THE (DETROIT) SPINNERS are rightly considered one of soul’s Premier League vocal groups. That position was secured during their tenure with Atlantic Records when, working with Thom Bell, they created some of the very best harmony group soul. Since those heady days, time and musical tastes have taken their toll on the group but through all sorts of difficulties (notably the sad passing of key members), various incarnations of the Spinners have continued to tour and to record. The most recent “new” music we had on the veterans was a three track EP earlier this year. Prior to that soul fans enjoyed a 2021 album, ‘Round The Block Again’ while the previous year there was another EP. All three releases were collaborations with veteran producer Preston Glass and we learned that the material on the two EPs was recorded in 1991 and featured the almost classic Spinners line up of Bobby Smith, Henry Fambrough, Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson and John Edwards. 2021’s ‘Round The Block Again’ featured a new line up (sadly, passings had taken their toll) – Jessie Peck, Marvin Taylor, Ronnie Moss, CJ Jefferson and last surviving original member Henry Fambrough. And that’s the line up on this brand new Spinners’ long player – recorded just prior to Fambrough’s death in February aged 85.
This ‘Full Circle’ is a wonderful tribute to Henry and indeed all the original Spinners as throughout it delivers their trade mark sound – sweet, on-point harmonies and searingly soulful lead vocals. And like all the group’s previous collections, there is a thoughtful mix of flavours and sounds.
Thus if you want to dance, there’s plenty to encourage you to get off the wall. In fact the album opens with a crisp dancer, ‘After Hours’ but things like ‘Dreamin’ ‘Bout You’, the more gentle ‘I Can’ and the closing ‘My Angel Love’ will set heads nodding and feet tapping.
However, the mighty Spinners have always been best known for their sweet balladry and there’s plenty here to satisfy. ‘U’re Not There Yet’ and ‘New Level’ are very contemporary sounding ballads while ‘Rainy Saturday’ and ‘Totally Beautiful’ are more “retro” – harking back to those storied days with Thom Bell . Indeed ‘Rainy Saturday’ is one of the best soul ballads you’ll hear all year – a proper trip down soul’s memory lane. Most poignant ballad though is the gentle ‘Easy On Me’ – a showcase for Henry Famborough’s lugubrious soulful vocals. Again this track is enhanced with sweetly honed soul harmonies and full production. Indeed production values and song quality on this ten tracker are both far superior to those above mentioned Preston Glass collaboration.
Yes, of course, ‘Full Circle’ doesn’t quite match the quality of the Thom Bell albums but this is no hastily thrown together affair. Time has moved on and the Spinners’ sound has evolved and here the new boys deliver in real style. Famborough, Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson, John Edwards and Phillipe Wynne would all be proud of this one!
(BB) 4/5
