THE SPINNERS - Games people play REACTION - They are soul music royalty! First time hearing

[@rayeckert242]

Mystifyingly beautiful tune by my favorite soul group. All my friends were enchanted by it for the weeks that it played on the radio back in the seventies. I was the reigning champ at singing the “12:45” line. Nobody else could sing it that low.

[@williamjackson6705]

That second voice was indeed a woman named Carla Benson. The Spinner's producer, the legendary Thom Bell, recently passed away. He also produced The Delfonics & The Stylistics. Glad you are doing this tribute to him.

[@DerekDominoes]

I thought her first name was Evette. Did she go by both names?

[@williamjackson6705]

@@DerekDominoes No, you are correct. It was Evette. I made a mistake.

[@williamdemerchant7295]

I'm just glad that it was a woman, Harri surprised me with the falsetto comment. 😯 A classic favourite.

[@cortefielkid1455]

The Sweethearts were indeed on the record and Thom Bell was intentionally ambiguous about who sang the female portion. In a UK interview he stated that it was surviving member Henry Fambrough’s voice speeded up ( that’s why on tv performances they always panned over to Henry when the female verse was sang) Previously he stated that it was a female artist that didn’t want to be identified ( which makes no sense) Looks like Thom wanted to fan the fires and keep the mystery about the song alive…

[@billshooter6033]

@@cortefielkid1455I think Bells writing partner Linda Creed would occasionally perform during some of The Spinners live shows.

[@bookjeannie]

Spinners are a fave, have all their albums! 🎶💙🎶💙🎶💙

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Philly Soul at its zenith!

[@tarasigidi1733]

My favorite song of all time. It literally takes me to another place!

[@catcaves]

Mee too

[@marybaillie8907]

One of a Kind Love Affair I'll Be Around Could I Be Falling in Love Working My Way Back to You It's a Shame Just to be With You The Spinners were a great R&B band out of Michigan. Great catchy lyrics and a fabulous orchestral backing made for a string of hits. Their beautiful varied vocals so mesmerizing and addictive. Brings back happy memories in a simpler time. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Marcus. Beautiful memory. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦.

[@Imadrummin]

Mary, and your list is only the beginning. They had so many great tracks that didn't get the radio play. I have 16 Spinner albums and a playlist of 82 songs dedicated to just the Spinners. 👍👍👍

[@marybaillie8907]

@@Imadrummin I just named a few favourites. I always knew a new Spinner 45 meant another fabulous tune. Such great memories. Good on you for having such an invaluable collection. Can't wait to see your next request. 👏👏👍👍✌️✌️🎶🎶🇨🇦🇨🇦🇺🇲🇺🇲😊😊

[@marybaillie8907]

@@Imadrummin And look what just popped up, your request for tonight. Rod and Jeff. So funny. 😊😊

[@Noelle0026]

They played this song so much in ‘75. It was constantly on the radio. Great tune.

[@tomtortolani8082]

Yeh, "Rubber Band Man" was another radio favorite

[@72Cubanp]

❤❤70's baby was I just 1 years old 😊

[@saffron1845]

Takes me back to the '70s. Oh yeah.

[@michaelwalston2438]

God I loved those days.

[@davidnelson6874]

I think this song is utterly brilliant. It’s like a joyous walking daydream.

[@bosh1446]

Well said

[@peterlewis6324]

One of the best soul group of all time.

[@brucehelppie6119]

The Spinners were great. Nice reaction, Harri.

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

The Spinners made the list of nominees for the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow, WIllie Nelson, Iron Maiden, George Michael and others.

[@ronjm945]

Soundtrack of my youth, the Spinners were a great band and brought joy to the world..

[@johnlong9534]

Love me some Spinners. It is a crime they are not in the R&R Hall of Fame.

[@Power-of-Grayskull]

They were inducted last year.

[@cbreez40]

Sir Harri..thank you. You can't go wrong listening to the Spinners.i wanted to say thank you for your kool laid back and honest reactions, I don't necessarily like male content creators but you have something different and I appreciate you

[@marysweeney7370]

I loved this song. It was on the radio all the time. I was fascinated by the bass voice singer!

[@maxinezook3835]

I recently heard that bass singer, Pervis Jackson, got the nickname 12:45 due to that being his first & most famous line in this song 😎

[@bowtangey6830]

My favorite Spinners' song. 🥰🎶🎵🎶

[@Cookies_crumbs]

The 70s wouldn’t have been the 70s without the Spinners.

[@zsigzsag]

Pervis Jackson was the bass singer, loved his voice!!

[@melaniesweeten5401]

Never heard this one until today. It's magical, and totally lifted my spirits!

[@pianoman7151]

The female vocalist is Carla L. Benson, part of the trio of women who did backup for the group.

[@michaelasay8587]

Piano man...do you know of she's still alive?

[@leefertwayne8163]

That 2nd singer was actually a featured lady vocalist.

[@bigb6046]

Yeah but it was funny when they performed this on Soul Train Henry Farmbrough lipsinked the female part , didn't look right. LOL

[@bkkersey93]

Well allegedly it was him who sang it. We'll just never know who it was.

[@johnoconnor431]

Love the Spinners

[@alloallie]

One of my faves from The Spinners ! Bobby Smith's vocals are just smooth as silk. And yes, that is a woman named Evertte Benton (when I first heard it, I thought it was Dionne Warwick, though). Hahahaha !

[@drohegda]

Been many years since i heard this song, the Spinners were A-Class #1 they had such Great music and so many hits and they performed live or on tv they entertained you, Yhanks Harri👍😎

[@carollittle1059]

They had huge hits, keep them coming.

[@robertszekely8686]

Always liked the Spinners. They are one of my favorite groups of the 70s. They have many great songs, my favorite of them is "I'll be Around."

[@Lanternsinthesky-studios]

One of my favorite songs and bands growing up in Motown and Chicago in the '70s. Thanks for this one!

[@michaelasay8587]

Zoester.....hey I grew up in 60s to 70s.... But isn't it funny that even being so young that we knew good music..sube becuz we didn't have to deal with the problems of today so much. Like I knew I loved Karen Carpenter. The only good thing my parents did for me and my sister was take is to see them in 74!

[@davidpanetta6400]

One of my favorite R&B groups of all time. And I have many favorites. It's a shame I don't hear songs like this anymore. Once the 90s rolled around, the music that I loved was no more.

[@peterwaters8338]

i hear Hints of "Rosanna" from toto in here; i can imagine toto using as a reference......in da "changes"; great tune

[@normanrose2711]

great choice ! How about Back Stabbers by the O'Jays ?

[@johndrx165]

Spinners are for real!

[@daudder]

Sublime groove...the Spinners music was just silky

[@SGI999]

Got my feet a tapping. Lovely vocals.❤

[@Imadrummin]

Love the Spinners. 👍👍👍

[@jamestaylor2920]

Nice horn section, great harmonies, smooth presentation. The accompanying video didn't show their stage performance, but I can assure you that it definitely adds to the entertainment factor.

[@rennnyyy]

I love the Philly Sound, prefer it to Motown. The Spinners did a great collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Then Came You.

[@marygriffiths2950]

( James) The Spinners, Delfonics , and Stylistics were at a time when music 🎼 was at it's best.

[@Lakeshore14]

Love this music of the 70s. Never tire of hearing songs like this. I’ve seen the Spinners a couple times performing live. Their harmonies are fantastic and their stage presence was superb. Thanks Marcus for referring this great song to Harri. And thanks Harri for your spot-on reaction. 👏👏🥰

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

Thanks, Lakeshore14. The Spinners are fantastic and a classy old-school R&B group. (Of course, as a kid growing up, it was just R&B of the times. :-) ) My fave song by the group is "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," which Harri has also reacted to in the past.

[@lynnschnekenburger7270]

Love the Spinners - grew up across the border from Dertoit, Michigan - that city gave us some of the best damned music we will ever hear!!! Motown - was in your soul before you could walk (I know I've said it before). Detroit was an amazing hotbed of music - you couldn't walk down any given street on either side of the border without Motown blasting from the stores, cars, homes, - music was everywhere, it was the heartbeat of that area. It was a phenomenal time to grow up (60s-70s). ✌❤And the music kept coming - Detroit gave the world some incredible artists.

[@Lakeshore14]

Well said. Agree 100% and I grew up in the same location. 🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@lynnschnekenburger7270]

@Lakeshore14 - I saw Lakeshore at times and wondered!!!!! Know the area well. Woo hoo!! Great times, great music - summers cruising down Riverside drive with the music blaring , top down - miss that!!!!✌❤

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

The Spinners never made it in Detroit/Motown. They didn't become big until they moved to Philadelphia and joined the Philly Soul stable of incredible artists in the early '70s, where they cranked out hit after hit after hit. This track is from the height of their fame in, 1975.

[@lynnschnekenburger7270]

@Cosmo-Kramer- It is well known that their success came during their days as part of the Philly Sound. They were at times also known as the Detroit Spinners and the Motown Spinners. They're still guys from Ferndale , Michigan and I'll say it again - be it Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Dearborn, Mt Clemmons - that area gave the world some incredible artists .✌❤

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@lynnschnekenburger7270 Unfortunately, a lot people, including authors of other posts in this Comments section, do not know that. They just assume it's Motown because the artists are black, it's from that same general era, and it sounds somewhat like Motown to their ignorant ears. My clarification that this song is Philly Soul was not only directed at you, but to anyone reading your comment, because you neglected to mention that this song is absolutely not Motown.

[@johnbello6946]

One of my first 45 single I ever bought

[@stevenjohnson1191]

Can’t beat the sound of Philly, great music

[@loganbothma9822]

Soulful Music 🎶 so Awesome ❤️🥂

[@ivanalaff5346]

Smoooooth🎉

[@pamelawertz498]

Here in the US, this was on the radio so much in 1975.

[@mic1240]

Spinners had so many hits, them and Dionne Warwick duet a classic from similar time (1974), hit #1 pop charts

[@pamelawertz498]

The Spinners have several more great songs like this, always with soulful harmony and lyrics that you remember. Next you should do I'll Be Around & Could It Be I'm Falling In Love. These songs were big on the disco dance floors of the 70's!

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

Here's Harri's reaction to "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZXWdoGPpad2jNU

[@ziggy107]

Have you done 'Where is the Love' by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway? Beautiful harmonies, like diamonds in the ears.

[@joeboucher695]

The lead singer is Bobby Smith, who's wearing the yellow turtleneck near the start of the video. He sang lead on many of their biggest hits (e.g., "I'll Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love") and shared the lead with "the guy in the glasses," Phillipe Wynne, on others like "Mighty Love" and "One of a Kind Love Affair". "Rubberband Man" is a Phillipe showcase.

[@captjeter2]

this is such a GREAT SONG

[@joelliebler5690]

One of my favorite r and b tunes of all time!

[@traceycater]

Back home again tonight Harri! Motown Michigan!

[@destination22ful]

Great song and performance. My favorite is “Working My Way Back To You.” Thanks.

[@Trampus002]

Such great music Harry. People like you bring it back to many new listeners. That in itself is a gift to many. My opinion. Enjoy your channel.

[@barbc2103]

Love it! They sure don't make music like that anymore. Brings back so many fond memories.

[@cls6055]

Monster hit! Remember it well. 11 years old ..it was played over and over on radio 📻

[@dandaintac388]

I was just a young kid, maybe 10 or so when this came out, and I had completely forgotten it! Listening to it here, now, for the first time in decades, made me realize how good it is. I even went over to Amazon and bought it. Thank you.

[@kenperkins7921]

Great memories poping up!! From 19 sevnty five!!

[@RJ-oy7cq]

Their masterpiece!

[@xJRx77]

70's radio would be complete without the Detroit Spinners! Great GREAT vocal band!

[@dagmar.6954]

The Spinners are an American R&B vocal group from the 50's-70's during the Motown era. They had a lot of great songs such as "That's What Girls Are Made For", "Love (I'm So Glad) I Found You", "I'll Always Love You", "Truly Yours", "We'll Have It Made", "I'll Be Around", "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)", "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music", "The Rubberband Man" etc. They had a big hit in 1974 with a collaboration with Dionne Warwick, "Then Came You".

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

This is Philly Soul, not Motown.

[@dagmar.6954]

@@Cosmo-Kramer Their 1960's recordings were with the Motown label. They were also known as the "Motown Spinners".

[@ronbrown912]

I've always loved this song

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

Great reaction, Harri! I'm glad the song brought back fond memories of your uncles. According to Wikipedia and the album credits, the second vocalist that came in with the higher voice was indeed a female guest vocalist named Evette Benton of the Philadelphia-based trio Sweethearts of Sigma (also featuring cousins Carla Benson and Barbara Ingram). The Sweethearts of Sigma also sang backup and the main vocals to the chorus on the Spinners' hit "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love?" (with Bobby Smith replying "with you baby"). When the Spinners performed "Games People Play" on TV, like on "Soul Train," band member Henry Fambrough would lip-synch the female vocals ... and it was very odd to watch. 🙂

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Have loved them since a kid!!

[@maggynewtown3500]

Thom Bell produced. MFSB playing.

[@frances3254]

I remember this song but my memory said 'slower' version. It was by Jack Jones "Live at the Sands". Equally great renditions. thanks for the memories!

[@judygodwin1777]

I love this song, and the memories it brings up. Thank you Harri.

[@debbiechang5781]

I’m surprised that you’re not familiar with this song. It was a huge hit in the states. Nice choice from Marcus. 🌺✌️

[@maggynewtown3500]

Philly of course.

[@davidjackson8659]

Hey my brother that is a lady doing the second part of that her name is Carla Benson she is singing with the Spinners on this song

[@leidellgettis7926]

I always thought that one of the Spinners sung that part. Thank you for sharing that..

[@maggynewtown3500]

Carla Benson was one of the three backup singers at Sigma Sound Studios in Philly. You've heard them on thousands of tracks produced there.

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

I think the lead female singer is Evette Benton. According to the Wikipedia page for the song, Carla Benson is Evette's good friend and also sings backup on some songs for the Spinners as the Sweethearts of Sigma.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Remember this from middle school. Such a great song. I like the multi-layered feel. There are two other great songs with this title, one by Joe South, and one by the Alan Parsons Project. Both very different from this but both great.

[@cjdesign5700]

Congrats on 100K Harri...well deserved

[@robertjohnson3534]

I was told that the second voice was a the late great Henry Fambrough .....

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

The female voice is Evette Benton of the Philadelphia-based trio Sweethearts of Sigma, who sang backup on a few Spinners songs. When the Spinners performed "Games People Play" on TV, like on "Soul Train," band member Henry Fambrough would lip-synch the female vocals ... and it was kinda odd to watch but fun. 🙂

[@hazelanglin5907]

A suggestion Freedom Street by Jamaica singer and Yesterday Man by British singer Chris Andrews

[@M00159]

Harri! Please, please, react to Donny Hathaway singing , A Song For You. The official studio/ audio. Powerful. You don’t want to miss this Harri.

[@marko7225]

This was the first single I ever bought and I'm white! I was about 6 years old. Played it until the needle got stuck in the groove!

[@patriciakeith6755]

I have never understood why songwriters want to use a song title that has already been used by another. Back in 1968, Joe South wrote and released his song titled Games People Play. Harri, I think you would like South's take on "the games people play".

[@narlycat]

sounds a little like Chicago at times

[@kempmt1]

I believe the Spinners had four lead singers

[@samuraikaoss1455]

Wait.. that is a guy singing. I always thought it was a girl.

[@brenthowell8883]

Because it is a woman. Evette Benton, guest vocalist.✌️