The Four Tops - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

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.

Jrnygrl · 05-01-2004, 05:57 PM

Thanks for the info!

I really miss the Motown sound, it was really a great label for an artist to be associated with. I mean Berry Gordy took a group molded them and wouldn't put them out there until they were ready. There will never be another like this again unfortunately.

Oh by the way favorite Four Tops songs:

Bernadette
Reach Out

musicradio77 · 05-01-2004, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
Thanks for the info!

I really miss the Motown sound, it was really a great label for an artist to be associated with. I mean Berry Gordy took a group molded them and wouldn't put them out there until they were ready. There will never be another like this again unfortunately.

Oh by the way favorite Four Tops songs:

Bernadette
Reach Out

You're welcome!

By the way, this is the Motown's 45th Anniversary Avatar of the Week. A new avatar this week and every week during the next 2 or 3 months.

If there is any avatar tributes, I'll keep you posted.

Jokerette · 05-01-2004, 07:59 PM

The only song I've heard from the Four Tops is "Back To School Again" from the movie Grease 2. I really liked it though, I must get one of their albums and have a real listen to them sometime. I dig Motown.

musicradio77 · 05-01-2004, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dream Sequence
The only song I've heard from the Four Tops is "Back To School Again" from the movie Grease 2. I really liked it though, I must get one of their albums and have a real listen to them sometime. I dig Motown.

I have the song "Back to School Again" from the double CD "The Singles Plus". It was from "Grease II". I have the movie on VHS.

Tuesday Weld · 05-01-2004, 09:19 PM

I love the Four Tops. I love all of Motown, really.

jamesanthony · 05-05-2004, 09:04 PM

Those guys were excellent singers. The thing I like most is that they stuck together as a unit, had great harmony, and great instrumental backups on their songs all through the 60s, 70s and through the early 80s at least. Now the vocal groups are all doing the thugged out thing and oversinging and nobody stays together anymore, it's all this platforming for solo careers (remember Sisqo from Dru Hill?)

To me they were better than the Temptations. They stayed intact and didn't fall victim to all the drug abuse and internal chaos. I just heard Keeper of the Castle for the first time a couple weeks back. Good stuff. It's All in the Game has great harmonies the remake of what was really a very old song. They made it fresh.

Outside of Boyz II Men who have long ago peaked, there is not much at all on the musical lanscape in the way of good contemporary stand up vocal groupwork.

05-01-2004, 01:03 PM	#1
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	The Four Tops 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.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

05-01-2004, 09:19 PM	#6
Tuesday Weld I missed you all. hugs Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 02, 2003 Location: Having a great time. Posts: 22,285	I love the Four Tops. I love all of Motown, really.
	__________________ Cindy Formerly musicrocksmyworld, ElvisDustyfan and vintagetvgirl. After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say "I want to see the manager." - William S. Burroughs

05-01-2004, 05:57 PM	#2
Jrnygrl Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: wheel in the sky Posts: 4,540	Thanks for the info! I really miss the Motown sound, it was really a great label for an artist to be associated with. I mean Berry Gordy took a group molded them and wouldn't put them out there until they were ready. There will never be another like this again unfortunately. Oh by the way favorite Four Tops songs: Bernadette Reach Out

05-01-2004, 07:59 PM	#4
Jokerette Clown Princess Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 29, 2004 Location: Gotham City...dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight Posts: 334	The only song I've heard from the Four Tops is "Back To School Again" from the movie Grease 2. I really liked it though, I must get one of their albums and have a real listen to them sometime. I dig Motown.

05-05-2004, 09:04 PM	#7
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Those guys were excellent singers. The thing I like most is that they stuck together as a unit, had great harmony, and great instrumental backups on their songs all through the 60s, 70s and through the early 80s at least. Now the vocal groups are all doing the thugged out thing and oversinging and nobody stays together anymore, it's all this platforming for solo careers (remember Sisqo from Dru Hill?) To me they were better than the Temptations. They stayed intact and didn't fall victim to all the drug abuse and internal chaos. I just heard Keeper of the Castle for the first time a couple weeks back. Good stuff. It's All in the Game has great harmonies the remake of what was really a very old song. They made it fresh. Outside of Boyz II Men who have long ago peaked, there is not much at all on the musical lanscape in the way of good contemporary stand up vocal groupwork.