"Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time" by the Spinners

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0180
Date:  05/17/1980
Debut:   67
Peak:  4
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Pop, R&B



Pop Bits:  This Detroit area group first hit the charts in 1961 and although they were well-regarded, they could only manage a few minor chart songs throughout the 60s. Folklore has it that Aretha Franklin told them to finish their current record contract and then move over to Atlantic, which they did. The change of label and hooking up with producer/songwriter Thom Bell was the key and they began a series of hit singles starting with 1972's #3 "I'll Be Around." The late 70s found them in a lull but they came zooming back with the #2 medley "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl." They kept the same medley formula for this next single and it came close to replicating the other's success. But it would prove to be their last pop Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  These two medleys were really well done and the formula was great - take a classic 60s song, update it with a modern beat and pair it with a new composition (both secondary songs by Michael Zager). These were all over the radio back in the day. I prefer "Working My Way..." to this one, mainly because I like that lead song far better than "Cupid," but both are very successful and the new song they are each tied to works as well.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  A case of the 8's. See if you can follow this: the song title is 28 letters from 8 words, the song was at the #8 position on the pop chart on 8/8/80, performed by the Spinners (8-letter main name), on the Atlantic (8 letters) label, and the first song of the medley written by Sam Cooke (yup, 8 letters). This can be stretched out a bit more by saying they had parted ways with Thom Bell (8 letters) and he was not a part of this chart success.

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