"Mighty Love" is a 1973 song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). The song was co-written by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes and Charles Simmons and was produced by Thom Bell.

"Mighty Love"
Single by The Spinners
from the album Mighty Love
A-side"Mighty Love – Pt. 1"
B-side"Mighty Love – Pt. 2"
ReleasedDecember 1973
StudioSigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenreR&B[1]
Length3:17 (single version)
4:55 (album version)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Joseph B. Jefferson
"Bruce Hawes"
Charles Simmons
Producer(s)Thom Bell
The Spinners singles chronology
"Ghetto Child"
(1973)
"Mighty Love"
(1973)
"I'm Coming Home"
(1974)

Background

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Recorded at Philly's Sigma Sound Studios, the house band MFSB provided the backing. Bobbie Smith and Philippé Wynne rotate lead vocals during the first half of the song, with Wynne taking over completely for the final two and half minutes.[2] During live performances by the Spinners, the song was often used to showcase Wynne's exceptional ad-lib ability.

Chart performance

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When it was released as the lead single from the album of the same name, the song was split into two parts and "Mighty Love – Pt.1" became another hit for the group, holding the number one spot on the US R&B singles chart for two weeks in March 1974 while also reaching number twenty on the pop singles chart.[3]

Personnel

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Chart history

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Chart (1974) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 20
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles[5] 1

Cover versions

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Todd Rundgren (A Cappella, 1985) and Phil Perry (A Mighty Love, 2007) are among artists who have covered the song.

References

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  1. ^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Socialist Radio: Canadian Pop". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 150. ISBN 031214704X.
  2. ^ Lindsay Planer. "Mighty Love - The Spinners | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 545.
  4. ^ "The Spinners Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "The Spinners Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2024.