“We’ll Have It Made,” The Spinners

Greetings, fellow scavengers of incredibly cheap music! I come before you with yet another scratchy old single, found abandoned in a junk store in the nation’s capitol. This time, it’s a wonderful non-hit performed by The Spinners — a band that helped make Philly Soul famous. But! This track, entitled “We’ll Have It Made,” was recorded for Motown, a few years before the Spinners and Motown gave up on each other.

There are a bunch of great Spinners songs in the soul canon — but their biggest smash was probably “It’s a Shame.” Why was it so great? Why did it shoot to #14 Pop in the blink of an eye? Because Stevie Wonder co-wrote it, that’s why! So: you’re Berry Gordy, and this is the first time the Detroit Spinners have ever amounted to anything. What do you do next? Easy! Have Stevie Wonder write another song for them!

Which is exactly what Wonder and his long-time lyrical collaborator Syreeta Wright did, and the results of their efforts you can hear above. I really dig this song, and it coulda, shoulda, WOULDA been a hit, except… except… it wasn’t. Reportedly, Stevie was genuinely disappointed (this was only the second time Gordy had let Stevie out of his cage to lead the writing/production duties on a Motown track) — and more than a little confused by what hadn’t happened. The song peaked — somewhat incredibly, sez me, at #89 on the pop charts.

Anyhow, I think it’s a winner. And it prompts the following Thrifty Music question: What, in your humble estimation, is the song or album that most sticks in your craw as an indisputable example of the poor taste shown by America’s music listening public? I don’t want the song or album that you like that the rest of the world isn’t smart enough to agree with you about; I want the song or album that coulda, shoulda and WOULDA been a hit, a popular sensation, had it not been for… for… well, who knows? It just shoulda, that’s all!

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

Ray Charles, “That’s a Lie”

Greetings, seekers of fine, funky, nearly free forty-fives! Today, as part of my ongoing effort to deliver 20 great Thrifty tracks in just twice that number of days, I present a track that immediately jumped off the turntable as a bona-fide WINNER. Released in 1968, this A-side saw modest success, charting at #11 on the soul charts, and peaking at #64 Pop. Whatever. All I know is that — as far as I can tell — it’s mysteriously unavailable on CD these days.

Which is a shame, ’cause it’s a funky tune of the highest caliber. Seriously, I totally dig this one, and it was a thrill to discover it, mouldering in a stack of throw-aways I discovered a few weeks ago. My musical life is definitely richer for having found it.

But here’s today’s funky, Ray Charles-inspired question: Are there any blind pop/soul/rockers who suck? Even Jose Feliciano’s got something going on that’s a damn, uh, sight better than, say, Journey. I’m just askin’.

I look forward to your responses.

HVB