Ghetto Child
"Ghetto Child" | ||||
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Single by The Spinners | ||||
from the album Spinners | ||||
B-side | "We Belong Together" | |||
Released | July 1973 | |||
Recorded | 1972–1973 | |||
Studio | Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
Genre | Philadelphia soul, R&B | |||
Length | 3:47 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Thom Bell | |||
The Spinners singles chronology | ||||
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"Ghetto Child" is a 1973 song recorded by American R&B music group the Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK) for the Atlantic label. It was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed. It was produced by Bell, and recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios with the house band MFSB providing the backing instrumentation. It is notable for being one of few songs that all three main leads, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne and Henry Fambrough sing lead (Wynne and Fambrough on the verses and Smith on the song's bridge).[1] Although some think the song focuses on racial injustice broadly and the injustice of the 1967 Detroit Riot more specifically, the lyrics suggest that the song may be about intra-racial discrimination—the song is written from the perspective of a black child who is derided not (primarily) due to his skin-color but due to his class status.
The group's fifth hit at Atlantic, the song peaked at number four on the R&B chart and number twenty-nine on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.[2][1][3]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough and Bobby Smith
- Background vocals by Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Pervis Jackson, Henry Fambrough and Billy Henderson
- Additional background vocals by Linda Creed and The Sweethearts of Sigma (Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, and Evette Benton)
- Instrumentation by MFSB
Chart history
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 | 29 |
US Best Selling Soul Singles | 4 |
US Easy Listening | 20 |
UK Singles Chart | 7 |
References
- ^ a b "1973: The Top 100 Soul/R&B Singles".
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 545.
- ^ "US Charts > The Spinners". Allmusic. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
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- C.J. Jefferson
- Marvin Taylor
- Jessie Robert Peck
- Ronnie Moss
- Henry Fambrough
- Pervis Jackson
- Billy Henderson
- C. P. Spencer
- James Edwards
- Bobby Smith
- George Dixon
- Edgar Edwards
- G. C. Cameron
- Philippé Wynne
- John Edwards
- Frank Washington
- Harold "Spike" Bonhart
- Charlton Washington
- The Original Spinners
- 2nd Time Around
- Spinners
- Mighty Love
- New and Improved
- Pick of the Litter
- Happiness Is Being with the Spinners
- Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow
- 8
- From Here to Eternally
- Dancin' and Lovin'
- Love Trippin'
- Labor of Love
- Can't Shake This Feeling
- Grand Slam
- Cross Fire
- Lovin' Feelings
- Down to Business
- At Their Best
- The Best of the Spinners (1973 album)
- Spinners Live!
- The Best of the Spinners (1978 album)
- The Spinners: Their Early Years
- "That's What Girls Are Made For"
- "I'll Always Love You"
- "Truly Yours"
- "It's a Shame"
- "How Could I Let You Get Away"
- "I'll Be Around"
- "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"
- "One of a Kind (Love Affair)"
- "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music"
- "Ghetto Child"
- "Mighty Love"
- "I'm Coming Home"
- "Then Came You"
- "Sadie"
- "Games People Play"
- "The Rubberband Man"
- "Are You Ready for Love"
- "Working My Way Back to You"
- "Cupid"
- "Yesterday Once More"
- "Funny How Time Slips Away"
- "I'll Be Around"
- Category
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