"Motown Greatest Hits" "The Spinners I'll Always Love You" Mono/Stereo mix "Men Of Motown"

Описание: "(Note for those with ultra keen ears: I've always noticed near the end of this record, you can hear two sets of backing vocals ; it sounds as if the Spinners and Andantes recorded their parts twice, to bolster the sound (the Beach Boys often recorded their vocals- "stacking"- multiple times for the same reason.) You can hear the two sets split at 2:18 so that you'll hear the groups repeating "I'll always love you", while there is another set underneath, almost like a ghost presence, repeating "I'll always love you baby" Interesting.)

"This is one of the finest 45's Motown ever released on the Spinners and one of the finest Motown 45's period. "I'll Always Love You" was recorded by the Spinners in April of 1965 (according to the notes in "The Complete Motown Singles") and released to the public in June of that year. The site "Don't Forget The Motor City" reveals the Spinners' vocals were an overdub on co-writer Ivy Jo Hunter's vocals. Perhaps Ivy Jo's were the guide vocal for the lead singer.

"I'll Always Love You" is pure Motown, the sound exemplifying one of the best periods of Motown's recording techniques; the sound is crisp, well-balanced, bell-clear and yet immensely soulful. Pristine drum work with an emphasis on the bottom with the kick drum persistently covering the bass beat. James Jamerson provides an almost hypnotic bass line by doggedly sticking to one note during the verses. Mickey Stevenson / Ivy Jo Hunter always featured complex, engaging brass arrangements and the record featured one of the smoothest amongst Motown records.

Bobby (or Bobbie) Smith provides an understated, but effective lead vocal effectively anchored by Edgar Edwards, Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson and the Andantes for good measure; Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps.

"The Complete Motown Singles" features reflections on the record from Ivy Jo as well as the Spinners. This was the single that gave the group their first solid hit at Motown. Up this this point (and probably even after) the group kept busy supplying backing vocals for other Motown records and "...largely relegated to chaperone, road manager and chauffeur duties for acts on a faster track." According to Ivy Jo, "Neither one of us was on the A-list (at Motown), so that put us in the same ballpark, didn't it?"

Ivy's lyrics seemed to always come from a much more personal level than nearly anyone else at Motown and "I'll Always Love You" was no different. Even though the record is anchored by a relentless dance beat and upbeat mood, the lyrics came from a much more somber place according to Ivy: "That was the way I heard... I was probably a very lonely guy, looking back in retrospect. I've always been a loner all my life, so most of the stuff that I really heard as melancholy."

Ivy, along with Motown honcho Micky Stevenson, turned those melancholy feelings into Motown gold. The kinship Ivy felt with the Spinners as low men on Motown's totem pole fueled a dynamic partnership. Spinners lead singer Bobby Smith recalled about "I'll Always Love You": "We survived about a year or two off of "I'll Always Love You."; but he also recalled that the group still never really got proper attention or promotion by Motown.

Fortunately, there were much, MUCH better things in store for the group in the seventies.

Recording information from the site Don't Forget The Motor City http://www.dftmc.info/

I'll Always Love You (William Stevenson-Ivy Jo Hunter) published Jobete 15-Mar-65

The Spinners; recorded Hitsville, completed 09-Feb-65 ; produced by William Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter ; [v1, odb on Ivy Jo]

Mar-65 [acetate]; 45 (M): CBMN 0650-NH1
The Spinners; recorded Hitsville, completed 28-Apr-65 ; produced by William Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter ; [v2]

04-Jun-65; 45 (M): Motown M 1078 A"

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