1967 - September: The Four Tops "Reach Out"

What the Riff?!?

One of the groups that defined the Motown sound was the Detroit Quartet known as The Four Tops. The group originally called themselves the Four Aims, but changed the name to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers. The group was composed of Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton, and lead singer Levi Stubbs, four boys who met at Pershing High School and would remain in the same lineup as the Four Tops from 1953 through 1997.

The quartet signed to Chess Records in 1956, but did not experience success with that label. In fact they would not find significant success with multiple records including Red Top, Riverside Records, and Columbia Records for the next seven years. What they would gain is a lot of opportunities to polish their act and stage presence with extensive touring. Berry Gordy Jr. convinced them to move to Motown in 1963, initially to record jazz standards and sing backup. At Motown they experienced success in their own right.

Reach Out is their fourth studio album, and their biggest selling album. The Four Tops had multiple hits, primarily through the writing of the Motown team known as Holland-Dozier-Holland. Reach Out would be their last album with that songwriting team, as Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown shortly after this album was recorded. It went to number 11 on the Billboard Top LP's chart.

The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and still perform today, with Duke Fakir as the sole original member.

Bruce presents this soulful album in this week's podcast.

Bernadette
This song was released in February of 1967 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be the final top 10 hit for the Four Tops in the 1960's. The song is a plea from the boy to Bernadette to stick with him.

Standing In the Shadows of Love
This single is a heartbreak song about sleepless nights and soul searching for what went wrong. It hit number 2 on the soul charts and number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. It is a bit of a reworked song, as the Supremes had a B-side in 1963 called "Standing at the Crossroads of Love."

Last Train to Clarksville
Reach Out was a mixture of original songs and covers, and this song made famous by the Monkees is one of the covers. They also included "If I Were a Carpenter," "Walk Away Renee," and "I'm A Believer" on this album.

Reach Out I'll Be There
Here is the signature song of the Four Tops. It was released in 1966 and spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It alternates between a minor and major key, giving it a Russian feel in the verse and a gospel feel in the chorus according to Lamont Dozier. The writers intentionally put Levi Stubbs at the top of his vocal range to make sure there was a hunger and wailing in his voice.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Light My Fire by The Doors
The Doors appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was their first and last when they promised to change the lyrics "girl we couldn't get much higher," only to leave them unedited in the live performance.

STAFF PICKS:

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
Lynch launches the staff picks with this hit single off Morrison's debut album, which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The nostalgic lyrics which seem tame today were considered too suggestive for the time and were banned by some radio stations. However, it remains popular today, and as of 2015 was the most downloaded and played song of the entire 60's decade.

The Letter by The Box Tops
Rob features a short song with a blue-eyed soul feel. The Box Tops took this song to number 1 on the charts, making it The Box Tops best seller. Joe Coker would cover this in 1970, and take it to number 7 on the charts. The producer overdubbed the song with an airplane sound he located at a local library.

Testify by Parliament
Wayne brings us an early hit from George Clinton and Parliament before their Funkadelic days. Actually, George Clinton is the only member of Parliament who is recorded on this song. The group was based in New Jersey and the other members were not able to travel to Detroit for the recording. As a result, Clinton is joined by local session musicians and singers to complete the song.

Funky Broadway by Wilson Pickett
Bruce closes out the staff picks with a song that Pickett picked up from Arlester “Dyke” Christian. Dyke Christian was living in Phoenix and playing with a group called Dyke & the Blazers. Unfortunatley in 1971 Dyke Christian was shot to death at the age of 27. This is the first charting single with the word "funk" in the title.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Groovin' by Booker T. & the M.G.'s
We finish off with an instrumental cover of the ballad made famous by The Rascals.

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