Pick of the Litter (The Spinners album)

Pick of the Litter is generally considered the last of the quartet of classic Bell-produced studio albums the Spinners released between 1973 and 1975, and to mark the end of the most creative phase of the group’s career – while future releases would have memorable moments, contemporary critical opinion is that none of the group’s later material matches the enduring quality and top-notch consistency of these four albums.

Pick of the Litter became the Spinners’ highest placing album on the Billboard 200, reaching number eight; however it was the group’s first Atlantic album to miss the top of the R&B albums chart, peaking at number two. The album includes the distinctive "Games People Play", one of the group’s signature songs, which became their fifth single to top the R&B chart and a top 5 hit on the Billboard singles chart. The second single "Love or Leave" also made the R&B top 10.

Although not credited on the album sleeve, "Just as Long as We Have Love" includes vocal contributions from Dionne Warwick.

• Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson – vocals
• Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals
• MFSB – strings, horns
• Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitars
• Thom Bell – keyboards
• Bob Babbitt – bass guitar
• Andrew Smith – drums
• Larry Washington – congas, bongos
• Dionne Warwick – vocals on "Just as Long as We Have Love" (uncredited)

Singles