In the 57th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Then Came You” by Dionne Warwick and The Spinners.
T
he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback VibezTheme & Lyrics 
“Ever since I met you / Seems that I can’t forget you / The thought of you / Keeps running through, the back of my mind.” First times are special, unforgettable occasions (and I’m being broad with what is categorized as a ‘first time’). For
Dionne Warwick,
“Then Came You” (
Then Came You, 1975) marked her first no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Warwick, who experienced an incredibly successful career, would only earn one other no. 1 hit (
“That’s What Friends are For”). For another legendary act collaborating with Warwick,
The Spinners, surprisingly, “Then Came You” marked their sole no. 1 hit! Yep! The likes of
“Working My Way Back To You” and the gem of all gems,
“The Rubberband Man”, stalled at no. 2. “Then Came You” gave both Warwick and The Spinners a big moment in their respective careers.
“I’m so darned proud of you
I wanna sing about you
All I know
You made love grow
By touching my hand.”
The song is electrifying from start to finish. This 1974 gem was written by
Philip Pugh and
Sherman Marshall.
Thom Bell produces this masterpiece, with all its vintage soul cues – the funky riffs, alluring groove, lush strings, and stellar keyboard work. The music alone is enough to make “Then Came You” a vibe – a surefire soul bop. But of course, Warwick and The Spinners’ lead singer,
Bobby Smith deserve plenty of credit for their sensational vocals. Warwick, of course, who is tough to categorize, falls somewhere between R&B and pop – not your quintessential soul singer per se. Here, she holds her own with her expressive, unique instrument, blending exceptionally well duetting with Smith. There’s sheer exuberance in “Then Came You”; it bears an innocence and arguably, fun, that’s not always perceptible on modern R&B/contemporary soul records (Note: notice the use of darned instead of damn). The chorus, of course, is the centerpiece, where Warwick and The Spinners reveal their cards:
“I never knew love before
Then came you (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Then came you
Hey, hey, hey, then came you.”
Final Thoughts 
What more is there to say?
Dionne Warwick and
The Spinners make some of the sweetest music you’ve ever heard together on
“Then Came You”. This once-in-a-lifetime classic is nearly 50 years old as of publication, and it remains exceptional and potent to this day. Contemporary R&B/soul artists take notes – this is how you make a hit!
Dionne Warwick •
Then Came You •
Warner •
1975
Dionne Warwick & The Spinners, “Then Came You”: Throwback Vibez
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No. 57 (2022) [
: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay, Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash, The Musical Hype, Warner]