They Just Can't Stop It - The Spinners (1975) 9/1/22

So many "Great Songs of the '70s" came out of Philadelphia, and today, we're highlighting yet another!

Artists like Barry White, The O'Jays, The Three Degrees, , Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and The Stylistics were ALL exceptional purveyors of the "Philadelphia Sound," and right at the top of that list was The Spinners.

In 1975, they released a single called "Games People Play," based on Eric Berne's book of the same name.

The book, and the song, explored "romantic gamesmanship theory." In short: how people manipulate others to get what they want in matters of love.

The song was a triple chart hit, topping Billboard's Soul Chart, while reaching #2 on the Easy Listening Chart and #5 on the Hot 100!

But first, they had to change the name!

You might remember there was an entirely different "Great Song" called "Games People Play," written and sung by Joe South in 1968.

After the Spinners single had been out for a while, they re-issued it unchanged...except for a new title on the label: "They Just Can't Stop It."

It wasn't because anyone believed that people would confuse the two songs. In reality, the name was changed to avoid royalty checks going to the wrong people. In other words: to prevent clerical errors!

But it doesn't matter if you call it "Games People Play," "They Just Can't Stop It," or Both (which many disc jockeys did)...It's still a "Great Song of 1975!