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JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS



THE FOUR TOPS



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THE FOUR TOPS




WEB PAGES

The Official Web Site"The Official Web Site"
Wilson & Alroy's Record Reviews"Wilson & Alroy's Record Reviews"
Spotlight: The Four Tops"Spotlight: The Four Tops"
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The Four Tops"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The Four Tops"


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The Four Tops are the most stable, consistent, and dependable of the successful R&B/pop vocal acts to emerge from Motown Records in the 1960s. Unlike the Temptations, they have had no personnel changes; unlike the Supremes and the Miracles, their lead singer never felt the need to step out on his own. At the same time, the Four Tops personified the musical hybrid Motown sought -- they had the grittiness of gospel and R&B, but they were smooth enough to appeal to pop audiences.

The group was formed in Detroit in 1953 by lead singer Levi Stubbs, Jr., Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton, and Abdul "Duke" Fakir when they were still in high school. They recorded for several labels before signing to Motown in 1963. "Baby, I Need Your Loving" (July 1964), written and produced by the team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, was their first substantial hit, setting the pattern for a series of songs showcasing Stubbs's emotive wail set against the Benson-Payton-Fakir harmony line. Need and longing would be the hallmarks of Stubbs's singing on such songs as "Ask the Lonely" (January 1965), which launched a string of R&B Top Ten/pop Top 40 hits over the next two years. Its follow-up, "I Can't Help Myself" (April 1965), hit number one and was itself followed by "It's the Same Old Song" (July 1965), "Something About You" (October 1965), "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" (February 1966), "Loving You Is Sweeter than Ever" (May 1966), a second #1, "Reach Out, I'll Be There" (August 1966), "Standing in the Shadows of Love" (November 1966), "Bernadette" (February 1967), "7 Rooms of Gloom" (May 1967), and "You Keep Running Away" (August 1967).

At that point, the Holland-Dozier-Holland team left Motown, depriving the Four Tops of their writing and producing talent. The label at first had some trouble finding material for them, having them cover songs like "Walk Away Renee" and "If I Were a Carpenter." In 1970, however, they rebounded with "It's All in the Game," "Still Water (Love)," a duet with the Supremes on "River Deep -- Mountain High," and "Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)," all of which made the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40. They scored one more R&B Top Ten on Motown with "(It's the Way) Nature Planned It" before moving to Dunhill (later acquired by ABC, then by MCA) Records, where they enjoyed another string of hits, including "Keeper of the Castle" (October 1972), the gold-selling "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)" (January 1973), "Are You Man Enough" (June 1973), "Sweet Understanding Love" (September 1973), "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" (April 1974), and "Midnight Flower" (July 1974). They returned to the R&B Top Ten with "Catfish" (August 1976), and moved to Casablanca (since acquired by PolyGram) for the R&B number one "When She Was My Girl" (September 1981).

The Four Tops returned to Motown in 1983, and by 1988 were signed to Arista. Their hit-making days presumably behind them, they remain a solid concert act with a repertoire of favorites and a catalogue that continues to be repackaged successfully. -- William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Addtional notes:
Lawrence Payton passed away in 1997, Reynaldo "Obie" Benson passed away in 2005, and Levi Stubbs, the voice of the Four Tops, passed away on Friday, October 17th, 2008, leaving only Abdul "Duke" Fakir as an orignal member. Fakir now tours with Theo Peoples (formerly of The Temptations) , who took over Srubbs's role when Levi suffered a stroke in 2000, Ronnie McNeir, and Lawrence Payton's son Roquel as the Four Tops.

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LINKSTITLEYEAR
The Four Tops1964
The Four Tops Second Album1965
On Top1966
The Four Tops Live1966
On Broadway1967
Reach Out1967
Yesterday's Dreams1968
The Four Tops Now!1969
Soul Spin1969
Still Waters Run Deep1970
Changing Times1970
The Magnificent 71970
The Return of the Magnificent Seven1971
Dynamite1971
Nature Planned It1972
Keeper of the Castle1972
Main Street People1973
Meeting of the Minds1974
Shaft in Africa1974
Live & In Concert1974
Anthology1974
Night Lights Harmony1975
Catfish1976
The Show Must Go On1977
At the Top1978
Tonight!1981
The Fabulous Four Tops1982
One More Mountain1982
Back Where I Belong1983
Magic1985
Hot Nights1986
Indestructible1987
When She Was My Girl1992
It's the Same Old Song1995
Christmas Here with You1995
Ultimate Collection1997
Breaking Through1999


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1964 The Four Tops



1965 The Four Tops Second Album



1966 On Top

01. I Got a Feeling
02. Brenda
03. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
04. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
05. Until You Love Someone
06. There's No Love Left
07. Matchmaker
08. Michelle
09. In the Still of the Night
10. Bluesette
11. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
12. Then


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1966 The Four Tops Live

01. Introduction
02. It's the Same Old Song
03. It's Not Unusual
04. Baby I Need Your Loving
05. Reach out (I'll Be There)
06. I'll Turn to Stone
07. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
08. You Can't Hurry Love
09. Ask the Lonely
10. Climb Ev'ry Mountain
11. Girl from Ipanema
12. If I Had a Hammer
13. I Can't Help Myself
14. I Like Everything About You


1967 On Broadway



1967 Reach Out

01. Reach out I'll Be There
02. Walk Away Renee
03. 7-Rooms of Gloom
04. If I Were a Carpenter
05. Last Train to Clarksville
06. I'll Turn to Stone
07. I'm a Believer
08. Standing in the Shadows of Love
09. Bernadette
10. Cherish
11. Wonderful Baby
12. What Else Is There to Do


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1968 Yesterday's Dreams



1969 The Four Tops Now!



1969 Soul Spin

01. Look Out Your Window
02. Barbara's Boy
03. Lost In A Pool Of Red
04. Got To Get You Into My Life
05. Stop The World
06. Nothing
07. This Guy's In Love With You
08. Light My Fire
09. Honey
10. The Look Of Love
11. California Dreamin'



1970 Still Waters Run Deep

01. Still Water (Love)
02. Reflections
03. It's All in the Game
04. Everybody's Talking
05. Love Is the Answer
06. I Wish I Were Your Mirror
07. Elusive Butterfly
08. Bring Me Together
09. L.A. (My Town)
10. Still Water (Peace)


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1970 Changing Times

01. In These Changing Times
02. Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten out My...
03. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
04. Right Before My Eyes
05. I Almost Had Her (But She Got Away)
06. Try to Remember
07. Something's Tearing at the Edges of Time
08. Sing a Song of Yesterday
09. Medley: The Long and Winding Road: In..



1970 The Magnificent 7



1971 The Return of the Magnificent Seven



1971 Dynamite



1972 Nature Planned It



1972 Keeper of the Castle



1973 Main Street People

01. Mainstreet People (intro)
02. I Just Can't Get You out of My Mind
03. It Won't Be the First Time
04. Sweet Understanding Love
05. Am I My Brother's Keeper
06. Are You Man Enough
07. Whenever There's Blue
08. Too Little Too Late
09. Peace of Mind
10. One Woman Man
11. Main Street People



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1974 Meeting of the Minds



1974 Shaft in Africa

01. You Can't Even Walk in the Park
02. Are You Man Enough
03. Aleme Finds Shaft
04. Shaft in Africa
05. Headman
06. El Jardia
07. Are You Man Enough
08. Jazar's Theme
09. Truck Stop
10. Aleme's Theme
11. El Jardia
12. Are You Man Enough


1974 Live & In Concert

01. Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)
02. Are You Man Enough
03. I Am Your Man
04. Keeper of the Castle
05. Love Music-Reach out I'll Be There...
06. Baby I Need Your Loving
07. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey...
08. Midnight Flower
09. One Chain Don't Make No Prison



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1974 Anthology

01. Baby I Need Your Loving
02. Without The One You Love
03. Sad Souvenirs
04. Ask The Lonely
05. I Can't Help Myself
06. Helpless
07. Something About You
08. Shake Me, Wake Me (when it's over)
09. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
10. Then
11. Reach Out I'll Be There
12. Standing In The Shadows Of Love
13. I Got A Feeling
14. Bernadette
15. 7 Rooms Of Gloom
16. I'll Turn To Stone
17. You Keep Running Away
18. Walk Away Renee
19. If I Were A Carpenter
20. Yesterdays Dreams
21. Mac Arthur Park
22. Climb Every Mountain
23. Everybody's Talking
24. For Once In My Life
25. A Place In The Sun
26. Reflections
27. I'm In A Different World
28. Can't Seem To Get You Out Of My Mind
29. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me
30. It's All In The Game
31. Still Water(love)
32. River Deep-Mountain High
33. Just Seven Numbers
34. In These Changing Times
35. You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart
36. I Can't Quit Your Love
37. (it's the way)Nature Planned It
38. Hey Man/We Got To Get You A Woman


1975 Night Lights Harmony

01. Seven Lonely Nights
02. Mama You're All Right With Me
03. Is This The Price?
04. We All Gotta Stick Together
05. I've Got What You Need
06. I Can't Hold On Much Longer
07. (it would almost) Drive Me Out Of My Mind
08. I'm Glad You Walked Into My Life
09. (Dedicated to Stevie)
10. Let Me Know The Truth


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1976 Catfish



1977 The Show Must Go On

1. The Show Must Go On
2. I Can't Live Without You
3. Save It For A Rainy Day
4. Runnin' From Your Love
5. See The Real Me
6. Love Is A Joy
7. You'll Never Find A Better Man
8. Candy


1978 At the Top

01. Help
02. Bits and Pieces
03. Seclusion
04. Put It on the News
05. This House
06. Just in Time
07. Inside a Brokenhearted Man
08. When Your Dreams Take Wings and Fly


1981 Tonight!

01. When She Was My Girl
02. One More Mountain
03. Sad Hearts
04. Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over
05. Nobody's Gonna Love You Like I Do
06. Let Me Set You Free
07. Don't Walk Away
08. Dream On
09. All I Do
10. I Believe in You and Me
11. I'll Never Ever Leave Again
12. Back to School Again


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1982 The Fabulous Four Tops

01. I Can't Help Myself
02. I Got a Feeling
03. Your Love Is Amazing
04. Yesterday's Dreams
05. I'm Grateful
06. Little Green Apples


1982 One More Mountain

01. Sad Hearts
02. One More Mountain to Climb
03. Givin' It Up
04. I Believe in You and Me
05. I'm the One
06. Keep on Lightin' My Fire
07. Nobody's Gonna Love You Like I Do
08. Dream On
09. Whatever It Is



1983 Back Where I Belong

01. Make Yourself Right at Home
02. I Just Can't Walk Away
03. Sail On
04. Back Where I Belong
05. What Have We Got to Lose?
06. Masquerade Is Over
07. Body and Soul
08. Hang


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1985 Magic



1986 Hot Nights

01. Hot Nights
02. Red Hot Love
03. I Believe in You and Me
04. Let's Jam
05. We Got Bus'ness
01. Hot Nights
02. Red Hot Love
03. I Believe in You and Me
04. Let's Jam
05. We Got Bus'ness



1987 Indestructible

01. Indestructible
02. Change of Heart
03. If Ever a Love There Was
04. Sun Ain't Gonna Shine
05. Next Time
06. Loco in Acapulco
07. Are You with Me
08. I'm Only Wounded
09. When You Dance
10. Let's Jam


1992 When She Was My Girl (was Tonight!)

01. When She Was My Girl
02. One More Mountain
03. Sad Hearts
04. Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over
05. Nobody's Gonna Love You Like I Do
06. Let Me Set You Free
07. Don't Walk Away
08. Dream On
09. All I Do
10. I Believe in You and Me
11. I'll Never Ever Leave Again
12. Back to School Again


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1995 It's the Same Old Song

01. It's the Same Old Song
02. Darling, I Hum Our Song
03. Then
04. If I Were a Carpenter
05. Ask the Lonely
06. Baby I Need Your Loving
07. I'll Turn to Stone
08. Helpless
09. Never My Love
10. Stay in My Lonely Arms
11. Cherish



1995 Christmas Here with You

01. Christmas Here with You
02. White Christmas
03. Christmas Song
04. Away in a Manger
05. This Christmas
06. Silent Night
07. Little Drummer Boy
08. Christmas Delight
09. Merry Christmas Baby
10. Merry Christmas to You
11. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
12. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas


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1997 Ultimate Collection

01. Reach Out I'll Be There
02. Standing In The Shadows of Love
03. Bernadette
04. Ask The Lonely
05. Baby I Need Your Loving
06. Without The One You Love
07. It's The Same Old Song
08. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
09. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
10. Something About You
11. I Got A Feeling
12. I'm In A Different World
13. Walk Away Renee
14. What Is A Man
15. A Simple Game
16. Still Water (Love)
17. (It's The Way) Nature Planned It
18. It's All In The Game
19. You Keep Running Away
20. If You Don't Want My Love
21. 7-Rooms Of Gloom
22. I'll Turn To Stone
23. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
24. Sad Souvenirs
25. Yesterday's Dreams



1999 Breaking Through

01. This Can't Be Love
02. On The Street Where You Live
03. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
04. Nice 'N' Easy
05. Maybe Today
06. Stranger On The Shore
07. Young And Foolish
08. Discovered
09. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
10. Fascinating Rhythm
11. End Of A Beautiful Friendship
12. If My Heart Could Sing
13. Can't Get Out Of This Mood
14. When I'm Alone I Cry
15. Until I Met You
16. I'm Falling For You
17. Every Day I Have The Blues/Goin' To Chicago Blues
18. I Could Have Danced All Night
19. I'm Falling For You (Live At The Apollo)



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