Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

April 1, 2023 5:53 PM

Legendary Philly Soul producer Thom Bell (1943-2022) (Guardian Obit) created some of my favourite songs. He produced and co-wrote music for The Delfonics, The Stylistics, and The Spinners that was very groovy, yet also reflected complex and introspective moods.

The Delfonics: Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

The Stylistics: Betcha By Golly Wow
The Stylistics: Break Up to Make Up
The Stylistics: You Make Me Feel Brand New

The Spinners: I'll Be Around
The Spinners: Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
The Spinners: Games People Play

Prince doesn't usually do covers: Betcha by Golly Wow
Scene from Jackie Brown

posted by ovvl (13 comments total)

All bops. Good to know the throughline between them. Thanks for sharing, and for DJing my Saturday night playlist.
posted by balmore at 6:01 PM on April 1, 2023

la la means i love you - the delfonics
posted by pyramid termite at 6:21 PM on April 1, 2023

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posted by Silvery Fish at 6:27 PM on April 1, 2023

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posted by praemunire at 6:39 PM on April 1, 2023

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posted by gentlyepigrams at 7:03 PM on April 1, 2023

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posted by talking leaf at 8:17 PM on April 1, 2023

If you can believe it, one of the New Kids on the Block's early hits was a cover of Didn't I.
posted by praemunire at 8:41 PM on April 1, 2023 [2 favorites]

I love, love, love those Spinners tunes.

And Prince's vocals on that cover are fabulous.

Thanks for posting these, ovvl - it's lovely to remember Bell and the fantastic music he helped create.
posted by kristi at 11:47 PM on April 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

.

Thanks so much for posting.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:19 AM on April 2, 2023

Never have heard of him, but I know those songs...

Those Spinners songs are burned into my brain from my many years of listening to radio back in the 70s. So good.

.
posted by Windopaene at 8:30 AM on April 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

One of a Kind (Love Affair) live in Zaire
. Thank you
posted by winesong at 9:27 AM on April 2, 2023

It was NKOTB's cover of Didn't I that got me into the Delfonics and Stylistics in my teens. Betcha By Golly Wow still makes me melt. <3
posted by kimberussell at 12:55 PM on April 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

My favorite Stylistics song (written by Thom Bell with lyrics by songwriter Linda Creed) is Children of the Night. I hear it with a queer subtext.
posted by larrybob at 9:54 AM on April 3, 2023