I'll Be Around (The Spinners song)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"I'll Be Around" is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). The song was co-written by Thom Bell and Phil Hurtt and produced by Bell. Jamaican reggae artist Otis Gayle recorded a reggae version of "I'll Be Around" for the Studio One label in the early 1970s, that features the recognizable organ playing of Jackie Mittoo.
The lyrics of the song have the narrator (Spinners main lead singer Bobby Smith), pledging his devotion and love to a lover who has just left him for another while at the same time holding out hope that she will return to him ("There's always a chance, a tiny spark will remain/And sparks turn into flames/And love can burn once again..."). So, in case she changes her mind, he'll be around.
Recorded at Philly's Sigma Sound Studios, the house band MFSB provided the backing. The production of the song gives it a smooth, mid-tempo feel, with the signature guitar riff (in octaves) played by Norman Harris at the forefront and punctuation from female background singers, the MFSB horns & strings and conga-playing from Larry Washington. Bobby Smith handles lead vocals on the song.
The song was included on the group's 1972 self-titled album on Atlantic Records, their first album release for the label. It was initially released as the B-side of the group's first single on Atlantic Records, with "How Could I Let You Get Away" being the A-side. Radio deejays, however, soon opted for "I'll Be Around" which led to Atlantic flipping the single over and the song became an unexpected hit, eventually spending five weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart (the group's first number-one on the R&B chart), and reaching number three on the U.S. Pop chart in the fall of 1972. It also reached sales of over one million copies, The Spinners' first record ever to do so. The success of "I'll Be Around" would be the first in a series of chart successes The Spinners and Bell would have together during the 1970s.
Cover versions
"I'll Be Around" has been covered by many artists. Among them are The Afghan Whigs, Devon Allman, What Is This?, Joan Osborne, The Rippingtons featuring Jeffrey Osborne, Funk, Inc., Doug Parkinson, Richie Kotzen and Hall & Oates, whose version reached number six on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart.
Jamaican reggae artist Otis Gayle also recorded a steadfast version of "I'll Be Around" for the Studio One label in the early 1970s, that features the recognizable organ playing of Jackie Mittoo. Like many Jamaican recordings, the instrumental track for this song went on to be the foundation for many Jamaican singles to this day, notably Johnny Osbournes 1979 hit We Need Love.
In 1975, Claude François, a French singer from the 1960s and 1970s who wrote the original version of My Way (song), recorded a French version of the song, renamed "Soudain il ne reste qu'une chanson".
In 1995, rapper Rappin' 4-Tay released his own version of the song as the second single from his second album. This version replaced the song's original lyrics with those written by Rappin' 4-Tay, though it sampled the original and retained the chorus, for which The Spinners were credited as featured artists. This version became a top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1999, rap group TRU, featuring Master P sampled it on their single "Tru Homies", from their album Da Crime Family. "Tru Homies", peaked at #6 on the Hot Rap Singles and #61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.
Rapper Rah Sun Sampled the song on "I'll Be Around" featuring Big Pun.
See also
