The Detroit Spinners" to avoid confusion with British band The Spinners. The band's roots lay in Detroit, where they formed as a doo wop group during the late '50s. Throughout the '60s, the Spinners tried to land a hit by adapting to the shifting fashions of R&B and pop. Read Full BioThere have been at least three groups called The Spinners: 1. a soul group, 2. a 1960s folk group and 3. a Turkish female punk band.
1. A soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul. In the UK they were known as "The Detroit Spinners" to avoid confusion with British band The Spinners. The band's roots lay in Detroit, where they formed as a doo wop group during the late '50s. Throughout the '60s, the Spinners tried to land a hit by adapting to the shifting fashions of R&B and pop. By the mid-'60s, they had signed with Motown Records, but the label never gave the group much consideration. "It's a Shame" became a hit in 1970, but the label continued to ignore the group, and dropped the band two years later. Unsigned and featuring new lead singer Phillipe Wynne, the Spinners seemed destined to never break into the big leagues, but they managed to sign with Atlantic Records, where they began working with producer Thom Bell. With his assistance, the Spinners developed a distinctive sound, one that relied on Wynne's falsetto and the group's intricate vocal harmonies. Bell provided the group with an appropriately detailed production, creating a detailed web of horns, strings, backing vocals, and lightly funky rhythms. Between 1972 and 1977, the Spinners and Bell recorded a number of soul classics, including "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Fallin in Love," "Mighty Love," "Ghetto Child," "Then Came You," "Games People Play," and "The Rubberband Man." Wynne left in 1977 and the Spinners had hits for a few years after his departure, but the group will always be remembered for its classic mid-'70s work. Originally, called the Domingoes, the Spinners formed when the quintet were high school students in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale in 1957. At the time, the group featured Bobbie Smith, Pervis Jackson, George W. Dixon, Billy Henderson, and Henry Fambrough. Four years later, they came to the attention of producer Harvey Fuqua, who began recording the group -- who were now called the Spinners -- for his Tri-Phi Records. The band's first single, "That's What Girls Are Made For," became a Top Ten R&B hit upon its 1961 release and featured Smith on vocals. Following its release, Dixon was replaced by Edgar "Chico" Edwards. Over the next few years, the group released a series of failed singles, and when Tri-Phi was bought out by Motown in the mid-'60s, the Spinners became part of the larger company's roster. By that time, Edwards had been replaced by G.C. Cameron. Though the Spinners had some R&B hits at Motown during the late '60s, including "I'll Always Love You" and "Truly Yours," they didn't have a genuine crossover success until 1970, when Stevie Wonder gave the group "It's a Shame." Motown never concentrated on the Spinners, and they let the group go in 1972. Before the band signed with Atlantic Records, Phillipe Wynne replaced Cameron as the group's lead vocalist. Wynne had previously sung with Catfish and Bootsy Collins. At Atlantic Records, the Spinners worked with producer Thom Bell, who gave the group a lush, seductive sound, complete with sighing strings, a tight rhythm section, sultry horns, and a slight funk underpinning. Wynne quickly emerged as a first-rate soul singer, and the combination of the group's harmonies, Wynne's soaring leads, and Bell's meticulous production made the Spinners the most popular soul group of the '70s. Once the group signed with Atlantic, they became a veritable hit machine, topping the R&B and pop charts with songs like "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," "Ghetto Child," "Rubberband Man," and "You're Throwing a Good Love Away." Not only were their singles hits, but their albums constantly went gold and charted in the Top 20. Wynne left the band to pursue a solo career in 1977; he was replaced by John Edwards. Though none of Wynne's solo records were big hits, his tours with Parliament-Funkadelic were well-received, as were his solo concerts. In October 1984, he died of a heart attack during a concert in Oakland, CA. The Spinners, meanwhile, had a number of minor hits in the late '70s, highlighted by their disco covers of "Working My Way Back to You" and the medley "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time." During the early '80s, they had several minor hits before fading away from the charts and entering the oldies circuit, reprising their earlier material for 1999's new studio effort At Their Best. Long time founding members Billy Henderson and Pervis Jackson have since deceased.
2. The Spinners were a folk group from Liverpool, England, that formed in September 1958. The group was unusual for its time in having a multiracial membership.
They variously had four albums in the UK Albums Chart between September 1970 and April 1972. One of them, Spinners Live Performance (1971), spent three months in the listing and peaked at No. 14.
The band began as a skiffle group with a mainly American repertoire, until they were prompted by Redd Sullivan, a seaman, to include sea shanties and English folk songs. They started out as the Gin Mill Skiffle Group, which included guitarist Tony Davis and washboard player Mick Groves. The group played the Cavern Club, Liverpool for the first time on Friday 18 January 1957, with the Muskrat Jazz Band and the Liverpool University Jazz Band. They played there on a number of occasions on Friday 24 May; Sunday 26 May; Wednesday 5 June; Wednesday 3 July and Friday 16 August 1957. In September 1958 they became the Spinners. They founded a folk club in Liverpool, the 'Triton Club', but soon were performing in London at places such as 'the Troubadour'. Their first album, Songs Spun in Liverpool, was recorded by Bill Leader from live performances. In 1962 Peter Kennedy of the English Folk Dance & Song Society recorded an album with them called Quayside Songs Old & New. In 1963 Philips Records signed them, and they recorded eight more albums over the next eight years. They signed for EMI Records in the early 1970s.
They became popular by reviving some of the greatest folk music and singing new songs in the same vein. Although sounding like traditional English folk songs, some of their material was in fact composed by Jones, such as "The Ellan Vannin Tragedy" and "The Marco Polo". One of their best known songs, particularly in their native Liverpool, was "In My Liverpool Home", written by Peter McGovern in 1962. Cliff Hall also introduced traditional Jamaican songs to their repertoire. One of their albums was called Not Quite Folk.
They produced over forty albums, and made numerous concerts and TV appearances. In 1970, they were given their own television show on BBC One that ran for seven years. They also had their own show on BBC Radio 2. They retired in 1988, after thirty years together, although they led the community singing at the 1989 FA Cup Final and played some Christmas shows in the early 1990s. Members of the group still perform, although Cliff Hall retired to Australia, where he died in 2008.
Their version of the Ewan MacColl song, "Dirty Old Town", was included in the Terence Davies' 2008 memoir/documentary of Liverpool, Of Time and the City. A biography of the group 'Fried Bread and Brandy-O' (the title of their signature tune) was written by Liverpool journalist David Stuckey (with a foreword by Pete Seeger) to coincide with their 25th anniversary, and published by Robson Books.
In 2009 The Liverpool Barrow Boys from Songs Spun in Liverpool was included in Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten as track 19 on the 6th CD.
Band members
Tony Davis (born 24 August 1930, Blackburn, Lancashire, England, died 10 February 2017)
Mick Groves (born Salford, Lancashire, England)
Cliff Hall (born Clifford Samuel Hall, 11 September 1925, Oriente Province, Cuba, died 26 June 2008, Adelaide, South Australia)
Hughie Jones (born Liverpool, England)
3. The Spinners were a female punk band from Turkey, active in the late 80's and early 90's. They released a demo called “Lalala” in 1991.
1. A soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul. In the UK they were known as "The Detroit Spinners" to avoid confusion with British band The Spinners. The band's roots lay in Detroit, where they formed as a doo wop group during the late '50s. Throughout the '60s, the Spinners tried to land a hit by adapting to the shifting fashions of R&B and pop. Read Full BioThere have been at least three groups called The Spinners: 1. a soul group, 2. a 1960s folk group and 3. a Turkish female punk band.
1. A soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul. In the UK they were known as "The Detroit Spinners" to avoid confusion with British band The Spinners. The band's roots lay in Detroit, where they formed as a doo wop group during the late '50s. Throughout the '60s, the Spinners tried to land a hit by adapting to the shifting fashions of R&B and pop. By the mid-'60s, they had signed with Motown Records, but the label never gave the group much consideration. "It's a Shame" became a hit in 1970, but the label continued to ignore the group, and dropped the band two years later. Unsigned and featuring new lead singer Phillipe Wynne, the Spinners seemed destined to never break into the big leagues, but they managed to sign with Atlantic Records, where they began working with producer Thom Bell. With his assistance, the Spinners developed a distinctive sound, one that relied on Wynne's falsetto and the group's intricate vocal harmonies. Bell provided the group with an appropriately detailed production, creating a detailed web of horns, strings, backing vocals, and lightly funky rhythms. Between 1972 and 1977, the Spinners and Bell recorded a number of soul classics, including "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Fallin in Love," "Mighty Love," "Ghetto Child," "Then Came You," "Games People Play," and "The Rubberband Man." Wynne left in 1977 and the Spinners had hits for a few years after his departure, but the group will always be remembered for its classic mid-'70s work. Originally, called the Domingoes, the Spinners formed when the quintet were high school students in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale in 1957. At the time, the group featured Bobbie Smith, Pervis Jackson, George W. Dixon, Billy Henderson, and Henry Fambrough. Four years later, they came to the attention of producer Harvey Fuqua, who began recording the group -- who were now called the Spinners -- for his Tri-Phi Records. The band's first single, "That's What Girls Are Made For," became a Top Ten R&B hit upon its 1961 release and featured Smith on vocals. Following its release, Dixon was replaced by Edgar "Chico" Edwards. Over the next few years, the group released a series of failed singles, and when Tri-Phi was bought out by Motown in the mid-'60s, the Spinners became part of the larger company's roster. By that time, Edwards had been replaced by G.C. Cameron. Though the Spinners had some R&B hits at Motown during the late '60s, including "I'll Always Love You" and "Truly Yours," they didn't have a genuine crossover success until 1970, when Stevie Wonder gave the group "It's a Shame." Motown never concentrated on the Spinners, and they let the group go in 1972. Before the band signed with Atlantic Records, Phillipe Wynne replaced Cameron as the group's lead vocalist. Wynne had previously sung with Catfish and Bootsy Collins. At Atlantic Records, the Spinners worked with producer Thom Bell, who gave the group a lush, seductive sound, complete with sighing strings, a tight rhythm section, sultry horns, and a slight funk underpinning. Wynne quickly emerged as a first-rate soul singer, and the combination of the group's harmonies, Wynne's soaring leads, and Bell's meticulous production made the Spinners the most popular soul group of the '70s. Once the group signed with Atlantic, they became a veritable hit machine, topping the R&B and pop charts with songs like "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," "Ghetto Child," "Rubberband Man," and "You're Throwing a Good Love Away." Not only were their singles hits, but their albums constantly went gold and charted in the Top 20. Wynne left the band to pursue a solo career in 1977; he was replaced by John Edwards. Though none of Wynne's solo records were big hits, his tours with Parliament-Funkadelic were well-received, as were his solo concerts. In October 1984, he died of a heart attack during a concert in Oakland, CA. The Spinners, meanwhile, had a number of minor hits in the late '70s, highlighted by their disco covers of "Working My Way Back to You" and the medley "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time." During the early '80s, they had several minor hits before fading away from the charts and entering the oldies circuit, reprising their earlier material for 1999's new studio effort At Their Best. Long time founding members Billy Henderson and Pervis Jackson have since deceased.
2. The Spinners were a folk group from Liverpool, England, that formed in September 1958. The group was unusual for its time in having a multiracial membership.
They variously had four albums in the UK Albums Chart between September 1970 and April 1972. One of them, Spinners Live Performance (1971), spent three months in the listing and peaked at No. 14.
The band began as a skiffle group with a mainly American repertoire, until they were prompted by Redd Sullivan, a seaman, to include sea shanties and English folk songs. They started out as the Gin Mill Skiffle Group, which included guitarist Tony Davis and washboard player Mick Groves. The group played the Cavern Club, Liverpool for the first time on Friday 18 January 1957, with the Muskrat Jazz Band and the Liverpool University Jazz Band. They played there on a number of occasions on Friday 24 May; Sunday 26 May; Wednesday 5 June; Wednesday 3 July and Friday 16 August 1957. In September 1958 they became the Spinners. They founded a folk club in Liverpool, the 'Triton Club', but soon were performing in London at places such as 'the Troubadour'. Their first album, Songs Spun in Liverpool, was recorded by Bill Leader from live performances. In 1962 Peter Kennedy of the English Folk Dance & Song Society recorded an album with them called Quayside Songs Old & New. In 1963 Philips Records signed them, and they recorded eight more albums over the next eight years. They signed for EMI Records in the early 1970s.
They became popular by reviving some of the greatest folk music and singing new songs in the same vein. Although sounding like traditional English folk songs, some of their material was in fact composed by Jones, such as "The Ellan Vannin Tragedy" and "The Marco Polo". One of their best known songs, particularly in their native Liverpool, was "In My Liverpool Home", written by Peter McGovern in 1962. Cliff Hall also introduced traditional Jamaican songs to their repertoire. One of their albums was called Not Quite Folk.
They produced over forty albums, and made numerous concerts and TV appearances. In 1970, they were given their own television show on BBC One that ran for seven years. They also had their own show on BBC Radio 2. They retired in 1988, after thirty years together, although they led the community singing at the 1989 FA Cup Final and played some Christmas shows in the early 1990s. Members of the group still perform, although Cliff Hall retired to Australia, where he died in 2008.
Their version of the Ewan MacColl song, "Dirty Old Town", was included in the Terence Davies' 2008 memoir/documentary of Liverpool, Of Time and the City. A biography of the group 'Fried Bread and Brandy-O' (the title of their signature tune) was written by Liverpool journalist David Stuckey (with a foreword by Pete Seeger) to coincide with their 25th anniversary, and published by Robson Books.
In 2009 The Liverpool Barrow Boys from Songs Spun in Liverpool was included in Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set Three Score and Ten as track 19 on the 6th CD.
Band members
Tony Davis (born 24 August 1930, Blackburn, Lancashire, England, died 10 February 2017)
Mick Groves (born Salford, Lancashire, England)
Cliff Hall (born Clifford Samuel Hall, 11 September 1925, Oriente Province, Cuba, died 26 June 2008, Adelaide, South Australia)
Hughie Jones (born Liverpool, England)
3. The Spinners were a female punk band from Turkey, active in the late 80's and early 90's. They released a demo called “Lalala” in 1991.
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Sitting On Top Of The World
The Spinners Lyrics
Some people say what goes around comes around
Don't pick me up with love just to put me down
If this is true what they say, then why do they let love slip away?
So just give your love and I'll give mine, yeah
If there are greener fields and a higher ground
Then what makes loving red change to hazy brown?
When love is put to the test, it somehow weeds out the worse from best
Or maybe the best will pass you by, 'cause we're just
Sitting on top of the world
You and me baby
Twiddling our thumbs and thinking about it
Sitting on top of the world
Baby, without your love
Without your love
Without your love, baby
Living ain't all
All that it seems
Living ain't all, no
All that it seems, yeah oh oh
Some people think that we live upon a cloud
They just don't can't seem to hear though I'm speaking loud
Though some of those things are true
You can't always tell what one might do
When things of the future are right now
'Cause we're just
Sitting on top of the world
You and me baby
Twiddling our thumbs
And just thinking about it
Uh-huh, without your love
Without your love
Without your love
Living ain't all, no, no, no
It ain't all that it seems girl, no, no, no
All I ever want from you
Is your tender love, you see, girl
I've been so blue before
See girl, I'm a simple man
Doing the best I can to make you see that I love you, girl
I need your love
'Cause living ain't all, hey, hey
I got to tell you about it
I, I got to let you know
Can we sit on top of the world?
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit
Just little bit, babe
Twiddle our thumbs just a little bit
Watch the world go around, we'll see ourselves in love
Whoa, uh-oh, see baby, love is more than living
It's the feeling that you get
When two people are giving
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE HAWES, CHARLES B. SIMMONS, JOSEPH BANKS JEFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Lonnie Cook
Lyrics to: "Sitting on top of the world"
Written by: J. Jefferson – B. Hawes & C. Simmons
Some people say what goes around comes around.
Don’t pick me up with love just to put me down.
If this is true what they say? Then why do they let love slip away?
So Just give your love and i’ll give mine.
If there are greener fields and a higher ground?
Then what makes loving red change to hazy brown?
When love is put to the test, it somehow weeds out the worse from best.
Or maybe the best will pass you by cause we're just
Chorus
Sitting on top of the world,
you and me baby
Twiddling our thumbs and thinking about it.
Sitting on top of the world
Baby, Without your love,
Without your love,
Without your love, babee
Living ain’t all,
all that it seems
Living ain’t all, no
All that it seems
Some people think that we live upon a cloud.
They just don’t can't seem to hear though i’m speaking loud.
Though some of those things are true,
You can’t always tell what one might do
. when things of the future are right now
Cause we're just…
Chorus
Sitting On Top Of The World
you and me baby
Twiddling Our Thumbs
And Just Thinking About It
Uh Huh, Without your love,
Without your love,
Without your love,
Living ain’t all, naw naw naw
it ain't all that it seems girl. No, no ,no
All I ever want from you
is your tender love, you see girl,
i’ve been so blue before.
See girl I’m a simple man
Doing the best I can to make you see
that I love you girl.
I needa your love
Cause living ain’t all…hey hey
I got to tell you about it.
I, I got to let you know.
Can we sit on top of the world?
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit,
just little bit babe…
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit,
watch the world go around we'll see ourselves in love
Whoa Uh Oh! See baby, love is more than living.
It’s the feeling that you get,
when two people are giving.
Adlib…out
Show less
Lonnie Cook
Drums: Andrew Smith
Background Vocals: Barbara Ingram
Vocals: Billy Henderson
Baroque Guitar: Bob Babbitt
Trombone: Bob Moore
Guitar: Bobbie Eli
Trumpet: Bobby Hartzell
Vocals: Bobby Smith
Background Vocals: Carla Benton
French Horn: Danny Davis
Guitar: Don Murray
Strings: Don Renaldo & His Swingin' Strings
Trombone: Ed Cascarella
Trombone: Freddie Joiner
Vocals: Henry Fambrough
Alto Saxophone: Jack Faith
French Horn: Joe DeAngelis
Congas: Larry Washington
Background Vocals: Linda Creed
French Horn: Milt Phibbs
Vocals: Pervis Jackson
Vocals: Philippe Soul Wynne
Trombone: Richard Genovese
Trumpet: Rocco Bene
Keyboards, Producer: Thom Bell
Pedal Steel Guitar: Tom Kennery
Guitar: Tony Bell
Harp: Walter Pfeil
Background Vocals: Yvette Benson
Writer: Bruce Hawes
Writer: Charles Simmons
Writer: Joseph B. Jefferson
Lonnie Cook
Finally i am finished editing, it would be helpful if you guys would put these lyrics on those internet pages that have them wrong.
Sitting on top of the world
Written by: J. Jefferson – B. Hawes & C. Simmons
Some people say what goes around comes around.
Don’t pick me up with love just to put me down.
If this is true what they say? Then why do they let love slip away?
So Just give your love and i’ll give mine.
If there are greener fields and a higher ground?
Then what makes loving red change to hazy brown?
When love is put to the test, it somehow weeds out the worse from best.
Or maybe the best will pass you by cause we're just
Chorus
Sitting on top of the world,
you and me baby
Twiddling our thumbs and thinking about it.
Sitting on top of the world
Baby, Without your love,
Without your love,
Without your love, babee
Living ain’t all,
all that it seems
Living ain’t all, no
All that it seems
Some people think that we live upon a cloud.
They just don’t can't seem to hear though i’m speaking loud.
Though some of those things are true,
You can’t always tell what one might do
. when things of the future are right now
Cause we're just…
Chorus
Sitting On Top Of The World
you and me baby
Twiddling Our Thumbs
And Just Thinking About It
Uh Huh, Without your love,
Without your love,
Without your love,
Living ain’t all, naw naw naw
it ain't all that it seems girl. No, no ,no
All I ever want from you
is your tender love, you see girl,
i’ve been so blue before.
See girl I’m a simple man
Doing the best I can to make you see
that I love you girl.
I needa your love
Cause living ain’t all…hey hey
I got to tell you about it.
I, I got to let you know.
Can we sit on top of the world?
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit,
just little bit babe…
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit,
watch the world go around we'll see ourselves in love
Whoa Uh Oh! See baby, love is more than living.
It’s the feeling that you get,
when two people are giving.
Adlib…out
Lonnie Cook
Lyrics to: "Sitting on top of the world"
Written by: J. Jefferson – B. Hawes & C. Simmons
Some people say what goes around comes around.
Don’t pick me up with love just to put me down.
If this is true what they say? Then why do they let love slip away?
So Just give your love and i’ll give mine.
If there are greener fields and a higher ground?
Then what makes loving red change to hazy brown?
When love is put to the test, it somehow weeds out the worse from best.
Or maybe the best will pass you by cause we're just
Chorus
Sitting on top of the world,
you and me baby
Twiddling our thumbs and thinking about it.
Sitting on top of the world
Baby, Without your love,
Without your love,
Without your love, babee
Living ain’t all,
all that it seems
Living ain’t all, no
All that it seems
Some people think that we live upon a cloud.
They just don’t can't seem to hear though i’m speaking loud.
Though some of those things are true,
You can’t always tell what one might do
. when things of the future are right now
Cause we're just…
Chorus
Sitting On Top Of The World
you and me baby
Twiddling Our Thumbs
And Just Thinking About It
Uh Huh, Without your love,
Without your love,
Without your love,
Living ain’t all, naw naw naw
it ain't all that it seems girl. No, no ,no
All I ever want from you
is your tender love, you see girl,
i’ve been so blue before.
See girl I’m a simple man
Doing the best I can to make you see
that I love you girl.
I needa your love
Cause living ain’t all…hey hey
I got to tell you about it.
I, I got to let you know.
Can we sit on top of the world?
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit,
just little bit babe…
Twiddle our thumbs just little bit,
watch the world go around we'll see ourselves in love
Whoa Uh Oh! See baby, love is more than living.
It’s the feeling that you get,
when two people are giving.
Adlib…out
Show less
Curtis Gilbert
Thank you for the lyrics Bruce
Lonnie Cook
You are welcome, it was a pleasure for me to converse with one of the writers, Bruce Hawes, he sent them to me.
thomas t
Thanks for the lyrics, man.
William Ryan
Great song!
Nick Coleworld
I'm 20 jamming this, there is still hope out
TheUmmahFightCamp
+Nick Coleworld Yes sir! I teach the Fighting arts and train to some rap because a good beat takes us beyond fatigue. Problem is guys like Talib and others don't get the credit.
Nick Coleworld
+TheUmmahFightCamp the good rappers cool , but this is where it's at
TheUmmahFightCamp
+Nick Coleworld Just came by this to reminisce! Saw your post. Great to see it "youngin". There IS hope!
Bruce A. Hawes
There was a special kind of musical magic in the way +The Spinners sang the songs written by me and my songwriting partners, Charles Simmons, and Joe Jefferson. Every-time we walked in to Thom Bell's office with the next batch of songs that we would write for The Spinners next album, Thom perked up and began plotting out his production for them. Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments. And thank you +Lonnie Cook for your support of our music work together. You are a treasured friend....