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 By that time, Edwards had been replaced by G.C. Cameron.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.
Message From A Black Man
The Spinners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't stop me now
No matter how hard you try
You can't stop me now
Yes, my skin is black
But that's no reason to hold me back
Oh think about it, think about it,
Think about it, think about it
I have wants and desires just like you
So move on aside cause I'm a-comin' through
Oh no matter how hard you try you can't
Stop me now
No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now.
Yes, your skin is white
Does that make you right
Walk on and think about it, think about it
Think about it, think about it
Think about it, think about it, think about it.
This is a message, a message to y'all
Together we stand divided we fall
Black is a color just like white
Tell me how can a color determine whether
You're wrong or right
We all have our faults yes we do
So look in your mirror
What do you see, two eyes a nose and a
Mouth just like me
Oh your eyes are open but you refuse to see
The laws of society were made for both
You and me
Because of my color I struggle to be free
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But in the end you're gonna see my friend
No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now
No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now.
"Message From A Black Man" by The Spinners is a powerful and thought-provoking song that addresses racial inequality and challenges societal stereotypes. The lyrics convey a message of resilience and determination, emphasizing that no matter how hard anyone tries, they cannot prevent the progress and success of black individuals.
The song starts by acknowledging the struggles faced by black people, particularly the societal barriers they encounter due to the color of their skin. Despite these obstacles, the lyrics assert that being black should not be a reason to hold anyone back. The repeated phrase "No matter how hard you try, you can't stop me now" reinforces the resilience and conviction of the singer.
The song then shifts focus by questioning the notion of superiority based on skin color. The lyrics point out that just as the singer's skin is black, the listener's skin is white, and this does not automatically make them right or superior. It encourages the listener to think about the equality between races and challenges the concept of judging someone based on their skin color.
The song concludes with a call for unity and solidarity, emphasizing the importance of standing together against division. It highlights the shared humanity of all individuals, regardless of their race, by reminding everyone that we all have faults. However, it also emphasizes the need to confront and overcome societal prejudices and biases that restrict freedom and equality.
Line by Line Meaning
No matter how hard you try
Regardless of your efforts
You can't stop me now
You cannot prevent me from progressing
Yes, my skin is black
Indeed, my skin tone is black
But that's no reason to hold me back
However, it should not be a justification for hindering my progress
Oh think about it, think about it,
Reflect upon this matter
Think about it, think about it
Ponder over it
Think about it, think about it, think about it.
Consider it deeply
I have wants and desires just like you
I possess aspirations and longings similar to yours
So move on aside cause I'm a-comin' through
Hence, step aside as I forge ahead
Oh no matter how hard you try you can't
Indeed, no matter your efforts, you cannot
Stop me now
Impede my progress at this moment
Yes, your skin is white
Certainly, your complexion is white
Does that make you right
Does that validate your correctness?
Walk on and think about it, think about it
Continue your journey while contemplating this matter
This is a message, a message to y'all
This serves as a communication, a communication to all of you
Together we stand divided we fall
Unity empowers us, division leads to failure
Black is a color just like white
Black is simply a hue, the same as white
Tell me how can a color determine whether
Explain to me how a color can dictate whether
You're wrong or right
One is incorrect or correct
We all have our faults yes we do
Every one of us possesses imperfections, indeed
So look in your mirror
Therefore, gaze into your reflection
What do you see, two eyes a nose and a
What do you perceive? Two eyes, a nose, and a
Mouth just like me
Mouth similar to mine
Oh your eyes are open but you refuse to see
Although your eyes are open, you choose not to comprehend
The laws of society were made for both
Society's rules were established for both of us
You and me
You and me, together
Because of my color I struggle to be free
Due to my skin tone, I experience hardships in attaining freedom
Sticks and stones may break my bones
Physical harm may cause me pain
But in the end you're gonna see my friend
However, eventually you will comprehend, my companion
No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now
No matter your efforts, you are unable to hinder my progress at this point
No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now.
No matter your efforts, you cannot prevent me from moving forward at this moment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman J. Whitfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
delam1970
Loved both versions of Message From A Black Man by the Temptations and the Spinners. The Temptations version had Melvin Franklin on the spoken verses and also Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards on leads. The Spinners version had Pervis Jackson on the spoken verses and G.C. Cameron on lead vocals. Great versions from both 1969 and 1970 respectively.
Calvin Guile
nothing against the Temps..but this version gives me the chills. love it!..and they put their own stamp on it
Terry Middlemiss
this IS the DEFINITIVE version ....what a MASTERPIECE
Dave Riley
With all due respect to The Temptations...this is the definitive version right here. Period!
Aubrey Taylor
This sounds a little bit better then the Temptations version
Alan J Poole
Well, well, well, I never knew that the Spinners did a version of this Whitfield song, ... and not bad it is too. Wonder who produced/arranged it? (It's reasonably close to the Temps version).
Jimmie Perryman
I can't believe some actually think this version is better than the tempts..no way
Kj Jones
But the groove
Theodore Johnson
I do !
bucyrus.be
The Heptones take is pretty flavorsome as well as possessing a stellar dub that adds a chichi flame to the ignition