Then Came You (song)

"Then Came You" is a 1974 Grammy-nominated hit for American soul singer Dionne Warwick and American R&B group The Spinners, and credited to Dionne Warwicke and Spinners (from 1971–1975, Warwick added a final 'e' to her last name). The track was written by Sherman Marshall and Phillip T. Pugh, and produced by Thom Bell.

Released during a time that Warwick's chart fortunes were at an ebb after moving to Warner Bros. Records in 1972, the Philadelphia soul single was a rare mid-1970s success for the singer. Sung as a duet with Spinners main lead singer Bobby Smith and the Spinners, who were one of the most popular groups of the decade, the song became Warwick's first ever single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and also became her highest-charting R&B record reaching number two on that chart. It was also the first number-one pop hit for the Spinners. Spinners member Phillippe Wynne took over lead duties at the very end of the song, as he did on another one of the group's big hits, "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love".

While Warwick was signed to Warner Bros. at the time, this release actually came out on Atlantic Records, which was the Spinners' label, but also a sister label to Warner Bros.

Warwick eventually left Warner Bros. for Arista Records in 1978 where she regrouped and found consistent success again as an artist.

Trivia

"Then Came You" is tied with the record that preceded it at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, "Nothing From Nothing" by Billy Preston, for the biggest fall from number one in the history of the Hot 100. Both "Nothing From Nothing" and "Then Came You" spent only one week at number one and then dropped all the way to number 15 the week afterward.

After recording "Then Came You" Bell quoted 'that Dionne made a face after the session and didn't care for the songs very much. So, Thom ripped a dollar in two and signed each half and exchanged them. Bell told her that if the song doesn't go to number one, I'll send you my half. 'Then Came You' b/w 'Just As Long As We Have Love' shot straight to number one spot on Billboard's Top 100 list and No. 2 R&B (Kool & the Gang's 'Higher Plane' prevented it from the number one spot) making this Dionne's first No. 1 and the Spinners first and only No. 1 pop hit in October 1974. Dionne sent back the half torn dollar bill to Thom Bell with an apology.

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Dionne Warwick, Bobby Smith and Philippé Wynne
• Background vocals by Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Yvette Benton, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Pervis Jackson, Henry Fambrough and Billy Henderson
• Instrumentation by various Philadelphia area musicians

Chart history