(January 27, 2024) The Spinners and The Stylistics filled the decade of the 1970s with great soul ballads and high energy dance tunes. From 1970 until the early years of the 1980s, fans could rely on seeing a song from one of these groups on a Billboard chart.
The Spinners were formed in the Detroit area in 1954 and had a moderately successful stint at Motown. The group came into its own when they paired with legendary songwriter Thom Bell at Atlantic in 1972. The Spinners arrived at Atlantic around the same time that Bell started penning hits for the Philadelphia based group The Stylistics.
(January 27, 2024) The Spinners and The Stylistics filled the decade of the 1970s with great soul ballads and high energy dance tunes. From 1970 until the early years of the 1980s, fans could rely on seeing a song from one of these groups on a Billboard chart.
The Spinners were formed in the Detroit area in 1954 and had a moderately successful stint at Motown. The group came into its own when they paired with legendary songwriter Thom Bell at Atlantic in 1972. The Spinners arrived at Atlantic around the same time that Bell started penning hits for the Philadelphia based group The Stylistics.
You turned on the radio and DJs were likely to be playing a song by one of these two groups whether you were listening to an R&B station or a Top 40 station. These groups pumped out hits, but Bell and company knew how to craft lyrics and arrangements that played to the gospel-tinged soulfulness of The Spinners’ Phillipe Wynne and the sweet falsetto of The Stylistics lead singer Russell Thompkins, Jr.
These groups shared a songwriter, success, and a record label, so it’s not surprising that they are linked in the minds of many music fans. Say the name The Stylistics and The Spinners will eventually enter the conversation, and vice versa.
That’s why it feels just right hearing that legendary Stylistics lead singer Russell Thompkins, Jr. cut a remake of The Spinners’ song that was written by Melvin and Mervin Steals, “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love.”
The vocals stand as the biggest contrast. Thompkins feathery falsetto rather than the Bobby Smith’s buttery tenor and Wynne’s gospel inspired improvisations are featured in the updated version. But it’s all good. Check out SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Russell Thompkins’ remake of The Spinners classic “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” here.
By Howard Dukes
Russell Thompkins, Jr.
"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love"