"Funny How Time Slips Away" by The Spinners

Song#:  1275
Date:  12/11/1982
Debut:  86
Peak:  67
Weeks:  8
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  After a comeback at the turn of the decade where they grabbed a couple of Top 10 medley hits including the #2 "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me Girl," the group's fortunes quickly dwindled. The hits dried up and record sales slumped. Their LP "Grand Slam" did manage to feature this one last pop chart entry, but it did nothing to reverse the decline. In 1989, they would release their final studio album. They remained a popular touring act, but their hit making days were done.

ReduxReview:  This is some old-school R&B that The Spinners can really jam on. The lead vocal (I think by Bobby Smith, not sure) hits all the right notes and the supporting vocals and arrangement are great. It's really a nice version of the song. The problem is this just seems so out of place on an early-80s pop chart. Even at R&B it wasn't a winner only getting to #43. It's a good listen, but as a single in the 80s, it just doesn't fit.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This is a remake of a song written by Willie Nelson. It was first recorded by country singer Billy Walker in 1961. His single reached #23 on the country chart. Nelson would record his own version the following year, but it was not issued as a single. The song has been recorded by many artist over the years. On the pop chart, the best showing was in 1964 when soul singer Joe Hinton reached #13 (the song was just titled "Funny" and it hit #13 at R&B as well). Narvel Felts had the best effort at country hitting #12 in 1975 while the best R&B showing came the following year when Dorothy Moore's version reached #7.

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