Posted On: Saturday - May 9th 2020 7:13PM MST
In Topics: Music
I heard something with this same beat and a funky bass like this today, which reminded me of The Rubberband Man from a black "Rhythm and Blues" band out of Detroit, Michigan called The Spinners. Before the time of this song, they had been known as The Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners. I would call this one "funk", not Rhythm & Blues, but what do I know? I do know I like that fuzzy bass funk sound.
This is from 1976, back before there was any MTV, and yes, we did just watch these vinyl records spin around at 33 rpm, and WE LIKED IT!
Lead vocals: Philippé Wynne
Background vocals: Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson, Henry Fambrough and Billy Henderson
Additional background vocals: the Sigma Sweethearts (Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson and Yvette Benton)
Instrumentation: MFSB (Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, a group of 30!)
Thom Bell: keyboards
Tony Bell, Bobby Eli: guitars
Bob Babbitt: bass guitar
Andrew Smith: drums
Larry Washington: percussion
I was about to write that the band was a one-hit wonder type, but wiki reminded me that that was NOT the case. Here's a hit from a year earlier.* It's not funky, but it's maybe an even better tune. The excellent smooth lady's voice is one Evette Benton.
This Games People Play is not to be confused with a song of the same name by The Alan Parsons Project from a half decade later, which was of a whole different style of music.
* Then they had another hit, Working my Way Back to You, in 1978, but it's not nearly of the same caliber, melody-wise and sound-wise, IMO.
Comments:
The Alarmist
Sunday - May 10th 2020 2:39PM MST
PS I was going to chime in the Working ... was my fave from this group, but UE's comment reminded me I really liked Could it be ... even more. The worst thing to happen to Black music was hip-hop and rap.
Ganderson
Sunday - May 10th 2020 6:40AM MST
PS. Games People Play- great song with a great intro.
OT. Got yelled at by an out of jurisdiction cop yesterday for not wearing a mask. He said to me “You know, it’s against the law to not wear a mask indoors in a public place” I rejoindered, “ Actually, it’s not a law, it’s an order by the governor, which, in my opinion he does not have the right to issue or enforce, and while I’m at it aren’t there any criminals you could be chasing?”
Well, at least I THOUGHT about saying that....
OT. Got yelled at by an out of jurisdiction cop yesterday for not wearing a mask. He said to me “You know, it’s against the law to not wear a mask indoors in a public place” I rejoindered, “ Actually, it’s not a law, it’s an order by the governor, which, in my opinion he does not have the right to issue or enforce, and while I’m at it aren’t there any criminals you could be chasing?”
Well, at least I THOUGHT about saying that....
Moderator
Sunday - May 10th 2020 3:07AM MST
PS: Crap, Wiki did not remind me of that one. (Yeah, sure, I'll blame the oversight on wikipedia.). Thank you. I'd put that still at #3 on my list, but YMMV.
Uppity Engineer
Saturday - May 9th 2020 10:39PM MST
PS I think their best hit song (maybe their biggest?) was Could it be I'm Fallin' in Love. What a great song...voice, strings, arrangement, melody. As goofball sleazebag Joe Biden would say: Come on man!
PS: I almost forgot the PS!!!
PS: I almost forgot the PS!!!
I find that most people who say stuff like "It's against the law to blah blah blah..." or "It's the law!" really have no clue what law is or how law works or how to find said law at high noon with a map. In my experience cops are some of the worst offenders. Often the most dangerous.
For example...
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/700
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-50/chapter-3/article-1/50-3-9/
Now, riddle me this...
Is it against the law to desecrate a flag?
Is it unlawful to step on a flag?
To let it touch the ground?
Can I lawfully burn a confederate flag in Georgia?