"How Could I Let You Get Away" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). Produced by

Thom Bell Thomas Randolph Bell (January 26, 1943 – December 22, 2022) was an American record producer, arranger, and songwriter known as one of the creators of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s. Hailed as one of the most prolific R&B songwriters and prod ...

and recorded at Philly's Sigma Sound Studios, the lush, string-augmented production of the song drew comparisons to another

Bell A bell /ˈbɛl/ () is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be m ...

- produced group,

The Stylistics The Stylistics are an American Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. They formed in 1968, with a lineup of singers Russell Thompkins Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All ...

. The song was recorded for inclusion on the group's 1972 self-titled debut album on

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

. It was also the A-side of the group's first single release on

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...

in July 1972. It was the first Spinners hit to feature lead vocals by Philippé Wynne (with Henry Fambrough on close harmony, both of their vocals were multitracked). The song had modest success on the charts, reaching number fourteen on the U.S. R&B charts and crossing over to the U.S. Pop charts peaking at number seventy seven. However, it would be the single's B-side, " I'll Be Around" led by the Spinners' other lead singer Bobby Smith, that would be the group's real chart breakthrough, becoming a #1 R&B and #3 pop hit in the fall of 1972 and eventually reaching sales of over a million copies.

Personnel

*Lead vocals by Philippé Wynne and Henry Fambrough *Background vocals by Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson, Henry Fambrough and Billy Henderson *Instrumentation by MFSB

Charts

References

1972 singles The Spinners (American group) songs 1972 songs Atlantic Records singles Song recordings produced by Thom Bell {{1970s-pop-song-stub