THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

834-Spinners-It’s a Shame.

1970-Number 20 single.

Best Bit-At 1.11. Tamla Motown’s second team, finally given their day in the spotlight.

In America they are known as the ‘Spinners,’ but in the UK, in order to avoid confusion with the British Folk group ‘The Spinners,’ they are known as the ‘Detroit Spinners,’ and sometimes, the ‘Motown Spinners.’ The Spinners were formed in 1954, in Ferndale, Michigan, United States, by Billy Henderson, (1939-2007) Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, (1938-2008) C. P. Spencer, (1938-2004) and James Edwards, they were all friends who lived in Detroit’s ‘Herman Gardens public housing project,’ and initially they sang ‘Doo-Wop,’ calling themselves ‘The Domingoes.’

The Spinners first recording contract was with ‘Tri-Phi Records,’ where they were mentored by Harvey Fuqua, (1929-2010) (see also best songs 162) who co-wrote, and produced their first hit single ‘That’s What Girls Are Made For,’ (Billboard Number 27-1961.) In 1964, ‘Tri-Phi Records,’ was bought out by Fuqua’s brother-in-law, Berry Gordy, of ‘Motown’ records, where the Spinners found themselves well down the pecking order, behind Motown’s biggest stars such as ‘The Four Tops,’ and ‘The Temptations.’ In 1969 the ‘Spinners’ were switched to the Motown subsidiary label ‘V.I.P.’ Prior to the switch, the ‘Spinners’ only charting single on ‘Motown’ had been ‘I’ll Always Love You,’ (Billboard Number 35-1965.) It Was Aretha Franklin, (1942-2018) (see also best songs 644 and 366) who in 1972, suggested to the ‘Spinners’ that they end their contract with ‘Motown’ records, and join her at ‘Atlantic Records,’ which they did. They teamed up with the songwriter, and producer Thom Bell, (1943-2022) (see also best songs 765 and 183) and during the next decade the ‘Spinners’ would achieve their greatest successes.

The discography of the ‘Spinners’ includes 20 studio Albums released between 1967-2021, and 58 singles released between 1961-2021, there are also 13 official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In America on Billboard, 18 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Then Came You,’ with Dionne Warwick (see also best songs 224) reaching Number 1 in 1974. In the UK, the ‘Spinners’ have had nine top 40 hits, with ‘Working My Way Back to You / Forgive Me, Girl,’ (medley) reaching Number 1 in 1979. In total there have been 18 different members of the ‘Spinners,’ since 1954. In 2023 the last surviving original member, Henry Fambrough retired from singing live with the group, leaving four current touring members, none of whom have been with the group longer than 2009.

‘It’s a Shame’ was co-written by the legendary Stevie Wonder, (see also best songs 920-843-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65) along with Syreeta Wright, (1946-2004) and Lee Garrett, (see also best songs 843) Stevie Wonder also produced the song, (the first track he had ever produced for anyone other than himself) and played drums on the track as well. ‘It’s a Shame’ was one of five singles released from the ‘Spinners’ second studio Album ”2nd Time Around,’from 1970. The quintet who were the ‘Spinners’ at that time, and who provided the vocals on the the track were, G.C. Cameron, who was the lead vocalist, with Bobby Smith, (1936-2013) Pervis Jackson, Henry Fambrough and Billy Henderson, all on backing vocals. The instrumentation on the song was played by members of ‘Motown’s’ in house band,’The Funk Brothers’ (see also best songs 948-650-569-414-382-212-148 and 28.) G. C. Cameron (George Curtis Cameron) who sung the lead vocals on ‘It’s a Shame,’ was the only member of the ‘Spinners’ to stay with ‘Motown,’ when the others moved to ‘Atlantic Records’ in 1972, he was replaced by Philippe Wynne (1941-1984) (see also best songs 340.)

‘It’s a Shame’ tells the story of a man who is being used by his partner, who doesn’t care about the way she makes him feel, which leaves him hurt and confused. In 1990 the English Rapper Monie Love, reworked the song as ‘It’s a Shame (My Sister,’) (UK Number 12, and Billboard Number 26) In her version, Monie Love tries to convince a friend to leave her unfaithful partner.

‘Why do you use me, try to confuse me, how can you stand to be so cruel. Why don’t you free me from this prison, where I serve my time as your fool’