The
Four Tops
'On Top'
Another two releases from the Tops in this continuing series of 2 on 1’s finds these superb 1965/66 issues back in the shops again. ‘On Top’ starts off with the superb uptempo dancer ‘I Got A Feeling’ which is still a much played record today despite it only being issued as a ‘b’ side in the UK in 1966, even though a much slower version by fellow Motown singer Barbara Randolph actually made it as a 45 a year later.
Equally catchy is the ‘Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever’ a mid-tempo piece of Motown magic and a song that was featured on one of Marvin Gaye’s albums at that time. The full up-beat Motown sound is evident on ‘Shake Me Wake Me’ which was one of the groups most memorable hits from Holland Dozier and Holland. Just when you though that the rest of this album was in the same vein does the tempo and style change dramatically into a slower, more jazzier groove much in the same way that Marvin Gaye had done with his Tribute to Nat King Cole project that same year. ‘In The Still Of The Night’ is nothing short of stunning and displays the Tops vocal dexterity to the max.
This is an album you will want to own if you don’t already possess a vinyl original. That said however, here is another golden opportunity to acquire a piece of Motown history from one of their greatest acts.
‘Reach
Out’
Probably their most popular album release of the sixties and the easiest to find on vinyl presumably due to the sheer amount of copies that it sold at the time, and why not, it contained five songs that were issued in the UK as 45’s and all of which attained good chart positions. The title track whilst being the group’s biggest success commercially, wasn’t necessarily the best from this album. Listen to their version of ‘Walk Away Renee’ or ‘If I Were A Carpenter’ to see just how powerful these songs were, whilst at the same retaining THAT sound. It is little wonder they were hits across the world.
1967 saw the release of one the Tops’ finest songs in ‘7 Rooms Of Gloom’ and whilst radio station’s made it one of their most playlisted songs it was the real Motown fans who preferred the ‘b’ side in ‘I’ll Turn To Stone’ a no-nonsense slab of sixties Motown dance magic that still generates a full dancefloor wherever it gets played. In fact this song is one of our all-time requested oldies on our classic ‘Gold’ nights.
The group were clever in their approach to performing cover versions during this period. Their interpretation of ‘I’m A Believer’ and ‘Last Train To Clarksville’ (both of which were hits for the Monkees at that time) make essential listening, the former being a great party track. ‘Standing In The Shadows Of Love’ is well known across the globe from 1966, and inspired singer/songwriter Barry White to record his own version some ten years later.
Other hits include the much requested ‘Bernadette’ and there are two superb songs tucked away at the back end of this disc in ‘Wonderful Baby’ and ‘What Else Is There To Do’ making this a most appealing and commercial collection of songs from this major act.
I have lost count over the last twenty years of the amount of times I had wished that Motown would start a re-issue programme of their sixties catalogue. I never dreamed we would get so many, so quickly.
Grab em’ while you can – essential collecting.