Search - Spinners :: At Their Best

Some great new takes and remakes!

Timothy R. Sullivan | 06/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Spinners haven't released new material in some time, but this album was definitely worth the wait. On "At Their Best," the group churns out some excellent new material ("Can't Help Loving You," and "Why Me," to name two). But clearly the strong points of this album are the remakes of classic soul tunes.Clearly, the top song on this CD is "I'll Be Around." Always one of my favorite classic Spinners songs, I didn't want this song re-made -- that was until I head the new version. Wow! The combination leads of Bobbie Smith, Jonathan Edwards and Henry Fambrough are fantastic. The beat is faster and funkier. I wish they would release it as a single.The album starts off with a remake of the Jacksons' song "This Place Hotel." They really crank it up and go, and it sets the tone for the album. There two more excellent remakes: a Stevie Wonder song ("Do, I Do") and a Gladys Knight and the Pips tune ("Neither One of Us").The best new song is "Checklist," which is fun and funky with tremendous harmonies and a great lead by Edwards.The remake of their ballad classic, "Love Don't Love Nobody," is just average. If anything, the song proves that Edwards' vocals were not made for the old Thom Bell produced songs. This is where Edwards has received too much criticism and unfair comparisons to the late Phillipe Wynne.Wynne was a tremendous singer, no doubt, but so is Edwards. For too long, Spinners fans (including this one) haven't given him his due. He deserves credit for his fantastic voice, particularly his excellent range.This album showcases Edwards' talents, as well as those of Fambrough, Billy Henderson, Smith and Pervis Jackson. It's also fabulously produced by Ollie Brown.A little old, a little new, some borrowed, and definitely not blue, this funky, soulful album is for you!"

Title Says It All

Hal Peebles | Portland,Orygun,usa | 05/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm the number one fan of the Spinners.NO vocal group in history has combined the church and the street better.All the new material here is quite good.Was very leery at the get-go about a "updated" version of I'll Be Around.I mean,why mess with perfection,right? The new one with Kool Moe Dee rappin'is just flat bad.I scored this CD 3 weeks ago and haven't taken it out of the player as yet.Well worth the money."