The switch between lead singers presented its shares of woe. Whereas
Philippe Wynne fit neatly in
Thom Bell's production style, at this point
Bell had no idea what to do with new lead singer John Edwards. Coupling that indisputable fact with the continuing decline of the songwriting,
Spinners/8 isn't the most proficient album to come down the pike. Not everything's bad here, however.
Bobbie Smith's playful lead on the well-produced "I'm Gonna Getcha" starts things off on a deceptively blithe note. With lyrics like "Count the days you can still run free" and "There's no escaping me now," stalking never sounded so mellifluous. While "I'm Tired of Giving" and "Painted Magic" are nonsensical retreads, the best parts of
Spinners/8 had
Bell tinkering with his style to accommodate Edwards' booming and all-encompassing vocals. Enlivened by Edwards' firepower and command, "You've Got the Love I Need" is on the track as he sings/shouts, "You've got me walking/Talking to myself." The charming and anachronistic "Heaven on Earth (So Fine)" is the only single release from this effort and later showed up on their 1991 anthology A One of a Kind Affair. While the Edwards-led "Back in the Arms of Love" and "Easy Come, Easy Go" are locked into the old style, the last track attempts a new sound. The synth-adorned ballad "Baby I Need Your Love (You're the Only One)" has smooth harmony and the minimal backing gives Edwards a great chance to vamp loudly near the end. Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good here, making
Spinners/8 the most problematic album
Bell produced for the group. ~ Jason Elias