The Four Tops - Classic Or Dud?

Also, they are very indie pop because there are so many songs about longing or unrequited love.

(FWIW, it seems to be an anomoly in the very professional Motown 'factory' that all four members stayed together for the duration.)

Oh, no doubt. I just bought a European 2-for-1 Motown reissue (the Supremes' _Where Did Our Love Go_ / _I Hear a Symphony_), and while the 1st LP (mostly HDH compositions) do try out different things, the HITS are definitely variations on a theme. And it's a most excellent theme, too - the best parts of _Symphony_ are those moments where HDH give the Supremes compositions to sing that don't exceed their reach (or Berry Gordy's pop aspirations).

You can only listen to 'Bernadette' 29 times.

Destroy: The Kraft Macaroni & Cheese commercial: "It's not the same! (not the same) Old side! (old side)" ("Side" as in "side dish.")

Motown's giddiness and Stubb's serious overstatement sometimes seemed a little...off. "Bernadette" especially. Never warmed to it. "Standing in the Shadows of Love" is its superior in the brooding department. "Reach Out" used to make me giddy, now it just sits there on the floor, playing dead. If I want my 60's Motown I'll usually reach out for Stevie's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2.

You know, until one of the group died fairly recently, they incredibley had the same line-up for decades?

Dunhill?

http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/10/17/rip-levi-stubbs-of-the-four-tops/#more-1359

Levi Stubbs has died. Very sad news.

This has reminded me of maybe my favorite Four Tops song: Do What You Gotta Do, which was a Jimmy Webb tune. Worth checking out for all you Webb heads on ILM

As a singles band, Four Tops were more classic than most in the 60s. And even managed to come up with a few gems later on too, in the case of "A Simple Game" and "Loco In Acapulco".

Levi Stubbs R.I.P.

I think the time of the Four Tops has passed. Kind of like Glenn Miller. I wouldn't say they aren't a classic - but it's time to move on.

― Dave225, Monday, May 6, 2002 5:00 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I think the music is decent, but not classic. I think their dance moves are the only classic thing about them.

― Chris, Monday, May 6, 2002 5:00 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^BAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

i'm in a different world

Happy Birthday, Levi!

Destroy: The Kraft Macaroni & Cheese commercial: "It's not the same! (not the same) Old side! (old side)" ("Side" as in "side dish.")

Man, I forgot all about this. They were even in the ad!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwRV3Vzjkf8

Also want to say that the Reach Out LP is crazy loaded: The HDH 'Dramatic Quadrilogy' (title cut, SITSOL, Bernadette, and 7 Rooms); "I'll Turn To Stone" (flip to 7 Rooms and a Northern Soul fav); the Renee & If Were A Carpenter covers; and then lesser Monkees and Association covers.

One of the current Four Tops, Alexander Morris, while experiencing chest pains and difficulty breathing, was taken to a suburban Detroit hospital by ambulance, then told to "sit his back ass down" by a white security guard and put into a straight jacket to be transferred to the psych ward when he tried to tell them who he was. When his wife was reached & verified his identity, they offered him a $25 gift card as an apology. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2023/04/25/four-tops-singer-claims-metro-detroit-hospital-racially-profiled-him-during-health-emergency/

That's terrible

fucking hell