I'll Be Around

"I'll Be Around" is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). The song was co-written by Thom Bell and Phil Hurtt and produced by Bell. The lyrics of the song have the narrator (Spinners main lead singer Bobby Smith), pledging his devotion and love to a lover that has just left him for another while at the same time holding out hope that she or he will return to him ("There's always a chance, a tiny spark will remain/And sparks turn into flames/And love can burn once again..."). So, in case she or he changes her or his mind, he'll be around. The production of the song gives it a smooth, mid-tempo feel, with guitar at the forefront and punctuation from female background singers, horns, strings and conga-playing from Larry Washington. Bobby Smith handles lead vocals on the song. The song was included on the group's 1972 self-titled album on Atlantic Records, their first album release for the label. It was initially released as the B-side of the group's first single on Atlantic Records, with "How Could I Let You Get Away" being the A-side. Radio deejays, however, soon opted for "I'll Be Around" which led to Atlantic flipping the single over and the song became an unexpected hit, eventually spending five weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart (the group's first number-one on the R&B chart) and reaching number three on the U.S. Pop chart in the fall of 1972. It also reached sales of over one million copies, The Spinners' first record ever to do so. The success of "I'll Be Around" would be the first in a series of chart successes The Spinners and Bell would have together during the 1970s.

[Verse 1] This is our fork in the road Love's last episode There's nowhere to go, oh no You made your choice Now it's up to me To bow out gracefully Though you hold the key, but baby [Hook] Whenever you call me, I'll be there Whenever you want me, I'll be there Whenever you need me, I'll be there I'll be around [Verse 2] I knew just what to say Now I found out today That all the words had slipped away, but I know There's always a chance A tiny spark will remain, yeah And sparks turn into flames And love can burn once again, but I know you know [Hook] Whenever you call me, I'll be there Whenever you want me, I'll be there Whenever you need me, I'll be there I'll be around, yeah [Horn Solo] [Hook] Whenever you call me, I'll be there Whenever you want me, I'll be there Even if I have to crawl, I'll be there I'll be around Just call me on the phone, I'll be there I'll never leave you alone, I'll be there Just call out your name, I know I know you know I'll be around I'll be skippin' and a-jumpin', I'll be there I'll be a-rippin' and a-runnin', I'll be there I'll be calling out your name to let you know I'll be around