Tag Archives: The Spinners

♫ Cupid ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, music, History

I was actually planning to play Africa by Toto tonight, but a couple of things changed my mind.  No worries, though … I’ll definitely be playing it soon, for it’s a song that … speaks to me, that I really like.  Instead, I figured some Sam Cooke would be just the thing to get me over the holiday weariness that seems to be stronger as we get older.  Nothin’ quite like Mr. Sam!

Who doesn’t love the voice of Sam Cooke?  Sam Cooke wrote this song, but the original intent wasn’t for him to sing it.  Cooke’s producers had asked him to write a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show — but once they heard her sing, they kept “Cupid” for Cooke himself.  She must’ve really botched it!

It was Cooke’s idea to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired “straight to my lover’s heart.”  According to the folks over at SongFacts …

Sam Cooke’s producers had the idea for him to do a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show. “She didn’t do anything but just look up at Perry Como in the most wistful-type manner,” said J.W. Alexander, Cooke’s business adviser. Cooke decided to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired “Straight to my lover’s heart” whenever the song called for it.

The arrow sounds were made by backing vocalists Kenneth Simms (leaving the bow) and Bobbie Simms (hitting the target). Kenneth and Bobbie were twins and it was the first time they ever recorded in a studio.

The song was covered by Johnny Nash, whose version topped Cooke’s in the UK, coming in at #6, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and the Spinners.  Cooke’s version charted at #7 in the UK and #17 in the U.S.

Cupid
Sam Cooke

Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart for me, for me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover’s heart for me

Now, I don’t mean to bother you
But I’m in distress
There’s danger of me losing all of my happiness
For I love a girl who doesn’t know I exist
And this you can fix

So, Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart for me, nobody but me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover’s heart for me

Now, Cupid, if your arrow make her love strong for me
I promise I wll love her until eternity
I know between the two of us her heart we can steal
Help me if you will

So, Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart for me, nobody but me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover’s heart for me

Now, Cupid
Don’t you hear me
Calling you?
I need you
Cupid
Help me
I need you
Cupid
Don’t fail

Songwriters: Sam Cooke
Cupid lyrics © S.I.A.E. Direzione Generale, Abkco Music Inc., ABKCO MUSIC INC

♫ Could It Be I’m Falling In Love ♫

Posted on by under music

This song, released in 1972, was written by Melvin Steals and Mervin Steals, who according to Chancellor of Soul, were two songwriter brothers working for The Spinners’ label, Atlantic Records, who were sometimes credited as “Mystro and Lyric.” If The Spinners sound a little more like Motown than New York, that’s because they used to be signed with Motown Records. The self-titled Spinners album was their first produced on their shiny new Atlantic contract. They were even known as “The Motown Spinners” before, but changed their name to “The Detroit Spinners” after moving to Atlantic.

For a band which peaked in the mid-’70s, The Spinners certainly seem to have staying power. They still tour today, are a feature of oldies’ stations and nostalgia concerts, were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999, and as recently as 2006, appeared in a July episode of The Late Show With David Letterman.

Could It Be I’m Falling In Love
The Spinners

Since I met you I’ve begun to feel so strange
Every time I speak your name (that’s funny)
You say that you are so helpless too
That you don’t know what to do

Each night I pray there will never come a day
When you up and take your love away
Say you feel the same way too and I wonder what
It is I feel for you

Could it be I’m falling in love (with you baby)
Could it be I’m falling in love (ooh)
Could it be I’m falling in love
With you, with you with you, with you

I don’t need all those things that used to bring me joy
You made me such a happy boy
And honey you’ll always be the only one for me
Meeting you was my destiny
You can be sure I will never let you down
When you need me I will be around
And darling you’ll always be the only one for me
Heaven made you specially

Could it be I’m falling in love

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Melvin Steals / Melvin Howard Steals / Mervin H. Steals
Could It Be I’m Falling In Love Ensemble (Darryl Smith) lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

♫ Working My Way Back To You ♫

Posted on by under music

Working My Way Back to You is a song made popular by The Four Seasons in 1966 and again by The Spinners in 1980.

Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, the song was originally recorded by The Four Seasons in 1966, reaching number nine on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In the UK Top 50 chart it spent three weeks – all at No. 50. It is the only hit to feature the group’s arranger Charles Calello in the temporary role of bassist/bass vocalist, having replaced original member Nick Massi.

Another story-telling song, like Lying Eyes, the song is about a man who cheated on his girlfriend and also emotionally abused her. When she leaves, he realizes that he did love her and is very remorseful about his past actions. He vows to win her love back.  Why do all the ‘story-telling’ songs have to be about cheating?

My preference by far is The Spinner’s version, but I tender both here, in the interest of fairness, and you can choose your own fave.  The video quality on The Spinner’s version is poor, for which I apologize, but this one had the best sound quality of the 3-4 I listened to, so I went with it.

Working My Way Back to You
The Four Seasons/The Spinners

I’ll be working my way back to you, babe, with a burning love inside
Yeah, I’m working my way back to you, babe, and the happiness that died
I let it get away
(Been payin’ ev’ry day)

When you were so in love with me, I played around like I was free
Thought I could have my cake and eat it too, but how I cried over losin’ you
See me down and out, but I ain’t about to go living my life without you
For every day I made you cry
I’ll pay and girl, till the day that I die

I’ll keep working my way back to you, babe, with a burning love inside
Yeah, I’m working my way back to you, babe, and the happiness that died
I let it get away
(Been payin’ ev’ry day)

Oh, I used to love to make you cry
It made me feel like a man inside
If I’d been a man in reality, you’d be here, babe, lovin’ me
Now my nights are long and lonely, and I ain’t too strong, babe
I just miss you so
Girl, but you’re too proud, and you won’t give in
But when I think about all I could win

I’ll keep working my way back to you, babe, with a burning love inside
Yeah, I’m working my way back to you, babe, and the happiness that died
I let it get away
(Been payin’ ev’ry day)

My road is kind alone
I just gotta get back home
I’m really sorry for acting that way
I’m really sorry
Oh little girl I’m really sorry
For telling you lies for so long
Oh please forgive girl
Come on (give me a chance)
Won’t you forgive me, girl
Hey (let’s have romance)
Ooh, forgive me, girl (let’s try again)
Come on, forgive me, girl
I want you over and over
And over and over again

I’ll keep working my way back to you, babe
With a burning love inside
Yeah, I’m working my way back to you, babe
And the happiness that died
I let it get away
(Been paying every day)
I’ll keep working my way back to you, babe

Songwriters: Denny Randell / Sandy Linzer
Working My Way Back to You lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC