Philippé Wynne<div hidden>Philippe Wynne Phillip Wynne</div>
Philippé Wynne was an influential American R&B and soul singer, best known as a lead vocalist for The Spinners during their 1970s heyday. Born Phillip Walker on April 3, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, he rose from gospel roots to superstardom with his silky, emotive voice.
Wynne started singing gospel before transitioning to R&B, performing with groups like Bootsy Collins' Pacesetters in 1968 and James Brown's JB's. He joined The Spinners in 1970, delivering iconic leads on hits like "It's a Shame," "I'll Be Around," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," and "The Rubberband Man," helping the group achieve multiple platinum albums under producer Thom Bell.
Leaving The Spinners in 1977 over naming disputes, Wynne pursued a solo career, managed by Alan Thicke, and released albums including Starting All Over (1977), Wynne Jammin' (1980, with Parliament-Funkadelic ties), and Philippe Wynne (1984) on Sugarhill Records. He collaborated with George Clinton's P-Funk collective but struggled commercially as a solo artist, also venturing into songwriting and music business ventures.
Wynne died on July 14, 1984, at age 43, from a heart attack while performing at a nightclub in Oakland, California, collapsing mid-dance during an encore.
Starting All Over
Music By – Alan Thicke
Music By, Lyrics By – Philippé Wynne
5:06
A2 Waiting On A Letter From Home
Written-By – Charles Simmons, Joe Jefferson
3:51
A3 Think Of Your Thoughts As Children
Written-By – Philippé Wynne
6:37
A4 Hobo Stew
Written-By – Philippé Wynne
5:16
A5 Hats Off To Mama
Written-By – Philippé Wynne
3:16
B1 Like A Loser Needs A Winner (You're All I Need)-
Written-By – Philippé Wynne
3:45
B2 That's Alright Too
Written-By – Brenda Russell (2), Brian Russell, Philippé Wynne
4:47
B3 Take Me As I Am
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons (2), Joe Jefferson
6:26
B4 Lisa
Lyrics By – Philippé Wynne
Music By – Alan Thicke
4:32
B5 Starting All Over (Reprise)
Music By – Alan Thicke
Music By, Lyrics By – Philippé Wynne
0:43
Label: Cotillion – SD 9920
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
Philippe Wynne's 1977 solo debut, Starting All Over, showcased his distinctive, sweet-raspy voice with Philly-soul arrangements, blending heartfelt ballads like "Think of Your Thoughts as Children" with funkier tracks like "Like a Loser Needs a Winner," but often felt less polished than his work with The Spinners, as Wynne sought to establish his own identity with mixed results for some fans.
Released on Cotillion Records in 1977, shortly after Wynne left The Spinners, self-produced by Wynne, who also handled rhythm arrangements, with support from top session musicians, and strong emphasis on Wynne's powerful, soulful lead vocals, with backing harmonies often further back in the mix. Rooted in Philly Soul, featuring lush string/horn arrangements and tight rhythms, though sometimes leaning into funk.
The album features several originals written or co-written by Wynne—including two tracks co-written with his then-manager Alan Thicke—alongside contributions from Joe Jefferson and Charles Simmons. While praised for Wynne's voice, some listeners found it lacked the consistent pop hooks of his previous group, with tracks like "Hobo Stew" and "Hats Off to Mama" feeling like attempts to overcompensate for his solo debut.
Starting All Over served as Wynne's bold, yet sometimes uneven, declaration as a solo artist, showcasing his immense talent but also the challenge of stepping out from under the shadow of his famous group.
Despite Wynne's fame as a lead vocalist, the album saw limited commercial success and did not produce any major hit singles. Fans of his later work with George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic often find this album too pop-oriented, while Spinners fans occasionally felt it lacked the "shimmering pop melodies" of his earlier work.