Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow all but ended the group's string of classics. And this album's predecessor,
Spinners #8, rightfully put a big scare into their biggest fans. The good news is that
From Here to Eternally shows things did get better. A few of the best tracks are easily the best songs
Thom Bell and
the Spinners had been involved with since
Pick of the Litter. Admittedly it does a take awhile to get to them. The too smooth and lyrically barren tracks, "It's Natural Affair" and "Don't Let the Man Get You," are so interchangeable they cancel one another out. While those embarrassments don't bear thinking about, the best tracks have lead singer John Edwards working his magic with his excitable persona. He survives the potential treacle of the ballad "A Plain and Simple Song" by giving a flat-out believable and melisma-filled performance. On the melodic and disco-styled "Are You Ready for Love," Edwards' voice finally meshes with
Bell's patently effervescent production. The effort's only released single, "If You Wanna Do a Dance (All Night)," comes off like a more languid "Rubberband Man." The track has Edwards doing a commanding lead, and as he calls out "Henry, Billy" on the fade, you know he's the right guy for the gig. The last track, "Once You Fall in Love" has interesting production values and was a great way to close the album. While it is true
From Here to Eternity didn't help
the Spinners that much commercially, it features a few underrated gems and some good to great production by
Bell. ~ Jason Elias