Dionne Warwick & The Spinners, “Then Came You” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 57^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Then Came You” by Dionne Warwick and The Spinners. 

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 57^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Then Came You”, performed by 🎙 Dionne Warwick and 🎙 The Spinners.

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Theme & 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.”

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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!

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🎙 Dionne Warwick • 💿 Then Came You • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 1975

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Dionne Warwick & The Spinners, “Then Came You”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 57 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, Warner]

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