We’re travelling back in time to Philadelphia in the mid-70s for today’s classic song of the day. The song is “Mighty Love” by the Spinners; it was released in December of 1973 and, early the next year, climbed all the way to #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart.
“Mighty Love” was written by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, and Charles Simmons. The three of them later wrote “Games People Play” for the Spinners; Jefferson had previously written the group’s “One of a Kind (Love Affair).”
Philly Soul legend Thom Bell produced the track, which was recorded at Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios. House band MFSB (famous for their hit, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)“) provided the backing instrumentals, with additional background vocals by Linda Creed and the Sweethearts of Sigma. Spinners Bobbie Smith and Philippe Wynne shared lead vocal duties.
The song was so long (almost five minutes) that Atlantic Records had to split it in two to fit on a 7″ 45 RPM single. So you have “Mighty Love—Pt. 1” on the A side and “Mighty Love—Pt. 2” on the B side.
For your daily bonus video of the day, we go back to May 3, 1974, and the popular late-night television show, The Midnight Special. It’s the Spinners, featuring the improvised vocal stylings of one Philippe Wynne and some great impromptu dancing from the group and some lucky female audience members. Good stuff, that.
