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 By that time, Edwards had been replaced by G.C. Cameron.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.
Sadie
The Spinners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a rare occasion to be able
To see young mothers like the ones
That were around when I grew up
But they live on in memory
To quite a few of us
And this song is dedicated
To those who cherish that memory
Early one Sunday morning
Breakfast was on the table
There was no time to eat
She said to me, "boy, hurry to Sunday school"
Filled with a load of glory
We learned the Holy story
She'll always have her dreams
Despite the things this troubled world can bring
Oh, Sadie
Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?
Place no one above you
Sweet Sadie, well, well, well (living in the past)
Sometimes it seems so funny
But no money will turn your life around
Sweeter than cotton candy
Stronger than papa's old brandy
Always that needed smile
Once in a while, she would break down and cry
Sometimes she'd be so happy
Just being with us and daddy
Standing the worst of times
Breaking the binds with just a simple song
Oh (Sadie) Sadie, baby
(Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) she'll love us all in a special way
Well, well, well (place no one above you) sweet Sadie
Living in the past
Oh, she's never sinnin'
In love she's always winnin', yeah
(Sadie, don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) my, my, my, I love you, mama
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) I just can't forget
How you gave me love, oh, Lord (living in the past)
If there's a heaven up above
I know she's teaching angels how to love
(Sadie, don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) it's a mean world without you
All the love you showed
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) oh, how could anyone ever doubt your lovely word?
(Living in the past)
Ain't it funny that in the end, it's not money
It's just the love you gave us all?
(Sadie, don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) Why, why do the good leave so soon?
(Place no-one above you, sweet Sadie) oh, I don't know (living in the past)
And though the people say they love my songs
Oh Lord, I'm all alone, I miss her so
(Sadie, don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) well, I love you, mama
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) oh
Let me just try, just try one more time and say, I (living in the past)
And though we were very poor, she tried to love us that much more, oh
(Sadie)
Have you ever, have you ever met Sadie? (don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?)
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) oh
The premier of ladies (living in the past)
Oh, sometimes I feel so alone
But I know that I gotta on
(Sadie) that's what she wanted for me
(Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) I know it's gonna be hard some time
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) oh Sadie
(Living in the past) lord, although my mama's no longer here
Her memory still lingers dear, ah
(Sadie) just let me run, let me run, let me go
(Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?) why don't you?
Why you wanna make me feel so bad? (place no one above you, sweet Sadie)
Well, well, just get home, let me be (living in the past)
I'm going to keep on moving, I'm going to try to keep groving
The Spinners’ classic hit “Sadie” is a tribute to the unsung heroes of the African-American community, the strong and loving mothers who endured hardships in a world that still struggled with racism and inequality. The song begins with a reflection on the lack of young mothers who embody the same qualities and values as those from the past. The lyrics then shift to a specific memory of the singer’s mother, who woke him up on Sunday morning for church and instilled in him the importance of faith and love. The chorus of the song repeatedly declares love for Sadie, her invaluable role in her family’s life, and the legacy she left behind.
The song captures the spirit of resilience, joy, and determination that was exemplified by mothers like Sadie, who found a way to smile and persevere despite the adversity they faced. Sadie represents the qualities of motherhood that transcend time and place and that continue to inspire and guide future generations. The Spinners’ lyrics are a moving tribute to the power of a mother’s love and the profound impact it can have on a family, a community, and a nation.
Line by Line Meaning
In a world like today
It's rare to find young mothers like those from the past
But they live on in memory
The memories of these mothers are cherished
Early one Sunday morning
One Sunday morning in the past
Breakfast was on the table
Breakfast was ready to be eaten
There was no time to eat
There was no time to finish eating
She said to me, "boy, hurry to Sunday school"
She told me to go to Sunday school quickly
Filled with a load of glory
The Holy story was filled with glory
We learned the Holy story
We learned about the Holy story
She'll always have her dreams
She will always have her dreams
Despite the things this troubled world can bring
Despite the troubles of the world
Oh, Sadie
Referring to the person named Sadie
Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?
Expressing love for Sadie
Place no one above you
No one is more important than Sadie
Sometimes it seems so funny
Sometimes it seems humorous or ironic
But no money will turn your life around
Money cannot change your life
Sweeter than cotton candy
Very sweet
Stronger than papa's old brandy
Stronger than old brandy
Always that needed smile
Always had a smile that was needed
Once in a while, she would break down and cry
Occasionally, she would cry
Sometimes she'd be so happy
Sometimes she would be very happy
Just being with us and daddy
Just spending time with the family
Standing the worst of times
Staying strong during difficult times
Breaking the binds with just a simple song
Breaking free with a simple song
Oh (Sadie) Sadie, baby
Referring to the person named Sadie
(Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?)
Expressing love for Sadie
Well, well, well (place no one above you) sweet Sadie
No one is more important than Sadie
Living in the past
Referring to memories of the past
Oh, she's never sinnin'
She never sinned
In love she's always winnin', yeah
She always wins in love
(Sadie, don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?)
Expressing love for Sadie
It's a mean world without you
The world is harsh without Sadie
All the love you showed
The love Sadie showed is remembered
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) oh, how could anyone ever doubt your lovely word?
No one is more important than Sadie and her word is lovely
Ain't it funny that in the end, it's not money
Ironic that money is not important in the end
If there's a heaven up above
If there's a heaven
I know she's teaching angels how to love
She's teaching angels how to love in heaven
Why, why do the good leave so soon?
Questioning why good people leave early
Oh, I don't know (living in the past)
Not sure why
And though the people say they love my songs
People say they love the music
Oh Lord, I'm all alone, I miss her so
Feeling alone and missing Sadie
Well, I love you, mama
Expressing love for Sadie
Let me just try, just try one more time and say, I (living in the past)
Trying to remember the past
And though we were very poor, she tried to love us that much more, oh
Even though they were poor, Sadie tried to love them more
Have you ever, have you ever met Sadie? (don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?)
Asking if someone has ever met Sadie and expressing love for her
The premier of ladies (living in the past)
The best among women in the past
Oh, sometimes I feel so alone
Feeling alone at times
But I know that I gotta on
But I know I have to keep going
(Sadie) that's what she wanted for me
Referring to what Sadie wanted for him
(Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?)
Expressing love for Sadie
I know it's gonna be hard some time
I know it will be difficult at times
(Place no one above you, sweet Sadie) oh Sadie
No one is more important than Sadie
(Living in the past) lord, although my mama's no longer here
Talking about the past when Sadie was still alive
Her memory still lingers dear, ah
Her memory is still cherished
(Sadie) just let me run, let me run, let me go
Asking Sadie to let him go
(Don't you know we love you, sweet Sadie?)
Expressing love for Sadie
Why, why do you wanna make me feel so bad? (place no one above you, sweet Sadie)
Asking why Sadie wants to make him feel bad and no one is more important than her
Well, well, just get home, let me be (living in the past)
Asking Sadie to let him be and talking about the past
I'm going to keep on moving, I'm going to try to keep groving
Going to keep moving forward and trying to keep going
Lyrics © Exceleration Music Partners, LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THEODORE R TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind