Best of the Spinners [Atlantic]

Conducted by Thom Bell.Like the Isley Brothers, who didn't achieve their greatest success until after they left Motown Records, the Spinners were, for whatever reason, an uneasy fit at the House of Gordy, scoring only a couple of R&B hits in the second half of the '60s before finally getting their one big pop crossover, "It's a Shame." This collection of their oeuevre from that period is interesting nonetheless, in part because you get some insight into how the Motown assembly line functioned. Noteworthy tracks--apart from the aforementioned hits ("I'll Always Love You" and "Truly Yours")--include "Bad, Bad Weather," which has a groove similar to the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and a gritty version of David Ruffin's solo hit "My Whole World Ended."