The Spinners - Rubberband Man (Atlantic Records 1976)

"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners (known as "The Detroit Spinners" in the UK).

The song, written by producer Thom Bell and singer-songwriter Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight. Intended to improve his son's self-image, the song eventually evolved from being about "The Fat Man" to "The Rubberband Man".

The last major hit by the Spinners to feature Philippé Wynne on lead vocals, "The Rubberband Man" spent three weeks at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and topped the U.S. R&B chart at the end of 1976. It was also a top-20 hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 16 on August 6, 1976.

With the opening lyrics, "Hand me down my walking cane, hand me down my hat!", the song recalls the tradition of the one-man band, the days of traveling minstrel shows and such Bay Area musicians as Jesse Fuller.

The arrangement opens with rhythmic clavinet and percussion, followed by a Philly string arrangement provided by the Mother Father Sister Brother musicians. There are brief bursts of brass section and piano. Singer Wynne's delivery is "singularly expressive" and the bridge and chorus provide for a classic call and response routine by supporting vocalists Bobbie Smith (tenor), Henry Fambrough (baritone), Billy Henderson (tenor/baritone) and Pervis Jackson (bass).

Wynne alternates between singing the verse and interjecting verbal asides and improvises the eight bars linking the chorus with the bridge. The backing singers' retort of "do-do-do-do," recalls the distinctive chorus in Stephen Stills' song "Love the One You're With." Both single and album versions end abruptly.

The Spinners are an American soul music vocal group, active for over 50 years, and with a long run of classic hits especially during the 1970s. The group, originating from Detroit, still tours regularly as of 2014 although Henry Fambrough is the only original member.

Hand me down my walkin cane
Hand me down my hat
Hurry now and dont be late
'Cause we aint got time to chat

You and me, were goin out
To catch the latest sounds
Guaranteed to blow your mind
So high, you wont come down

Hey, yall prepare yourself for the Rubberband Man
You never heard a sound like the Rubberband Man
Youre bound to lose control
When the Rubberband starts to jam

Oh, Lord, this dude is outta sight
Everything he does
Seems to come out right

Once I went to hear them play
At a club outside of town
I was so surprised, I was hypnotized
By the sound this cats puttin down

When I saw this short fat guy
Stretch a band between his toes
Hey, I laughed so hard cause the man got down
When he finally reached his goal

Hey, yall prepare yourself for the Rubberband Man
You never heard a sound like the Rubberband Man
Youre bound to lose control
When the Rubberband starts to jam

Got that rubberband
Up on his toes
And then he wriggled it up
All around his nose

Guaranteed to blow your mind
Playin all that music, yet keepin time
Where in the world did he learn that, oh, Lord
Lord, help him get away

Hey, yall prepare yourself for the Rubberband Man
You never heard a sound like the Rubberband Man
Youre bound to lose control
When the Rubberband starts to jam

Rubberband Man, Rubberband Man
How much of this stuff do he think we can stand
So much rhythm, grace and debonair from one man, Lord
And then he had nerve to wiggle his left toe
To his knee, got the feelin in his head, yall
Oh, come on, baby

Hey, yall prepare yourself for the Rubberband Man
([Incomprehensible])
You never heard a sound like the Rubberband man
(Never heard a sound, oh, he's my man)
Youre bound to lose control
(And he likes to jam)
When the Rubberband starts to jam

Rubberband Man starts to jam
Movin up and down across the land
Got people all in his ways
Everything about him seems out of place

Just a movin, just a movin, just a move, move, movin
Just a Rubberband, Rubberband Man
Just a movin, just a movin, just a move, move, movin
Just a Rubberband, Rubberband Man

Get down
Oh, get down lover

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