| Author |
Message |
 
Jimmy Mack (luke)
6-Zenith
Username: luke
Post Number: 689
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 152.163.100.134
| | Posted on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 9:32 pm: �� |   ��� |
Did he leave the Spinners on good terms? |
Vickie (vickie)
4-Laureate
Username: vickie
Post Number: 121
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 198.81.26.46
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:52 am: �� | ��� |
I don't know, but his voice is right up there with my other favroites, Levi and Marvin..
I love his voice.... |
John Barry Sheffield (jaybs)
4-Laureate
Username: jaybs
Post Number: 81
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.92.168.171
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 1:55 am: �� | ��� |
I fully agree Vickie, One "Mighty Mighty" Man both with His Voice and Personality, I only managed to see Phillip once but that memory is inscribed in my heart for ever.
John |
Morgan (leeway)
4-Laureate
Username: leeway
Post Number: 96
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.41.236.206
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 7:49 am: �� | ��� |
When I was 11 years old, Phillipe use to visit the house directly across the street from me here in Detroit.
He drove a grey car (caddy or something, 2- door -I'm bad with cars) a few times he would hop out of the car and we would hear him singing!! And he always acknowledged everyone but most importantly..he gave the kids on the block quarters for ice cream!! Santa Phillipe!!
We were stunned to hear that he had died, we cried and just couldn't believe it, he was so nice to everyone!
His voice..what can you say about that voice? Sadie is one of my my all time favorite songs. His voice moves me, I get teary-eyed to this day hearing him sing that song, his voice is/was wonderful to me... |
Nosey (nosey)
5-Doyen
Username: nosey
Post Number: 286
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.153.113.238
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 10:35 am: �� | ��� |
My favorite Phillipe Wynne song is "Love Don't Love Nobody". Well, well.... |
GEETEE(HPK) (geeteehpk)
3-Pundit
Username: geeteehpk
Post Number: 44
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 65.42.142.190
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 4:14 pm: �� | ��� |
I'n mot sure if Phillpe lefted on good terms or not. Check the liner notes of the 2 CD set of the Spinners,on Rhino. It talks about Phillpe and the fact that he wanted to be a solo act,from the beginning.
He did pretty well as a member of P-Funk (even if it was for a brief moment)
I truly miss him. :-( |
fonic_zone (fonic_zone)
3-Pundit
Username: fonic_zone
Post Number: 56
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 152.163.100.134
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 4:36 pm: �� | ��� |
I heard Frank Washington from the futures is singing with the Spinners...now |
zebop (zebop)
4-Laureate
Username: zebop
Post Number: 142
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 152.163.100.134
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 4:37 pm: �� | ��� |
I don't think Wynne left on great terms, can't see a reason for it. The group was primarily identifed by Wynne and if not Wynne alone than that great Bobbie Smith/Wynne interplay. How brilliant was that? They tried to do it with Smith and John Edwards but nah, it wasn't the same.
I'm pretty sure Alan Thicke figures in here--and not in an especially good way. |
Jimmy Mack (luke)
6-Zenith
Username: luke
Post Number: 691
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 152.163.100.134
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 8:49 pm: �� | ��� |
?Alan Thicke?;;;;LOVE LOVE Philippe on Mighty Love--especially at the end of the song when he lets loose. |
zebop (zebop)
4-Laureate
Username: zebop
Post Number: 144
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 205.188.116.138
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 8:55 pm: �� | ��� |
Yeah, Alan Thicke. He was Wynne's manager around the time he left the Spinners. He even got a few credits on Wynne's first solo album.
(Message edited by zebop on October 05, 2004) |
Don (don)
6-Zenith
Username: don
Post Number: 962
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.77.39.54
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 9:17 pm: �� | ��� |
Philippe, was a dynamic singer. I found him to be a great interpeter of a great song. Why he left the Spinners, is the same ole tactic of divide and conquer, swaying the lead singer away from the a his group. Even if those in so called roles of authority found ways to find faults with him where the ones who forced him out of The Spinners, and they haven't been the same since his departure. "I Keep Working My Way Back To You" and "Cupid", I wasn't trying to hear none of that. That's just IMO. |
Vonnie (vonnie)
5-Doyen
Username: vonnie
Post Number: 321
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 172.143.134.29
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 9:27 am: �� | ��� |
I considered Philippe Wynne's vocals to be akin to a sanctified religious experience. When he let loose on "Mighty Love", I felt like I was in church. That song made me want to get on my feet, shout and testify. |
Kdubya (paladin)
5-Doyen
Username: paladin
Post Number: 388
Registered: 5-2004
Posted From: 152.132.8.197
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 9:33 am: �� | ��� |
Good Morning all......Phillipe was a very dynamic vocalist and performer. He had the charisma and lead singer cachet that most groups live and die by (see David Ruffin). In some views he was becoming bigger than the Spinners ( see Ruffin again). I guess it was inevitable that he was influenced by his handlers and left the group in a funk. Although immensely enjoyable when he did vocal spots and ad libs for P-Funk, this was not his calling. Sadly we were never able to experience his true potential. John Edwards on the other hand was given an impossible role to fill. A good singer but surely he was better suited as a single artist or leader of a new group that didn't have such an identifiable sound (see Louis Price ex Tempt). I'm with you Don, I just couldn't get into his voice. Additionally Bobbie Smith a fine vocalist in the range odf say Otis Williams never had the chops to sing Phillipes songs. Yeah he was great on I'll be Around and dueting with PW but couldn't get down like PW. Funny how time changes things....GC gone from the Spinners and now singing for the Tempts........ |
isaiah imani (isaiah)
4-Laureate
Username: isaiah
Post Number: 144
Registered: 8-2004
Posted From: 170.224.224.92
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 4:29 pm: �� | ��� |
KDubya, I always enjoy your post bruh! This last one opens up some serious wounds, man, Phillipe leaving the Spinners... Heartbreaking, so heartbreaking...
I was listening to he and Bobby on He'll Never Love You(Like I do)on Sunday, and it filled me with a beautiful flood of Spinner memories... This tandem was such a package of dynamite back then, and I just don't think they truly understood it themselves... That's what's so heartbreaking about their breakup... Phillipe's ad-libs are among the very best that I've ever heard in this business - maybe the very best ever! A lotta artists could scat, and hum, and make onomotopeic sounds to keep the riff alive, but Phillipe would haul out spontaneous whole verses that fit in wherever he put 'em in!(smile!) Bad assed brother, is what he was, and I'm glad someone thought to prop him here...
Peace!
isaiah |
Kdubya (paladin)
5-Doyen
Username: paladin
Post Number: 391
Registered: 5-2004
Posted From: 152.132.8.197
| | Posted on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 9:28 am: �� | ��� |
Thanks and Ditto to you my friend. There always seemed to be a little jealously going on with the Spinners. Brother Bobbie was smooth as silk but he seemed a bit perturbed that after all the years he put in as "The Spinner" along comes Phillipe and blows everyone away and the Spinners became the group that was in demand for TV, Nightclubs, Midnight Special..etc..
I've seen them whip the Tempts & Ojays ass "live" (read Dennis Edwards and Eddie Levert). No I didn't want it to happen but it did. His recorded work with the Spinners is a true testament to his legacy. Whether he was singing I could Never Repay Your Love, Sadie or Mighty Love, he was on point. He consistently acknowledeged those singers that influenced him during his formative years, namely Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. He always brought a little bit of them to his stage performance. Although PW is not often listed on the best of lists or thought of in the same vein as Otis, Levi,Marvin or David, he certainly belongs there.
The record you mentioned He'll Never Love You is on a par with David & Eddies You're My Everything or any song that was sung by Eddie & Paul. I agree they probably didn't have any idea of how great they were on record, but they certainly knew from thier live shows.
I also agree that it was heartbreaking when he left the group. I said it before and I'll say it again, sometimes performers cant see the forest for the trees, just when they become perfect in vocals, stage presence and popularity someone has to F it up. I'm glad that we had a chance to chat about one of the best male vocalists that ever graced a stage.
And the band played on....
Kdubya |
Mark Speck (mark_speck)
5-Doyen
Username: mark_speck
Post Number: 233
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 63.188.137.93
| | Posted on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 9:37 am: �� | ��� |
I'll confirm that Frank Washington is now singing the lead for the Spinners. I saw them a couple of years ago here in Cleveland, at an event called the Moondog Coronation Ball.
They were fantastic, but dammit, I wish I could've seen 'em live with Phillipe!
I'll remind you all again: Phillipe is buried in the same Detroit cemetery as Flo Ballard and Darrell Banks. If you should ever find yourselves there, please go over and visit the man. He deserves it.
Best,
Mark |
DyvaNaye (westside314)
6-Zenith
Username: westside314
Post Number: 977
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.12.116.138
| | Posted on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 10:25 am: �� | ��� |
Phillipe Wynne is in my list of top 5 male singers...I remember I was at a Stylistics concert back in the 80's and the new Spinners were on the bill...I commented 'I wish Phillpe Wynne would come back for a last hurrah'...and the person in front of me stated 'that would be great but Phillpe is dead now'.... My whole world crashed at that moment as the person explained how...I could not even enjoy the concert then...what a way to find out one of your soul hero's has passed on...
There are some songs where I feel Phillpe's vocal abilities stood paramount...
'Youre All I need In Life'- my favorite with his lead...
'Smile, We Have Each Other'
''The Rubberband Man'
'Knee Deep'
'The Clown'
'Wake Up Susan'
'Uncle Jam Wants You'
and mostly all of the Spinners hits mentioned here...of course.
Id like to know, what was his work before the Spinners and what was his solo work?
Man I miss this voice for sure. |
doowopsvoice (doowopsvoice)
1-Arriviste
Username: doowopsvoice
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2004
Posted From: 198.81.26.46
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 12:43 am: �� | ��� |
Phillippe's rise to prominence caught most of us by surprise. I called him at home twice to find out where he came from and how he developed the timing he used. He told me that he got it the same place that i had, from Billy Stewart.
I just bought the "Chrome Collection" boxed set and there is a great deal of information revealed in the book. The group recorded a few songs before Thom Bell joined them and they were not very good. Phil's first ad lib (for Thom Bell, on Atlantic) was not planned or asked for he just stuck it in a song. This is not verbatum but the book said that a lifetime of waiting to be heard could not be suppressed. He broke loose, vocally.
I personally think that he opened up a can of musical worms that he could not master because he had a lot of throat problems. John Edwards was his replacement when he was hospitalized. I can't prove it but i think he was singing at the top of his range and , if so , that is not good to do. I think people made unreasonable vocal demands of him.
The book says that Thom begged him to stay with the group and his reply was "Why, I am the group" |
dvdmike (dvdmike)
5-Doyen
Username: dvdmike
Post Number: 401
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 65.208.234.85
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 7:33 am: �� | ��� |
I remember listening to a radio interview on WBMX-FM here in Chicago with The Spinners about a year after Philippe left. The interviewer asked the group if they knew why he left and they all said they didn't know. I didn't really believe them, but I just figured they couldn't tell the guy. John Edwards said that the few times he talked with Philippe, the subject never came up. The rumor was that he left to pursue a gospel career. Looking back, we all know that was not the case. |
Heikki (heikki)
4-Laureate
Username: heikki
Post Number: 131
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 81.17.199.27
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 11:39 am: �� | ��� |
Hi!
I've had some ongoing problems with my home computer recent days (the new Windows XP ServicePack 2 wouldn't work with my existing anti-virus program), so it's only now that I can - hopefully - shed some light on Jimmy's original question above.
First a few comments on Philippe's throat operation:
Henry Fambrough: "Philippe was taken sick in 1975. We asked John to take his place. John toured with us for about six weeks..."
Billy Henderson: "Philippe had his throat operated and he just wanted to take off. But many promoters had too much money in the box office, so we had to keep on going. John Edwards was playing at a local club in Detroit..."
Barbara Henderson: "When we got to the club, John's band didn't show up, but he was singing a cappella... He was singing Danny Boy with no music, and it was wonderful. He covered the ranges of Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Al Green - all in one song."
Billy: "Philippe was giving us a little problem, so I and Bobbie went down there next night and heard the guy sing. When Philippe took that sick thing, we brought him in... Philippe wanted to come back before, but we wouldn't let him... There was a lot of pressure on John. In Philadelphia - where we were recording, so it was really dangerous - we got three standing ovations that day. Philippe had sent spies down there to see, if we can make it. Then Philippe wanted to come back earlier, but we said 'no, we got a contract with the man. We gotta finish it out'."
Bobbie Smith: "...We looked at it actually he was being cocky. So we took John Edwards and went on. The show was so successful with John that Philippe got well real, real quick, but we wouldn't let him come back, because we had an arrangement with John."
Then on Philippe leaving the group in 1977:
Henry: "He wanted to go on his own and he said that he wanted to do some spiritual work by himself. We tried to get him to stay, but he was determined to go out on his own and there wasn't anything we could do about it."
Bobbie: "I think it was ego problems, but he said he left because he wanted to do spirituals, although he never did one."
Billy: "Let me tell you like Jesse Jackson said...'you better watch that man. Whatever goes up, gotta come down. Whenever a man is confused about his religion, he'll look away to go off anytime. I got one religion and I get hell keeping up with that one, that man got two or three'. He said the name of his church was The Lost Black Sheep - and I'm a Christian, too. He had an emblem made like Star of David with a cross inside of him..."
Pervis Jackson: "When Philippe decided that he was gonna leave the group, John Edwards was our choice."
John Edwards: "It was a difficult period. I had quite a long time of adjustment to accomplish... After about, I'd say, two years they started to grudgingly accept that the change was total."
Thom Bell: "John is a fantastic singer, but I couldn't give him the best of me. He needed someone that could hear him better than me, and it was proven so, when we went our separate ways."
(Soul Express: The Spinners Story, part 4).
Best regards
Heikki |
zebop (zebop)
4-Laureate
Username: zebop
Post Number: 151
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.12.116.138
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 2:09 pm: �� | ��� |
Thom Bell's comment is deep. |
doowopsvoice (doowopsvoice)
1-Arriviste
Username: doowopsvoice
Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2004
Posted From: 205.188.116.138
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 2:20 am: �� | ��� |
Back in the day the story was circulating that Phillippe wanted to do a gospel lp as a single artist but the group objected. He then offered to allow them to share equally in the royalties and they still objected. That was when he decided to quit (so the story goes).
Thom Bell's comment is so deep that i think it was his polite way of saying "You guys have returned to run of the mill". John can hit great high notes but he did not do anything for the fans the group had garnered. Sounds like what Thom also meant was i cannot continue to produce a voice that i have not been able to sell (to the fans). For my money they have only tread water since Phil left. Only thing proven was they couldn't get a another Soul hit for decades. |
isaiah imani (isaiah)
4-Laureate
Username: isaiah
Post Number: 155
Registered: 8-2004
Posted From: 66.119.33.167
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 2:01 pm: �� | ��� |
DooWop, is that true, that he got his timing from Billy Stewart?(smile!) Only the most unique R&B stylist of all times! Man, that's a thread in itself(smile!)
BTW, I think Phil woulda turned out some Gospel songs for real! The way he does Sadie is like off the chain... It's a song I hated listening to for a long time, because the feelings he invokes in the song used to depress the hell outta me... But THAT was the man's power and majesty, his ability to evoke maximum emotion in his songs... Unbelievable!
Peace!
Isaiah |