My absolute favorite Motown group. Lead singer Levi Stubbs was often offered the chance to go solo but would not take it out of loyalty to his friends in the group despite it being more profitable for him. That is world-class integrity and a friend you always want in your corner. Their whole catalog features some of the best hits of the 60s.
“The Funk Brothers” were the Motown studio musicians who played on all the great Motown hits. Bassist James Jamerson is widely considered the best ever.
Thanks for mentioning those unsung heroes playing the music that The Four Tops are singing to. Of course the bass lines just blew Andy & Alex away, but James Jamerson's playing had that effect on just about everyone that ever heard his playing, He was a freakin' beast. Jamerson's bass lines are just stunning. Arguably the most influential bass player in the history of American music. Even Geddy Lee of Rush cites Jamerson as an inluence. ?Pisto"l Allen (Drums) and Jamerson get locked into such a groove it creates that solid foundation The Funk Brother's were famous for. As we say in Scotland, Tioraidh an-drasta☺
Guys - check out the documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” - about the session musicians that made that great sound - excellent choice today !! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
@@LearningDrummerSam My wife still tells her friends about me singing "Ain't No Woman" to her at a karaoke bar on our honeymoon. My favorite Four Tops track, though, purely for the bassline alone, has still got to be "Bernadette."
A&A: You'll love their "I Can't Help Myself(Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "Baby I Need Your Loving" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love" are next for you!!!
The Motown sound. Berry Gordy was a genius music producer, put over a 100 songs in the top 10. The sound eventually came to be known for great layering, peppy or haunting short intros, orchestral style backing, and fat and deep bass and drums to drive it. So many people were jealous of the tricks they developed. McCartney always wanted his bass to sound as rich as a Motown bass, but it was hard to replicate the things they invented, and the Stones regularly cover their favorite local hits when they play Detroit.
The four tops were a class act and a staple in my house. "I can't Help Myself" And "Bernadette" are my favorite's. Levi could really belt it out . Not uncontrolled Alex, but controlled chaos!!! 😁😁
Is it just me or do you all hear a Bob Dylan influence in Levi's delivery? In this song and Bernadette especially. Next up: Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly Stone. Circa 1969
Motown's little southern cousin was STAX Records (Memphis, TN) whose star was Otis Redding. But they also had Eddie Floyd (Knock on Wood), Sam & Dave (Hold On, I'm Comin'), Rufus Thomas (Walking the Dog), Carla Thomas (B-A-B-Y)... and their house band was Booker T and the MGs (Green Onions). STAX was more groove and bass focused, they replaced vocal group arrangements with horns for the most part. Motown's motto was "Hitsville, USA", STAX's was "Soulsville, USA." You've done Otis. Check out some of these other artists and you won't be sorry!
Those are all excellent suggestions! I prefer STAX to Motown. If Alex likes Motown, I think he'll go gaga for STAX wax! I mean...the house band was Booker T and the MGs. What else needs saying?
For Four Tops songs specifically I'd go with "Bernadette", "It's The Same Old Song", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", "Ain't no Woman (Like the One I Got)", and of course what might be their biggest hit of all, "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)".
This is the way to end the week! Omg... So FUN! If you don't start dancing, there's something wrong! lol Thanks for giving The Four Tops a shot. Give "Bernadette" a listen... it's raw emotion! Have a great weekend fellas! 💕✌😊👋
So much in Motown to check out, as someone mentioned already, the the 'girl" groups would be good to hit. Beyond Motown, the larger R&B category is so rich. The O'Jays "Backstabbers" and "The Isley Brothers "Who's That Lady" would be to awesome R&B 's to check out.
Can't help but listen to James Jamerson playing bass along with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent singing backup. These sessions were filled with greatness.
In the world of classic popular R&B and Soul (not including traditional blues, which is different), the genres are largely divided into three distinct sound production styles-- the Stax/Volt sound, the Philly sound and the Motown sound. All are quite different but each are great in their own right. The Stax sound tends to be more raw and unpolished (an offshoot of this is the Muscle Shoals sound, which is a bit different but usually follows the Stax production template). The Philly sound is often heavily orchestrated and very lush, and the Motown sound is usually more slick, polished and radio accessible (for the time period). Then there is the Atlantic sound, which is not as distinctive in its own right, but rather it is more of a hybrid between Stax and Motown in terms of production and songwriting. The Motown sound was often described as R&B for white audiences, not meant as a denigration, but pointing to the fact that it was easier to sell a Motown record to non-minority audiences because the production formula and songwriting leaned more toward "pop" than "soul". I'm a huge Stax fan myself, but there are great qualities to Philly and Motown records that set them apart from Stax. Bottom line is that you need to dive into ALL of these catalogs!
Anything Motown is fabulous. Not only is the music great, but back then we didn’t have numerous options of ways to see and hear the music we enjoyed. It was usually just on the radio. You had to buy the record to hear the song any other time. Then maybe you would see them on TV. It was great seeing the Motown performers on TV because not only did you get to hear the song, but you got to see the great performances and dance routines. Can’t leave out the great ways they were outfitted. Saying all that, I guess I’m trying to say y’all need to experience it, not just hear it. It wasn’t just the music even though it was. Then came the Love generation and the hippies…ying and yang. The pendulum swings and opposites attract. Love it all!
The Tops had a load of great songs. My favorite is "Just Ask The Lonely", but I've never heard a bad one from them. Levi Stubbs could wail, but he also could slow one down and sing just to you. Have a great day, Guys.
Man yeah! Love The Tops! Levi and company are some of my favorite voices! You guys seem to be developing a healthy respect for soul music, and that's a great thing! Dig deep.......The Temptations, Al Green, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The O'Jays, Booker T and The MGs, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Wilson Picket, Percy Sledge, damn, just so much!!
You guys haven't even scratched the Motown surface yet. As a bunch of the commenters, including me, said just pick a song and chances are you won't be disappointed. I grew up in Detroit in the 60's so I got to hear all the great Motown songs on the radio as a little kid and still listen to them. Great choice by the way.
As far as Motown goes, I still want to highly recommend covering the entire album of What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. I know you did the title song by itself, but the album is a masterpiece as an entire entity.
I completely agree and when revisiting it recently I was stunned at how great it still is...Marvin was always my favorite and in the Motown stable (Stevie, Smokey, Tempts, Tops, etc.) that is saying something...of course it could change tomorrow...
Should have done Bernadette sick bass line. And “Standing in the Shadows of Love” is a straight banger. I also think that both songs showcase Levi Stubbs over-reaching vocal style.
I remember my brother and I doing everything possible to squeeze more bass out of that console radio we had. We both loved that bass line in Bernadette.
Two things: 1. the awesome bass provided by the legendary James Jamerson 2. want a life-changing R&B/soul song? "Everybody Plays the Fool" by The Main Ingredient. A life-changing/saving song. Bonus cool item: the lead singer is Cuba Gooding Sr., father of the actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
The bass parts on many of these classic Motown tracks, including this one, was played by the legendary James Jamerson as part of The Funk Brothers rhythm section. Jamerson's unique style for the time changed bass playing forever.
For people who was a kid on the 60's, loving the Beatles and the Stones etcétera, if you ever listened to this song at the time let me tell you, you will never the same again,, there's something that goes beyond the years, now at 64 I can't help but cry my life out.
So glad you guys are featuring some Motown and soul. There are so much great tunes from Motown and Philly Soul and from Philly comes Harold Melvin, The O'Jays , Spinners, The Delfonics and The Stylistics. This song came out in 1966 when the market had a good amount of soul classics. When I was younger I could listen to AC/DC, Boston and 15 minutes later switch to the Supremes or Temptations. Vocals great and the sound quality is there in this song. Bernadette and Still Water {Love} probably 2 of my favorites from the 4 tops.
When you see Levi Stubbs (lead singer) singing live, he gives 110% and he's sweating like crazy. Just a great singer and you can tell the whole group just loves to perform.
My favorite Motown era... the Four Tops and The Temptations. Total dance music no matter how bad you're feeling while sitting at that bar...once this music plays, you're dancing.
Temptations "Papa was a Rolling Stone" is an absolute must. 1960s Motown era had some of the most most amazing, iconic music ever written and recorded. Can't get enough of it. Timeless. ❤️🎶
"It's Your Thing", The Isley Brothers 1968. Also a Motown song with piccolos and a bassoon prominently employed: "Tears Of A Clown" Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Must call out the primo bass player who played on virtually every Motown session, the late James Jamerson, like the other players (the Funk Brothers) an accomplished jazz player. When asked how often he changed strings he replied "never", one of the keys to his sound. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson
Another banger written by the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. You guys really should dive down a rabbit hole of just song written by them. They wrote more #1 songs than any other team of American songwriters. Numerous artists have recorded their works.
My earliest musical memory is listening to this in the car with my parents, before they split a few years later. 50 years later I still remember it like it was yesterday. Music is so powerful.
I hear you about that. Just like a smell, music brings you back to a certain place and time. For me it was a golden time of my boyhood when I had money from delivering papers and headed to buy more 45s. At age 10 I loved The Four Tops! Must have been their powerful emotions.
4 Tops: The Temptations, early 60s Det. basement parties, lost EVERY singing battle to the 4 Tops at house parties! 4 Lead vocalists, 1 group. Unmatched.
This song was used in the tv commercial that unveiled the new "Ford Mustang" in primetime tv in 1964. They showed a split screen with one side showing an actual Horse (Mustang) in a full gallop in a beautiful valley landscape, and on the other side, the never-before-seen Ford Mustang sports car of 1964, driving on a country road, while this song was playing in the background. It was so cool, and the clippity- clop sound you hear in the beginning of this song, was a perfect fit for this commercial for a new car called the "Mustang." We all know what happened after that first tv commercial...the Ford Mustang became the biggest selling car of any kind in the world, and still holds that record to this day. Thanks guys
Levi Stubbs (born Levi Stubbles, June 6, 1936 - October 17, 2008) was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the R&B group the Four Tops, who released a variety of Motown hit records during the 1960s and 1970s. He has been noted for his powerful, emotional, dramatic style of singing. Stubbs was admired by his peers for his impressive vocal range, and influenced many later pop and soul artists, such as Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates.
I love, love, love the Four Tops. My fave Motown group. There are another half dozen songs in their catalog that are every bit as good as this one. Lead singer Levi Stubbs has so much passion in his vocals, but still has control and finesse. The background harmonies are perfect. And the Funk Brothers, as usual, provided fantastic instrumentation, especially Jamerson, whose bass is freaking glorious. Good spot on the interesting chord progression in the chorus!
Many happy memories from my childhood. We were lucky growing up with the music of the 60's- 70's, now the young folks are still enjoying awesome music from back. then
Sing it Levi! One of the lasting memories of my childhood is listening to this on my transistor radio way up in Maine on WABC out of NYC with Cousin Brucie as the DJ.
WABC did have quite a reach. I was partial to Dan Ingram (afternoon DJ) myself. By the way, to those who don't know, it's an AM station. That's what we had in those days.
Glad my post made it to a review! Knew you would love that one! Another great one from the 4 Tops is “Baby I Need Your Loving”. One of my faves is “Who’s That Lady” by the Isley Brothers. What an incredible jam. That one goes longer with a great guitar solo at the end!
I saw The Four Tops perform over 20 years ago in Atlantic City. They sounded great and the crowd was a mix of older and younger folks all singing and dancing together! Later I ran into Levi Stubbs in the elevator. He was very friendly. I Can't Help Myself is my favorite.
The legendary James Jamerson galloping bass propels the song. Jamerson was a pioneer of bass that was an essential part of the melodic structure as well as a rhythmic element. Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, Brian Wilson, and a host of other bassists point to Jamerson as a major influence.
From his WIKI: "In its special issue "The 100 Greatest Bass Players" in 2017, Bass Player magazine ranked Jamerson number one and the most influential bass guitarist. In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Jamerson number one in its list of the 50 greatest bassists of all time." Love that
Ball Of Confusion, Psychedelic Shack by the Temps were phenomenal songs - hip and rockers. You Keep Me Hangin On is a pulsating intense song by the Supremes that was covered as a psychedelic blues song by Vanilla Fudge.. Dancing In The Streets is a classic covered by Van Halen, The Dead, many groups. Motown is an endless catalog
Ahhhh the great memories! Summertime, playing in the back yard, Dad in the garage working on whatever sports car he had at the time, and songs like this one wafting out from the radio! (and sharing Dad's iced coffee!!)
This group were massive their back catalogue is awesome So many hits.Fast grooves and slow ones.Levi's voice is awesome.One of the great voices.Hard to choose the best track as there are So many.
The legendary James Jamerson on bass. That's all you need to say. The man once totally killed it, on a session when he was too drunk to sit in his chair, so he played the session while lying flat on his back.
The Jackson 5 had a song in 1971 called "I'll be there." Toward the end, Michael shouts out "Just look over your shoulders, honey." It is this song by the Four Tops that he was calling to mind. In the mid-1970's, Gloria Gaynor did a version of this song that basically transformed it into something completely different. But it is equally good in its own right. Worth checking out.
I recommend Dancing in the Streets by Martha Vandellas. A great anthem for the 60s. Martha and the Vandellas also have "Nowhere To Run" which features tire chains as a percussion instrument.
Levi Stubbs had a unique voice, so that you knew exactly who it was the moment he began to sing. The Four Tops are quintessential Motown. A monster hit of the 60’s.
Guys, that epic bass line that you immediately noticed, is the legendary James Jamerson!! Definitely an S+ tier bass GOD!! If he's not the GOAT of bass players, he's definitely in the top three! He's played on some of the greatest songs in history
Probably the greatest bass line in pop music history. You can *hear* the bass line on the old tinny transistor radios we had in the 1960s. But the first time you hear it in sealed headphones... OMFG!! 😳😳
I know I already asked, but the music you are digging is There Funk Brothers, Barry Gordy's house band. Great documentary-The Funk Brothers, Standing on the Edge of Motown. They do a great version of Dave Ruffins' WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN-HEARTED with Joan Osbourne. Technically not Motown, but a great R&B tune.
The great Levi Stubbs (lead singer) was unusual for the Motown stable. He brought his baritone to the genre when almost all leads were tenors. And yes, James Jamerson made everyone take notice. There are videos on YT that isolate his playing. It's just the greatest. Next, Bernadette.
Listen to me! Please? Heard It Through the Grapevine featuring James Jamerson, the best bass player to come out of Motown! Martha and the Vandellas! Do it men, do it! 🤘😎
First I love you guys your videos give me joy. I’m older and you remind how great the music was. All the great folk, rock, pop, and Motown I love the old Motown. Some of the greatest move you songs came from Motown. Al Green and Gladys Knight great stuff.
My absolute favorite Motown group. Lead singer Levi Stubbs was often offered the chance to go solo but would not take it out of loyalty to his friends in the group despite it being more profitable for him. That is world-class integrity and a friend you always want in your corner. Their whole catalog features some of the best hits of the 60s.
His voice was awesome as the plant in Little Shop of Horrors!
Never knew the lead singer's name, but I knew of the Billy Bragg song "Levi Stubb's Tears". Now it makes more sense.
@@parsleyqueenhe’s so great in that role. The character is Audrey 2
⬆️ This ⬆️
“The Funk Brothers” were the Motown studio musicians who played on all the great Motown hits. Bassist James Jamerson is widely considered the best ever.
Some of the best music ever made and stands the test of time.
The Funk Brothers were just amazing. Cheers from Canada brother
How about “one of the best” ever……quite a few “best” bassists in the past 60 years….but yeah…his name is always treated with great respect.
What he said!
Thanks for mentioning those unsung heroes playing the music that The Four Tops are singing to. Of course the bass lines just blew Andy & Alex away, but James Jamerson's playing had that effect on just about everyone that ever heard his playing, He was a freakin' beast.
Jamerson's bass lines are just stunning. Arguably the most influential bass player in the history of American music. Even Geddy Lee of Rush cites Jamerson as an inluence. ?Pisto"l Allen (Drums) and Jamerson get locked into such a groove it creates that solid foundation The Funk Brother's were famous for.
As we say in Scotland,
Tioraidh an-drasta☺
His bass playing was like he was dancing on the fretboard
Guys - check out the documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” - about the session musicians that made that great sound - excellent choice today !! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Yeah..that’s kinda where I thought they would go on their patreon channel for movies/ music documentaries/concerts,……..not into dramas.
I was going to say that, Amen!
Sounds like it.
Excellent movie
Great suggestion. Awesome doco!!
An "A" is a fair rating. My fave Four Tops song is "Baby I Need Your Loving".
Im a fan of the slightly funkier "The Good Lord Knows" or "aint no woman (like the one ive got)" from the same album
Hey there Sugar Pie Hunny Bunch!!! Hi Lisa. Have a good weekend. Happy Holidays 🎄❄️🎄
@@LearningDrummerSam Ain't No Woman was my jam back in the day.
@@LearningDrummerSam My wife still tells her friends about me singing "Ain't No Woman" to her at a karaoke bar on our honeymoon.
My favorite Four Tops track, though, purely for the bassline alone, has still got to be "Bernadette."
@@joeday4293Awww!!! That's cool.
A&A: You'll love their "I Can't Help Myself(Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "Baby I Need Your Loving" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love" are next for you!!!
Yassssss. Poor reaction, too low, first a Mount Rushmore of Motown-era group.
The Motown sound. Berry Gordy was a genius music producer, put over a 100 songs in the top 10. The sound eventually came to be known for great layering, peppy or haunting short intros, orchestral style backing, and fat and deep bass and drums to drive it. So many people were jealous of the tricks they developed. McCartney always wanted his bass to sound as rich as a Motown bass, but it was hard to replicate the things they invented, and the Stones regularly cover their favorite local hits when they play Detroit.
The four tops were a class act and a staple in my house. "I can't Help Myself" And "Bernadette" are my favorite's. Levi could really belt it out . Not uncontrolled Alex, but controlled chaos!!! 😁😁
Yes Bernadette is fantastic!
Is it just me or do you all hear a Bob Dylan influence in Levi's delivery? In this song and Bernadette especially. Next up: Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly Stone. Circa 1969
@@TischTosh Right!!!!!
@@jacksonmorganfroghin4815 I agree there should be more Sly and I'll add the Moody Blues 💙.
@@aileenturrietta7553 yes. The first Moody Blues song was Go Now. Then came Nights in White Satin. LIFE IS STRANGE was great too.
Motown's little southern cousin was STAX Records (Memphis, TN) whose star was Otis Redding. But they also had Eddie Floyd (Knock on Wood), Sam & Dave (Hold On, I'm Comin'), Rufus Thomas (Walking the Dog), Carla Thomas (B-A-B-Y)... and their house band was Booker T and the MGs (Green Onions). STAX was more groove and bass focused, they replaced vocal group arrangements with horns for the most part. Motown's motto was "Hitsville, USA", STAX's was "Soulsville, USA." You've done Otis. Check out some of these other artists and you won't be sorry!
Those are all excellent suggestions! I prefer STAX to Motown. If Alex likes Motown, I think he'll go gaga for STAX wax! I mean...the house band was Booker T and the MGs. What else needs saying?
The live version of "Time is Tight" is awesome
@@BrianDominy yeah, that’d be a great one!
@@burmajones803 💯
Isaac Hayes too!
Bernadette shows more of the power of the vocals especially the backup
I'm going to keep suggesting an amazing talent you haven't hit yet in Al Green. Let's Stay Together would be my top choice.
For Four Tops songs specifically I'd go with "Bernadette", "It's The Same Old Song", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", "Ain't no Woman (Like the One I Got)", and of course what might be their biggest hit of all, "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)".
Yessss!
You must check out The Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving. Great harmonies.
Next up: “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Or “You really got a hold on me”.
This is the way to end the week! Omg... So FUN! If you don't start dancing, there's something wrong! lol Thanks for giving The Four Tops a shot. Give "Bernadette" a listen... it's raw emotion! Have a great weekend fellas! 💕✌😊👋
So much in Motown to check out, as someone mentioned already, the the 'girl" groups would be good to hit. Beyond Motown, the larger R&B category is so rich. The O'Jays "Backstabbers" and "The Isley Brothers "Who's That Lady" would be to awesome R&B 's to check out.
Second ALL of this, especially the O'Jays track and I'll add The Spinners' "Games People Play" to the list.
...
Also, we've got to close the beaches!
Oh man The Isley Brothers are a whole other layer of greatness.
Given the time period and the hypnotic hook structures, this song is an S.
Absolutely agree. Way underrated as an "A".
so true
Can't help but listen to James Jamerson playing bass along with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent singing backup.
These sessions were filled with greatness.
"Bernadette" is a similar song by the Four Tops but superior in my opinion. If you like this one, you'll like that one too
In the world of classic popular R&B and Soul (not including traditional blues, which is different), the genres are largely divided into three distinct sound production styles-- the Stax/Volt sound, the Philly sound and the Motown sound. All are quite different but each are great in their own right. The Stax sound tends to be more raw and unpolished (an offshoot of this is the Muscle Shoals sound, which is a bit different but usually follows the Stax production template). The Philly sound is often heavily orchestrated and very lush, and the Motown sound is usually more slick, polished and radio accessible (for the time period). Then there is the Atlantic sound, which is not as distinctive in its own right, but rather it is more of a hybrid between Stax and Motown in terms of production and songwriting. The Motown sound was often described as R&B for white audiences, not meant as a denigration, but pointing to the fact that it was easier to sell a Motown record to non-minority audiences because the production formula and songwriting leaned more toward "pop" than "soul". I'm a huge Stax fan myself, but there are great qualities to Philly and Motown records that set them apart from Stax. Bottom line is that you need to dive into ALL of these catalogs!
Give the Ladies a chance! 'The Supremes" "The Marveletts" "Martha and the Vandelas" and so on!! Good stuff!
Supremes - Someday we'll Be Together or Diana - Love Hangover long version for some disco.
"Love Child" Supremes
Yes! And Carole King (along with her partner Jerry Goffin) wrote a lot of these groups’ hit songs!
Martha and the Vandellas-Nowhere to Run is soooo badass
One of the best concerts I ever went to was The Four Tops, The Temptations and Martha and the Vandelas at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga.
Anything Motown is fabulous. Not only is the music great, but back then we didn’t have numerous options of ways to see and hear the music we enjoyed. It was usually just on the radio. You had to buy the record to hear the song any other time. Then maybe you would see them on TV.
It was great seeing the Motown performers on TV because not only did you get to hear the song, but you got to see the great performances and dance routines.
Can’t leave out the great ways they were outfitted.
Saying all that, I guess I’m trying to say y’all need to experience it, not just hear it. It wasn’t just the music even though it was.
Then came the Love generation and the hippies…ying and yang. The pendulum swings and opposites attract. Love it all!
The Tops had a load of great songs. My favorite is "Just Ask The Lonely", but I've never heard a bad one from them.
Levi Stubbs could wail, but he also could slow one down and sing just to you.
Have a great day, Guys.
Man yeah! Love The Tops! Levi and company are some of my favorite voices! You guys seem to be developing a healthy respect for soul music, and that's a great thing! Dig deep.......The Temptations, Al Green, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The O'Jays, Booker T and The MGs, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Wilson Picket, Percy Sledge, damn, just so much!!
You guys haven't even scratched the Motown surface yet. As a bunch of the commenters, including me, said just pick a song and chances are you won't be disappointed. I grew up in Detroit in the 60's so I got to hear all the great Motown songs on the radio as a little kid and still listen to them. Great choice by the way.
As far as Motown goes, I still want to highly recommend covering the entire album of What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. I know you did the title song by itself, but the album is a masterpiece as an entire entity.
So agree.
I completely agree and when revisiting it recently I was stunned at how great it still is...Marvin was always my favorite and in the Motown stable (Stevie, Smokey, Tempts, Tops, etc.) that is saying something...of course it could change tomorrow...
Should have done Bernadette sick bass line. And “Standing in the Shadows of Love” is a straight banger. I also think that both songs showcase Levi Stubbs over-reaching vocal style.
I remember my brother and I doing everything possible to squeeze more bass out of that console radio we had. We both loved that bass line in Bernadette.
Bernadette and Standing in the Shadows of Love are my favorite Four Tops songs. Not enough love can be given to the Tops.
Still recommending "Hold On, I'm Comin'" by Sam & Dave in the R&B catagory.
Two things:
1. the awesome bass provided by the legendary James Jamerson
2. want a life-changing R&B/soul song? "Everybody Plays the Fool" by The Main Ingredient. A life-changing/saving song. Bonus cool item: the lead singer is Cuba Gooding Sr., father of the actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
The bass parts on many of these classic Motown tracks, including this one, was played by the legendary James Jamerson as part of The Funk Brothers rhythm section. Jamerson's unique style for the time changed bass playing forever.
James Jamerson was amazing. Paul McCartney and so many others site him as a major influence.
Ball Of Confusion by The Temptations is a Motown banger worth checking out.
The Beatles new record's a gas.
@@jbognap my favourite line in the song
For people who was a kid on the 60's, loving the Beatles and the Stones etcétera, if you ever listened to this song at the time let me tell you, you will never the same again,, there's something that goes beyond the years, now at 64 I can't help but cry my life out.
So glad you guys are featuring some Motown and soul. There are so much great tunes from Motown and Philly Soul and from Philly comes Harold Melvin, The O'Jays , Spinners, The Delfonics and The Stylistics. This song came out in 1966 when the market had a good amount of soul classics. When I was younger I could listen to AC/DC, Boston and 15 minutes later switch to the Supremes or Temptations. Vocals great and the sound quality is there in this song. Bernadette and Still Water {Love} probably 2 of my favorites from the 4 tops.
Temptations...Aint' to Proud to Beg......a song that can be played at anytime.
Next Motown: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles "Tears of a Clown"
An absolute must for a reaction
You gotta hear more Levi!!! "Standing in the shadow of love" and "Bernadette" are great songs 😊
When you see Levi Stubbs (lead singer) singing live, he gives 110% and he's sweating like crazy. Just a great singer and you can tell the whole group just loves to perform.
Reach Out? What's that? Oh! I always thought it was called I'll Be There. Lol. Great Motown classic!
Yes!! Love Four Tops. Temptations, Spinners, O Jays, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Aretha, etc...... Do the long version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone!!!
Anyone around in the 60's , even as a child, was influenced by Motown, even here in England. Levi Stubbs _ incredible singer!
Ya all the rockstars if that time from England will admit they loved Motown
My favorite Motown era... the Four Tops and The Temptations. Total dance music no matter how bad you're feeling while sitting at that bar...once this music plays, you're dancing.
Temptations "Papa was a Rolling Stone" is an absolute must. 1960s Motown era had some of the most most amazing, iconic music ever written and recorded. Can't get enough of it. Timeless. ❤️🎶
James Jamerson with the killer bass line
Motown brilliance- Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes, Smokey Robinson/Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie- so many great songs
"It's Your Thing", The Isley Brothers 1968. Also a Motown song with piccolos and a bassoon prominently employed: "Tears Of A Clown" Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Must call out the primo bass player who played on virtually every Motown session, the late James Jamerson, like the other players (the Funk Brothers) an accomplished jazz player. When asked how often he changed strings he replied "never", one of the keys to his sound. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson
Another banger written by the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. You guys really should dive down a rabbit hole of just song written by them. They wrote more #1 songs than any other team of American songwriters. Numerous artists have recorded their works.
My earliest musical memory is listening to this in the car with my parents, before they split a few years later. 50 years later I still remember it like it was yesterday. Music is so powerful.
I hear you about that. Just like a smell, music brings you back to a certain place and time. For me it was a golden time of my boyhood when I had money from delivering papers and headed to buy more 45s. At age 10 I loved The Four Tops! Must have been their powerful emotions.
'yesterday' is a different song! Hence your confusion about your parents.🤪
4 Tops: The Temptations, early 60s Det. basement parties, lost EVERY singing battle to the 4 Tops at house parties! 4 Lead vocalists, 1 group. Unmatched.
This song was used in the tv commercial that unveiled the new "Ford Mustang" in primetime tv in 1964. They showed a split screen with one side showing an actual Horse (Mustang) in a full gallop in a beautiful valley landscape, and on the other side, the never-before-seen Ford Mustang sports car of 1964, driving on a country road, while this song was playing in the background. It was so cool, and the clippity- clop sound you hear in the beginning of this song, was a perfect fit for this commercial for a new car called the "Mustang." We all know what happened after that first tv commercial...the Ford Mustang became the biggest selling car of any kind in the world, and still holds that record to this day.
Thanks guys
The only time Levi Stubbs ever went solo was as the voice of Audrey II in "Little Shop Of Horrors".
And he was stellar in that role.
Levi Stubbs (born Levi Stubbles, June 6, 1936 - October 17, 2008) was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the R&B group the Four Tops, who released a variety of Motown hit records during the 1960s and 1970s. He has been noted for his powerful, emotional, dramatic style of singing. Stubbs was admired by his peers for his impressive vocal range, and influenced many later pop and soul artists, such as Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates.
I love, love, love the Four Tops. My fave Motown group. There are another half dozen songs in their catalog that are every bit as good as this one. Lead singer Levi Stubbs has so much passion in his vocals, but still has control and finesse. The background harmonies are perfect. And the Funk Brothers, as usual, provided fantastic instrumentation, especially Jamerson, whose bass is freaking glorious.
Good spot on the interesting chord progression in the chorus!
For the Love of Money. The O'Jays.
The Philadelphia Sound
Many happy memories from my childhood. We were lucky growing up with the music of the 60's- 70's, now the young folks are still enjoying awesome music from back. then
Smokey Robinson - ‘Going to a go go’, The Supremes ‘Love Child’, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - ‘You’re all I need to get by’
MOTOWN...Yeah !
FYI the lead singer is the Legendary Levi Stubbs
Much of Motown are flat out national cultural treasures. The Four Tops were some of the best. Levi Stubbs is such a great vocalist.
Chair groovin'... ♫♪♫ ♥♥♥ ♪♫♪ I love Motown! ♥♥♥
Sing it Levi! One of the lasting memories of my childhood is listening to this on my transistor radio way up in Maine on WABC out of NYC with Cousin Brucie as the DJ.
WABC did have quite a reach. I was partial to Dan Ingram (afternoon DJ) myself. By the way, to those who don't know, it's an AM station. That's what we had in those days.
Grew up listening to the Four Tops. Saw them in Concert a few times. Love this group and all their Songs
Glad my post made it to a review! Knew you would love that one! Another great one from the 4 Tops is “Baby I Need Your Loving”. One of my faves is “Who’s That Lady” by the Isley Brothers. What an incredible jam. That one goes longer with a great guitar solo at the end!
I saw The Four Tops perform over 20 years ago in Atlantic City. They sounded great and the crowd was a mix of older and younger folks all singing and dancing together! Later I ran into Levi Stubbs in the elevator. He was very friendly. I Can't Help Myself is my favorite.
The legendary James Jamerson galloping bass propels the song. Jamerson was a pioneer of bass that was an essential part of the melodic structure as well as a rhythmic element. Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, Brian Wilson, and a host of other bassists point to Jamerson as a major influence.
From his WIKI: "In its special issue "The 100 Greatest Bass Players" in 2017, Bass Player magazine ranked Jamerson number one and the most influential bass guitarist. In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Jamerson number one in its list of the 50 greatest bassists of all time." Love that
Now this is R&B! More Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, & Marvin Gaye!
Ball of Confusion...The Temptations. Motown Banger!!!!!!!
Ball Of Confusion, Psychedelic Shack by the Temps were phenomenal songs - hip and rockers. You Keep Me Hangin On is a pulsating intense song by the Supremes that was covered as a psychedelic blues song by Vanilla Fudge.. Dancing In The Streets is a classic covered by Van Halen, The Dead, many groups. Motown is an endless catalog
Ahhhh the great memories! Summertime, playing in the back yard, Dad in the garage working on whatever sports car he had at the time, and songs like this one wafting out from the radio! (and sharing Dad's iced coffee!!)
This group were massive their back catalogue is awesome So many hits.Fast grooves and slow ones.Levi's voice is awesome.One of the great voices.Hard to choose the best track as there are So many.
I love the lead singer Levi Stubbs. His voice rules. The Four Tops have a bunch of great songs.
The legendary James Jamerson on bass. That's all you need to say. The man once totally killed it, on a session when he was too drunk to sit in his chair, so he played the session while lying flat on his back.
One of my Dad's favorite Motown songs. It will always remind me of him...he had great taste in music. ❤️
The Jackson 5 had a song in 1971 called "I'll be there." Toward the end, Michael shouts out "Just look over your shoulders, honey." It is this song by the Four Tops that he was calling to mind.
In the mid-1970's, Gloria Gaynor did a version of this song that basically transformed it into something completely different. But it is equally good in its own right. Worth checking out.
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes--"If You Don't Know Me By Now". The Four Tops--"I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind".
"Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In"
The Fifth Dimension
I recommend Dancing in the Streets by Martha Vandellas. A great anthem for the 60s.
Martha and the Vandellas also have "Nowhere To Run" which features tire chains as a percussion instrument.
"Jimmy Mack" is probably one of the biggest earworm ever...another great one! Has no one mentioned the fantastic Supremes yet?
Levi Stubbs had a unique voice, so that you knew exactly who it was the moment he began to sing. The Four Tops are quintessential Motown. A monster hit of the 60’s.
Look into the backing band “the funk brothers “ they are in a documentary called Standing in the shadows of Motown “.
That song is glorious
That voice is the legendary Levi Stubbs..'When the world falls apart, some things stay in place. Levi Stubbs tears run down his face' (Billy Bragg).
Guys, that epic bass line that you immediately noticed, is the legendary James Jamerson!! Definitely an S+ tier bass GOD!! If he's not the GOAT of bass players, he's definitely in the top three! He's played on some of the greatest songs in history
yes...thanks for pointing that out!
This song is part of the fabric of my life. I had very young parents and music was everywhere in my life.
the power of motown, never to be repeated
Can't Help Myself and Baby I Need Your Lovin are must-hears from these guys!! Levi Stubbs nothing else like him in Motown what a talent
Probably the greatest bass line in pop music history.
You can *hear* the bass line on the old tinny transistor radios we had in the 1960s. But the first time you hear it in sealed headphones... OMFG!! 😳😳
It’s great you guys are reaching out (!) of the box and reacting to different artists. Love it!
Levi Stubbs had one of the most brilliant voices period. I think they did better songs than this like The Same Old Song
I still remember hearing this song as a kid in a hotel swimming pool in Hershey, PA. This song stuck with me.
Levi Stubbs was one of the best singers at Motown. Very powerful. RIP Levi
I know I already asked, but the music you are digging is There Funk Brothers, Barry Gordy's house band. Great documentary-The Funk Brothers, Standing on the Edge of Motown. They do a great version of Dave Ruffins' WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN-HEARTED with Joan Osbourne. Technically not Motown, but a great R&B tune.
The great Levi Stubbs (lead singer) was unusual for the Motown stable. He brought his baritone to the genre when almost all leads were tenors.
And yes, James Jamerson made everyone take notice. There are videos on YT that isolate his playing. It's just the greatest.
Next, Bernadette.
Tops have been a favorite artist since I was a kid. Baritone, Levi sings with power and emotion.
I love that putting the A+ graphic is the tension between the two. The music is great. Commentary, as usual, was great.
How about a little blue eyed soul? RIghteous Brothers ! You've lost that loving feeling. Soul and Inspiration. Unchained Melody...................
Listen to me! Please? Heard It Through the Grapevine featuring James Jamerson, the best bass player to come out of Motown! Martha and the Vandellas! Do it men, do it! 🤘😎
The Spinners Rubber Band Man is a classic
Four Tops are sophisticated so they have flute on their songs.
First I love you guys your videos give me joy. I’m older and you remind how great the music was. All the great folk, rock, pop, and Motown I love the old Motown. Some of the greatest move you songs came from Motown. Al Green and Gladys Knight great stuff.
You guys are gonna love this song. If you don’t, I give up on you. Lol
Levi Stubbs is a legend! He also played Audrey 2 in little shop of horrors :)
Love the Motown Sound......keep it coming boys.
Back in the day when gems like this came out we all wished that they were longer. Always left you wanting more!