Inside Tracks #34: "Mighty Love"-Jefferson, Hawes & Simmons: The Spinners, 1973, with Covers by Todd Rundgren, Stanford Mendicants, Stuff, Larry Carlton, Phil Perry
A couple of verses leads to the opportunity to stretch out on multiple choruses, while providing room for rapping, improv, and extended "disco" versions, 12" singles...and, acapella arrangements!
The prodigious hit canon of The Spinners began in 1972 with their first single that landed in the single digits of the U.S. pop chart. Oh, sure, the Detroit Spinners (as they were known in the UK) had charted hits before “I’ll Be Around,” but most hovered in the nether regions of the Billboard Hot 100.
After moving from Motown to Atlantic Records in 1972, sidling up to the Philly sound seemed to be key, as well. The musical marriage of the vocal 5-piece to Sigma Sound Studios, their MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother) house band, and their solid core trio of creative hitmakers, songwriters/producers/arrangers Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, was just what the program director ordered!
After beginning 1972 with the Bell-produced “How Could I Let You Get Away” (#77), the rapid follow-up turned out to be an historic game-changer which hit #3, “I’ll Be Around,” with info and covers accessible by clicking here. In fact, it turned out to be the template for an entirely new genre which all but consumed the rest of the decade:
The tail end of ‘72 brought about “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” which got to #4:
In April 1973, Atlantic Records released the third of four straight singles from The Spinners’ eponymous label debut: “One of a Kind (Love Affair),” which was gently nudged away from the Top Ten, finding a final place at #11:
Two singles separated “One of a Kind (Love Affair)” and the release of “Mighty Love” in December 1973: “Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music” (#91) and “Ghetto Child” (#29).
“Mighty Love” (curiously appearing as the final track on the album; take note,
of The Run Out Grooves!) was written by The Mighty Three of Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, and Charles Simmons, and produced by Thom Bell (who also produced all of the above). By this time, Atlantic head, Ahmet Ertegun, had “earmarked” The Spinners to be attached, specifically to these four, at the hit. “Mighty Love” was the 4th in a string of 6 #1 U.S. R&B chart hits, all produced by Bell.
Stuff, 1979
With but a scant six covers following The Spinners’ “Mighty” debut, the first didn’t appear until five years later, an instrumental by Warner Bros. Records’ jazz/funk supergroup, Stuff, produced by Steve Cropper. Backing singers, Faith, Hope & Charity provide vocals on the choruses, occasionally substituting “mighty Stuff” for “mighty love”!:
Todd Rundgren, 1985
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