Love Don't Love Nobody

Album: Mighty Love (1974)
Charted: 15
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Every song on Side 2 of The Spinners' Mighty Love album - including the title track - has the word "love" in the title. They got a lot of mileage out of exploring the intricacies of that crazy emotion, and did so on "Love Don't Love Nobody," where they explain that love itself is cold and impartial. Anyone who has had their heart broken can tell you.
  • The Spinners were produced by Thom Bell when they came to Atlantic Records in 1972 after a nine-year run at Motown with little success. Bell was more than just a producer; he worked closely with the group to refine their sound, and he also supplied their songs, just as he did in his previous work with The Delfonics and The Stylistics. He wrote a lot of songs himself (using a lyricist, often Linda Creed), but by 1974 he felt it was more important to focus more on production and presentation, so he assigned two writers, Charles Simmons and Joseph B. Jefferson, to put all their efforts into Spinners songs. Working out of Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia (where Bell was based), they delivered "Mighty Love" and "Love Don't Love Nobody." Both songs were hits, continuing a run that made The Spinners one of the top vocal groups of the '70s.
  • Philippé Wynne took the lead vocal on this one. He joined the group in 1972 when they went to Atlantic Records, replacing G.C. Cameron, who stayed at Motown as a solo artist. Wynne worked out very well and became their primary lead vocalist. He's out front on most of their hits including "The Rubberband Man" and "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)." He left the group in 1977 to start a solo career.
  • Musically, this song is very similar to the Boyz II Men hit "End Of The Road." Spinners producer Thom Bell says the group's publishing company wanted to sue, but he talked them out of it. "We all borrow somewhere along the line," he told Soul Jones. "But they really didn't steal, what they did was they borrowed. But like I tell anyone, I don't mind you borrowing as long as you give it back when I ask you to!"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.