The Spinners - The Chrome Collection (2003)

The three-CD box set The Chrome Collection doesn't miss anything that might be considered essential by virtually any Spinners fan, including as it does the major and minor chart hits from the early '60s through the mid-'80s, as well as numerous album tracks. To be honest, even if you're a big Spinners fan, you're not going to be missing much if you opt for the two-CD One of a Kind Love Affair. And if you're a general Spinners fan, Rhino's more basic single-disc The Very Best of the Spinners should satisfy. But in its favor, The Chrome Collection does include some hits that don't even make it onto One of a Kind Love Affair, particularly their 1980 Top Five smash "Cupid"/"I've Loved You for a Long Time," as well as their 1966 Motown Top 20 R&B charter "Truly Yours," numerous low-charting items from the late '70s and early '80s, and some album tracks from throughout their lifespan. Also, it's good how seven tunes from the Motown era kick off the set before getting into the Atlantic catalog that comprises all but one track of the rest of the box. Sensibly, it draws most heavily from the group's early- to mid-'70s prime, and particularly from their earliest Thom Bell-produced sessions; in fact, it has all ten songs from their self-titled 1973 debut Atlantic LP. The 60-page booklet with a detailed career summary is another nice perk. As for drawbacks, this might be too much lush soul at once for all but the most sweet-toothed soul fans, and much of disc three, covering 1977-1989, fails to measure up to the preceding two CDs, both commercially and artistically. Note, incidentally, that the versions of "Sadie" and "Painted Magic" are new edits done especially for this release, and that 22 of the tracks appear in their single versions, though these tend to be their later and less impressive singles.



Tracks:

Disc 1

01. That's What Girls Are Made For [Fuqua, Gordy] (3:08)
02. I'll Always Love You [Hunter, Stevenson] (2:46)
03. Truly Yours [Hunter, Stevenson] (3:02)
04. What More Could a Boy Ask For? [Bristol, Fuqua] (3:10)
05. Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music [1973 Remix] [Coleman, Dropkin] (2:51)
06. It's a Shame [Garrett, Wonder, Wright] (3:12)
07. We'll Have It Made [Wonder, Wright] (3:29)
08. (Oh Lord) I Wish I Could Sleep [Roach] (3:12)
09. Just Can't Get You Out of MyMind [Barrett] (3:43)
10. Just You and Me Baby [Davis] (3:01)
11. Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You [Akins, Bellman, Drayton, Turner] (4:02)
12. I Could Never (Repay Your Love) [Hawes] (6:57)
13. I'll Be Around [Mono Version] [Bell, Hurtt] (3:12)
14. One of a Kind (Love Affair) [Censored] [Jefferson] (3:33)
15. We Belong Together [Davis] (4:14)
16. Ghetto Child [Bell, Creed] (3:49)
17. How Could I Let You Get Away [Mono Version] [Davis] (3:48)
18. Could It Be I'm Falling in Love [Steals] (4:13)
19. Love Has Gone Away Jefferson, Simmons] (3:37)
20. Love Don't Love Nobody [Edit] [Jefferson, Simmons] (7:14)
21. I'm Coming Home [Single Version] [Bell, Creed] (3:24)

Disc 2

01. Since I Been Gone [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (4:21)
02. He'll Never Love You Like I Do [Remix] [Bailey, Sigler, Sigler] (3:58)
03. Mighty Love [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (4:58)
04. There's No One Like You [Hawes, Simmons] (4:18)
05. I've Got to Make It on My Own [Hawes, Simmons] (3:27)
06. Living a Little, Laughing a Little [Bell, Creed] (5:04)
07. Sadie [New Edit] [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (4:11)
08. Then Came You [Marshall, Pugh] (3:59)
09. Sitting on Top of the World [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (4:43)
10. I Don't Want to Lose You [Bell, Creed] (3:43)
11. Love or Leave [Single Version] [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (3:31)
12. You Made a Promise to Me [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (3:58)
13. They Just Can't Stop It (The Games People Play) [Remix/Edit] [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (4:42)
14. Toni My Love [Hawes, Jefferson, Simmons] (3:43)
15. The Rubberband Man [Edit] [Bell, Creed] (3:35)
16. Now That We're Together [Conway, Life, Terry] (3:35)
17. Wake up Susan [Bell, Marshall] (3:27)
18. Me and My Music [Single Version] [Marshall, Wortham] (3:28)
19. You're Throwing a Good Love Away [Single Version] [Marshall, Wortham] (3:39)
20. Painted Magic [New Edit] [Bell] (3:05)

Disc 3

01. Heaven on Earth (So Fine) [Single Version] [James] (3:13)
02. Back in the Arms of Love [Lamb] (3:51)
03. (Love Is) One Step Away [Single Version] [Gordon] (3:49)
04. Easy Come, Easy Go [Single Version] [Bell, Bell, James] (3:28)
05. If You Wanna Do a Dance (AllNight) [Remix/Edit] [Bell, Bell, Bell, James] (3:43)
06. Are You Ready for Love [Single Version] [Bell, Bell, James] (3:43)
07. (A) Plain and Simple Love Song [Single Version] [Barrett, Hooker] (4:07)
08. Body Language [Edit] [Fox , Fuchs] (3:45)
09. Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl [Remix/Edit] [Linzer, Randell, Zager] (4:03)
10. Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time [Single Version] [Cooke, Zager] (3:55)
11. I Just Want to Fall in Love [Hatcher, Omar, Ross] (3:51)
12. Now That You're Mine Again [Single Version] [Zager] (4:01)
13. Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same [Remix] [Bettis, Carpenter, Zager] (4:02)
14. Long Live Soul Music [Single Version] [Hutch] (4:02)
15. You Go Your Way (I'll Go Mine) [Remix] [Agee] (3:36)
16. Love Connection (Raise the Window Down) [Single Version] [Lucas, Mtume] (3:47)
17. Never Thought I'd Fall in Love [Single Version] [Gant] (3:11)
18. Magic in the Moonlight [Single Version] [St. Lewis] (3:58)
19. Funny How Time Slips Away [Nelson] (3:34)
20. Right or Wrong [Single Version] [Peterson, Pride] (3:48)
21. Memories of Allison [Bryant, Chetkovich] (3:53)


Personnel: