The Spinners are known in the United Kingdom as The Detroit Spinners or The Motown Spinners because a Liverpool-based folk band had taken the name "The Spinners" in Britain during the 1960s.
History
In 1954 a group of friends in Ferndale High School in Detroit came together to make music. Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, C.P. Spencer, and James Edwards called themselves The Domingoes. James Edwards lasted only a few weeks; he was replaced by Bobbie Smith, who sang lead on most of the Spinners early records. C.P. Spencer left the group shortly afterwards, and would later go on to be a member of the Voice Masters and The Originals. He was replaced by George Dixon. The group would also rename themselves The Spinners at this time.
1961-1971: A decade in the wilderness
The Spinners first hit the charts in August of 1961 on Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi Records, with "That's What Girls Are Made For," peaking at number 27. Fuqua sang lead vocal on this track, the Spinners' and Tri-Phi's first single. The group's followup, "Love (I'm So Glad) I Found You" (with lead voacls by Smith), would reach number 91 that November, but none of their other Tri-Phi singles charted.
James Edwards' brother Edgar ("Chico") would replace Dixon in the group in 1963, at which time Tri-Phi and the entire artist roster was bought out by Berry Gordy of Motown Records. The Spinners were then assigned to the Motown label.
In 1964, they made their debut at the Apollo Theater and won instant acclaim, a rare feat at the time. But with the exception of "I'll Always Love You," which hit #35 in 1965, success mostly eluded them during the 1960s. After "I'll Always Love You", they relased one single a year from 1966-1969 inclusive, but none charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
With commercial success virtually non-existent, during much of this decade the Spinners would be used by Motown as road managers, chaperones and chauffeurs for other groups, and even as shipping clerks. G.C. Cameron replaced Dixon in 1967, and in 1969, the group switched to the Motown-owned V.I.P. imprint. (The label name is somewhat ironic, given that V.I.P. was generally considered a substandard imprint behind Motown, Gordy, Tamla, and Soul).
In 1970, after a five-year chart absence they hit #14 with writer/producer Stevie Wonder's composition, "It's A Shame," and charted again the following year with another song Wonder wrote and produced, "We'll Have It Made" from their new album Second Time Around. However, these were their last two singles for V.I.P.
Shortly after the release of Second Time Around, legend has it that Atlantic Records recording artist Aretha Franklin suggested the group finish out their Motown contract, and sign with Atlantic. The group made the switch -- except for Cameron who elected to leave the group and remain with Motown as a solo artist. Singer Philippe Wynne then joined The Spinners as Cameron's replacement and the group's new lead singer.
The Hit Years with Philippe Wynne
When The Spinners signed to Atlantic in 1972, they were a commercially unremarkable singing group who had never had a top ten hit. But under under the helm of producer and songwriter Thom Bell, The Spinners would chart five top 100 singles (and two top tens) off their album The Spinners, released in 1972, and go on to be one of the biggest soul groups of the 1970s.
"I'll Be Around" was their first top ten hit, but it was actually the B-side of the first single, "How Could I Let You Get Away". Radio airplay for the B-side led Atlantic to flip the single over, with "I'll Be Around" hitting #3 and "How Could I Let You Get Away" reaching #89.
Follow-up singles "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" (#4, March 1973), "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" (#11, June 1973), and "Ghetto Child" (#29, September 1973) would cement the group's sudden hit-making reputation -- as well as Bell's, who was beginning to be recognized for his contributions to Philly soul or "Philadelphia Sound", a precursor to disco.
Following their Atlantic successes, Motown also issued a "Best of the Spinners" LP which featured selections from their Motown/V.I.P. recordings. They also remixed and reissued the 1970 B-Side "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" as a 1973 A-Side. In the midst of all their Atlantic hits, it crawled to number #91 US.
The group's 1974 followup album, Mighty Love, would contain three Top 20 hits, "I'm Coming Home," "Love Don't Love Nobody," and the title track. Their biggest hit of the year, however, would be a collaboration with Dionne Warwick (then billed as "Dionne Warwicke"). Their joint effort "Then Came You" would reach #1 in October -- the first chart-topper for either artist. Bell later noted, "Dionne made a face when we finished [the song]. She didn't like it much, but I knew we had something. So we ripped a dollar in two, signed each half and exchanged them. I told her, 'If it doesn't go number one, I'll send you my half.' When it took off, Dionne sent hers back. There was an apology on it."
The band would hit the Top 10 twice in the next two years with "(They Just Can't Stop It) Games People Play" (which would lead to a nickname of "12:45" for bass singer Jackson, after his signature vocal line on the song), and "The Rubberband Man."
The Post-Wynne Years
Wynne left the group in 1977, to be replaced by Jonathan Edwards. Though this version of the group had minor hits from 1977-79, they failed to hit the pop Top 40 for two years, and parted ways with producer Bell.
The group did manage several big hits in 1980, charting with medleys of "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" (#2 in March) and "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time" (#4 in July), but a third trip to the well proved one time too many, when "Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same" failed to break Top 40. The group's last Hot 100 pop hit was a remake of Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away," peaking at #67 in 1983. The following year, the group had their last R&B hit with "Right or Wrong".
After some years spent collaborating with Parliament/Funkadelic and working solo, former Spinners member Wynne would die of a heart attack while performing in Oakland in 1984.
After their chart career ended, The Spinners continued touring for decades. Even though their last hits were over 20 years ago, the bright lights of their 1972–1976 run of the charts continues to provide for the current members. They are big draws on the oldies and nostalgia concert circuits, and continue to play the music that made them famous.
A voice from their past, G. C. Cameron, would rejoin the group as lead vocalist from 2000 to 2002, (replacing Jonathan Edwards, who left due to illness) but he left them in 2003 to join The Temptations. Frank Washington, formerly of The Futures and The Delfonics, is now the lead vocalist. Around the same time, long-time member Billy Henderson also departed and was replaced by Harold "Spike" Bonhart.
In their recently released box set The Chrome Collection, The Spinners were lauded by David Bowie and Elvis Costello. The Spinners were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. On July 27, 2006, The Spinners performed on The Late Show With David Letterman to several standing ovations.
I'm Coming Home
Detroit Spinners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goin' back where I came from, I've had more than I can stand
Of watchin' men destroy my dreams, they picked my brain 'till it was clean
When I was up they knocked me down
I ain't goin' to hand around, I'm goin' home, yes I am
(Goin' home) won't you understand, why doncha?
Tell someone to meet me, I'm comin' home
Came to this old town seeking fortune and some fame
I never got the chance to prove myself, though I tried to play their game
Usin' people just ain't my thing and I won't dangle from any string
To please some fool that don't care about
They turned me inside out, I'm goin' home
Back to back you know (I'm goin' home) I got it you know too
I know what's I'm gonna do, I'll tell someone to meet me
Goin' home, yes I am, will ya meet me
(Tell someone to meet me home) when you're down and out, hey hey
I gotta admit it,
I'm really not ashamed,
Of half the things I said
And I don't want nobody
Tryin' to show me pity
'Cause I've had more than I can stand
And better woman I'll be a better man
I can rearrange my life
Might even find me a pretty wife, hey hey hey (home)
Won'tcha wait for me
Starts, begins groovin' (Comin' home)
Oh, lord have mercy, try to be, try to be a good man
Gonna (I'm gonna tell someome to meet me) try to get me somethin' together, I'm goin' home
Yes I am, hey hey hey
(Tell someome to meet me) why doncha? Why doncha? Why doncha?
(Tell someome to meet me) well, why doncha?
(Tell someome to meet me) oh, hey!
It was gonna get steady, but I came to the city
Livin' in a cold life place for the nothin' hey!
You know I gotta get back out
Ain't used to livin' like that see
It's been a long time
Since I felt like a real man
Heh heh
Comin' to the city,
Hey, you have the wrong thing
Have my things on my back
I'm goin' back where I came from
Yeah, 'cause don't nobody really care about you, ain't having no fun
The lyrics to Detroit Spinners' song "I'm Coming Home" tell the story of a man who is leaving behind the city life that has broken him down and returning to his hometown. The song begins with the man sitting in a railway station with his suitcase in hand, fed up with the city life that has left him with shattered dreams and used up. He's had enough of being taken advantage of, and he's ready to return home where he can start anew. He speaks of how he came to the city in search of fame and fortune but never got a chance to prove himself because he refused to use people to get ahead. He talks about how he won't "dangle from any string" to please someone who doesn't care about him.
The lyrics speak of a man who has been through a lot of hardships and is looking to start over. He's not ashamed of the things he's done or said, and he doesn't want anyone to pity him. He simply wants to go back to his hometown where he can find himself and maybe even find a pretty wife. The song is about resilience and the desire to overcome hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' in a railway station with my suitcase in my hand
I am feeling sad and hopeless while sitting in the railway station with my belongings, ready to leave the city.
Goin' back where I came from, I've had more than I can stand
I can't take it anymore and I am returning to my hometown.
Of watchin' men destroy my dreams, they picked my brain 'till it was clean
I had dreams and goals, but people destroyed them by manipulating and taking advantage of me.
When I was up they knocked me down
Whenever I made some progress, people did something to bring me down.
I ain't goin' to hand around, I'm goin' home, yes I am
I am not going to stay here anymore, I am definitely going back home.
(Goin' home) won't you understand, why doncha?
I am requesting you to understand why I am choosing to leave the city and go back home.
Tell someone to meet me, I'm comin' home
I ask you to inform someone to receive me when I return home.
(Tell someone to meet me) why doncha?
Can you please let someone know I am coming back home?
Came to this old town seeking fortune and some fame
I came to this town searching for a better life and recognition.
I never got the chance to prove myself, though I tried to play their game
I wasn't given a fair opportunity to showcase my talent, though I tried to please everyone to fit in.
Usin' people just ain't my thing and I won't dangle from any string
I don't like using people for my interests and I won't compromise my integrity for someone else's benefit.
To please some fool that don't care about
I won't sacrifice my happiness to satisfy someone who doesn't value me.
They turned me inside out, I'm goin' home
The people and circumstances in this town changed who I am, and I am leaving to find my true self again.
Back to back you know (I'm goin' home) I got it you know too
I am going home, and I know you understand my reasons for leaving.
I know what's I'm gonna do, I'll tell someone to meet me
I have a plan to return home, and I will inform someone to pick me up.
Goin' home, yes I am, will ya meet me
I am returning home, and I hope you will be there to welcome me.
(Tell someone to meet me home) when you're down and out, hey hey
When you are feeling low and helpless, you need someone to reach out to; in my case, it's to arrange for my pickup when I return home.
I gotta admit it, I'm really not ashamed, Of half the things I said
I confess that I have spoken truthfully about some things, and I have no regrets about it.
And I don't want nobody Tryin' to show me pity
I don't want anyone's sympathy, especially if it's not genuine.
'Cause I've had more than I can stand And better woman I'll be a better man
I have had enough of struggles and difficulties, and I will emerge stronger from them.
I can rearrange my life Might even find me a pretty wife, hey hey hey (home)
I can start anew and rebuild my life. Maybe I will even find love and companionship in the process.
Won'tcha wait for me
Can you please be patient and wait for me to come back?
Starts, begins groovin' (Comin' home)
I am ready to return home, and my excitement is building.
Oh, lord have mercy, try to be, try to be a good man Gonna (I'm gonna tell someome to meet me) try to get me somethin' together, I'm goin' home
God, please guide me and help me to be a better person. I am going to make some arrangements and preparations before heading back home.
Yes I am, hey hey hey (Tell someone to meet me) why doncha? Why doncha? Why doncha? Well, why doncha? Oh, hey!
Yes, I am going back home, and I want to make sure someone will be there to receive me. Can you please inform someone so that everything is ready when I come back?
It was gonna get steady, but I came to the city Livin' in a cold life place for the nothin' hey!
I thought I would have a better and more stable life here, but instead, I am struggling to survive in a harsh and bleak environment.
You know I gotta get back out Ain't used to livin' like that see It's been a long time Since I felt like a real man Heh heh
I have to get out of here; I am not accustomed to living in such difficult conditions. It has been a long time since I felt confident about myself and my life.
Comin' to the city, Hey, you have the wrong thing Have my things on my back I'm goin' back where I came from Yeah, 'cause don't nobody really care about you, ain't having no fun
I thought I would find happiness and success in the city, but I have realized that I was wrong. I am going back home because nobody cares for me here, and I am not having fun.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LINDA CREED, LINDA DIANE CREED, THOM BELL, THOMAS RANDOLPH BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind