There was a period in the 1970s when The Spinners and producer/arranger Thom Bell together ruled the airwaves with their brand of danceable R&B and sophisticated, orchestral soul music. And while the combination delivered an amazing string of hits from 1972-79, there were just as many breathtaking cuts from their collaborations that didn’t quite make it to the radio stations.
One of those tremendous Lost Gems was a lush 1975 Thom Bell/Linda Creed ballad featuring Henry Fambrough at the lead. “I Don’t Want To Lose You” is a plea from a man to his love, hoping that in her self-discovery she doesn’t discover she wants a life without him: “Believe me, I understand / The vision of your mind / But I’m so afraid that the girl you’ll find / May not need a man like me.”
While “Games People Play” was the big hit from the Pick of the Litter album, it was this song that was the real keeper for me. Fambrough’s heartfelt performance is perfect, as is the Thom Bell arrangement. It will give you chills now, just as it did more than four decades ago. Check it out below.
By Chris Rizik
The Spinners – “I Don’t Want To Lose You”
