musicradio77
05-01-2004, 01:03 PM
This month and every month marks the 45th anniversary of Motown. The Motown 45 artists for this week is: The Four Tops.
The group originally started as the Four Aims. The original member sincluded lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Obie Benson. The group signed with Chess records in 1956 under the name The Four Tops. In the late 50's and early 60's, the Four Tops went to several different labels included Columbia, Riverside and other label. In 1963, they signed with Motown records and in 1964, they teamed up with Holland, Dozier and Holland and released their first single "Baby I Need Your Loving" and it was a bonified hit. In 1965, they released a string of hits included a #1 hit "I Can't Help Myself", "It's the Same Old Song", and another #1 hit "Reach Out I'll Be There". The group continued in the late 60's with "Bernadette" their last collaboration with Holland-Dozier-Holland. In addition to that, they released hit versions of these songs included "If I Were a Carpenter" (originally recorded by Bobby Darin), "Walk Away Renee" (originally recorded by the Left Banke) and "MacArthur Park" (originally recorded by Richard Harris). By 1972, they left Motown after "Nature Planned It" was released and went to Dunhill records and released a few singles with "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)", "Keeper of the Castle" and "Are You Man Enough", the theme from the 3rd movie "Shaft in Africa". By 1981, they went to Casablanca records and released a #1 R&B hit with "When She Was My Girl". In 1983, they performed with the Temptations together in a Motown 25th anniversary special. A year later, they went back to Motown and released a few albums without much success. By 1988, the group went to Arista records and released "Indestructable" a song featured in the 1988 Olympic Games and "Loco and Acapulco", the song never cracked the Top 10. The group continued their hit making ways and sadly in 1997, Lawrence Payton died of cancer. Theo Peop,les joined the group in 1999. The Four Tops has destined to become legends of Motown.
The group originally started as the Four Aims. The original member sincluded lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Obie Benson. The group signed with Chess records in 1956 under the name The Four Tops. In the late 50's and early 60's, the Four Tops went to several different labels included Columbia, Riverside and other label. In 1963, they signed with Motown records and in 1964, they teamed up with Holland, Dozier and Holland and released their first single "Baby I Need Your Loving" and it was a bonified hit. In 1965, they released a string of hits included a #1 hit "I Can't Help Myself", "It's the Same Old Song", and another #1 hit "Reach Out I'll Be There". The group continued in the late 60's with "Bernadette" their last collaboration with Holland-Dozier-Holland. In addition to that, they released hit versions of these songs included "If I Were a Carpenter" (originally recorded by Bobby Darin), "Walk Away Renee" (originally recorded by the Left Banke) and "MacArthur Park" (originally recorded by Richard Harris). By 1972, they left Motown after "Nature Planned It" was released and went to Dunhill records and released a few singles with "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)", "Keeper of the Castle" and "Are You Man Enough", the theme from the 3rd movie "Shaft in Africa". By 1981, they went to Casablanca records and released a #1 R&B hit with "When She Was My Girl". In 1983, they performed with the Temptations together in a Motown 25th anniversary special. A year later, they went back to Motown and released a few albums without much success. By 1988, the group went to Arista records and released "Indestructable" a song featured in the 1988 Olympic Games and "Loco and Acapulco", the song never cracked the Top 10. The group continued their hit making ways and sadly in 1997, Lawrence Payton died of cancer. Theo Peop,les joined the group in 1999. The Four Tops has destined to become legends of Motown.