Spinners From Here To Eternally/Love Trippin' CD

Only three singles sprang from the release of From Here to Eternally (1979) and Love Trippin' (1980) combined, so this two-fer is hardly a musical powerball. It's not remotely close to their early-'70s LPs, with the unpredictable Philippe Wynne leading the charge and producer Thom Bell in a zone. Wynne's gone; his replacement, John Edwards, a seasoned soul singer, does an admirable job. "Cupid"/"I Loved You For a Long Time" was the Spinners' last significant hit before becoming pop Top 40 nonfactors. A second single, "Now That You're Mine Again," went unnoticed, and the third, "I Just Want to Fall in Love," gets more plays via Internet Real Audio and Window Media than it did when Atlantic Records released it. Bell relies on Bobbie Smith's light tenor and Henry Fambrough's pleasant but colorless tenor for too many leads; after too many doses of them you welcome Edwards' biting, expressive full-bodied vocals with open ears. Other than the previously mentioned singles and "Streetwise," "Love Trippin'," and "Split Decision" (on which Pervis Jackson's bass is unleashed), there's nothing else among the 18 tracks you'll want to hear twice. ~ Andrew Hamilton

Only three singles sprang from the release of From Here to Eternally (1979) and Love Trippin' (1980) combined. Philippe Wynne's gone; his replacement, John Edwards, a seasoned soul singer, does an admirable job. "Cupid"/"I Loved You for a Long Time" was the Spinners' last significant hit before going pop Top 40 non-factors. A second single, "Now That You're Mine Again," went unnoticed, and the third, "I Just Want to Fall in Love," gets more plays via Internet Real Audio and Window Media than it did when Atlantic Records released it. Bell relies on Bobbie Smith's light tenor and Henry Fambrough's pleasant tenor for plenty of leads; after too many doses of them you welcome Edwards' biting, expressive full-bodied vocals with open ears. Includes the mentioned singles and "Streetwise," "Love Trippin'," and "Split Decision" (on which Pervis Jackson's bass is unleashed). ~ Andrew Hamilton

Love Trippin 2 On 1

2 LPs on 1 CD: FROM HERE TO ETERNALLY (1979)/LOVE TRIPPIN' (1980).

The Spinners includes: Henry Fambrough, Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson, Bobbie Smith (vocals).