The Spinners

Rivaled only by the O'Jays, the Spinners held a monopoly on easy, sophisticated soul during the 1970s. After being dropped by Motown for lackluster sales (despite the perennially popular "It's a Shame"), they signed to Atlantic where they had the last laugh, spawning hit after hit: "Could It Be I'm Fallin' in Love," "I'll Be Around," "Mighty Love," "Ghetto Child," "Games People Play," "Then Came You," and "The Rubberband Man." Phillipe Wynne's graceful multifaceted falsetto naturally leant itself to their bedroom-eyed Philly Soul. The Spinners carried the torch for crisp, classy Soul music thought to have faded with the 1960s.