Essential Tops

Product Description
The Four Tops' story began in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, where the original four members were born and raised. At the birthday party of a friend, the four were asked to sing. they complied and enjoyed the impromptu experience so much that they repeated it the next day at one of the members' houses, deciding immediately to form a group. Originally "The Four Aims", the fellas began honing their chops via local high school graduation receptions, talent shows, church functions and the oa 'diva' by music industry insiders and media alike.

What, you might ask, does this have to do with @ngela Winbush? Well, it's pretty simple: if we apply the dictionary definition of the word to the extraordinary Ms. Winbush, we can rightfully say that she is indeed a diva of the highest order. Forget about temperament, attitude or manner: @ngela's consummate vocal skills place her head and shouldersP> No need for an official declaration or ceremony, as it's been clear for a long time: the Dramatics are one itual Black pride messages with Curtis Mayfield at the helm, to their '70s triumphs and beyond, the Impressions possess an awe-inspiring catalog. This 20-song collection - spanning from 1958 to 1975 - represents the Impressions at their most indelible.

Childhood friends Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield spearheaded the Impressions, having sung and traveled together in Chicago with the Northern Jubilee singers and in Curtis' grandmother Reverend Anna-Bell Mayfield's Traveling Soul Spiritual Church. Outside of gospel, Mayfield, based on Chicago's West Side, sang with the Alphatones. When his family moved to the North Side, rehearsing became increasingly strained. Butler convinced a 15-year-old Mayfield to join his group, the Roosters (with Sam Gooden and brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks), because he felt they needed someone who could play guitar and help hone their harmonies. Mayfield dropped out of school to do so and the Roosters became the Impressions when that name was chosen from several in a hat.

Essential Tops,The Four Tops,Hip-O Records,Motown,Pop,Pop-Soul,R&B,Soul,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Average customer rating:

FOUR TOPS GET BETTER WITH TIME!
My vote for best R&B group ever!
Best Single Disc Overview Of The Tops
The Classic Four Tops
Very Essential

Essential Tops
The Four Tops
Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

Motown | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Ultimate Collection
The Ultimate Collection
The Very Best of the Spinners
The Very Best of the Drifters
The Ultimate Collection

ASIN: B000050I1X
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

Baby I Need Your Lovin
Ask The Lonely
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
It's The Same Old Song
Reach Out I'll Be There
Standing In The Shadows Of Love
Shake Me Wake Me (When It's Over)
Bernadette
Walk Away Renee
You Keep Running Away
If I Were A Carpenter
Still Water (Love)
It's All In The Game
(It's The Way) Nature Planned It
Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)
Keeper Of The Castle
Are You Man Enough
Sweet Understanding Love
One Chain Don't Make No Prison
Midnight Flower
Catfish
When She Was My Girl
I Just Can't Walk Away
I Believe In You And Me

Album Description

The Four Tops' story began in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, where the original four members were born and raised. At the birthday party of a friend, the four were asked to sing. they complied and enjoyed the impromptu experience so much that they repeated it the next day at one of the members' houses, deciding immediately to form a group. Originally "The Four Aims", the fellas began honing their chops via local high school graduation receptions, talent shows, church functions and the oa 'diva' by music industry insiders and media alike.

Customer Reviews:

FOUR TOPS GET BETTER WITH TIME!.......2007-01-06

I ALREADY HAVE THIS ALBUM AS A VINYL,SO OF COURSE I HAD TO REPLACE IT NOW
AS A CD.ON THIS ALBUM "LEVI STUBBS"THE LEAD SINGER DOES A SONG CALLED,"I JUST CAN'T WALK AWAY".IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SONG AND THE INSTRUMENTAL PART GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS.AS ALWAYS THE FOUR TOPS ARE A GREAT GROUP,BUT I ENJOY
A LOT OF SONGS THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD,AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.IF YOUR
A FOUR TOPS FAN YOU'LL ENJOY IT.PEACE AND BLESSINGS

My vote for best R&B group ever!.......2004-08-21

I'm not going to write a biography on these guys but I am going to tell those who do not know much of this group or their music and are looking for a fantastic collection of excellent R&B hits from a group of classic performers this is the album to get! I feel that 'The Four Tops' were definitely not given the recognition that they deserve. It seems like the other Motown artists who were popular during the same time such as the Temptations, Supremes, The Miracles, and Marvin Gaye were given much more attention than the Four Tops were. But let me tell you, if you want to know what pure soul sounds like just listen to the vocals of lead singer, Levi Stubbs, on songs such as 'Baby, I need your loving' or even in their works in the 70's like 'Ain't No Woman (like the one I got)' and you'll be hooked on his voice! His is one of the most strong, soulful and sexy voices of the 60's! One of the things I liked the best about this album is that it is full of songs that you would never hear on the radio and it's a shame because some are hidden gems. This is a CD that has one great song after another. Do yourself a favor and get this CD if you don't have it yet!

Best Single Disc Overview Of The Tops.......2003-07-30

This disc lives up to its name with major representation from all of the labels that the Four Tops recorded for from 1963 through 1983. Motown of course is where they recorded the bulk of their hits and that tenure is represented on the first 14 recordings. The leadoff track - 1964's "Baby I Need your Loving" - was the Tops' first collaboration with the songwriting-production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. It established a winning formula: lyrics that entail Levi yearning for or proclaiming his love for a girl he has lost or can't have; pulsating music cut in a (high) key out of Stubbs' regular vocal range, the subsequent strain causing his pleas to sound even more dramatic; background vocals with a full, almost Spectorian resonance, thanks to the addition of Motown's resident session singers, the Andantes.

After a mediocre "Baby I Need Your Loving" soundalike "Without The One You Love" (not included here) stiffed, the Tops rebounded in 1965 with the majestic ballad "Ask The Lonely," their first number one smash "I Can't Help Myself" and "It's The Same Old Song" (and truly the latter was, a melodic retread of "I Can't Help Myself"). They reached their commercial peak in late 1966 to early 1967 with the powerful "Reach Out ("I'll Be There)," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," and "Bernadette." In late 1967, however, Holland-Dozier-Holland abruptly left Motown in a dispute over financial compensation. This prompted the label to release year-old remakes of "Walk Away Renee" and "If I Were A Carpenter" as follow-up Tops' singles. They are proof that the Tops could make a hit out of practically anything.

In 1968 and 1969, other Motown writer-producers like Ivy Jo Hunter, Johnny Bristol, and Norman Whitfield attempted to fill the void left by Holland-Dozier-Holland's exit. None of their work with the Tops, however, penetrated the pop or r & b top 20 (and none of it is included here). In 1970, Frank Wilson took over as the Tops' producer for the landmark Still Waters concept album. Wilson ditched the Andantes from the background and put more emphasis on the Tops harmonies. As evidenced by the hits "It's All In the Game" and "Still Water (Love)," the Tops had risen to new melodic heights. They were followed by more of Frank Wilson's well-crafted singles like the enclosed "(It's The Way) Nature Planned It."

Unfortunately these 1971-1972 follow-ups received little promotional support from Motown and struggled on the charts. Frustrated, the Tops left the label in late 1972 and signed with ABC subsidiary Dunhill Records. They immediately hit with the urban message song "Keeper Of The Castle," the Shaft in Africa theme "Are You Man Enough," and the multi-format symphonic smash "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)." With the countrified "Sweet Understand Love" and their funkiest recording ever "One Chain Don't Make No Prison," the Tops maintained the high quality, but their final ABC/Dunhill hits in 1976/77(the disco "Catfish," the reggae in molasses "Midnight Flower") were duds.

In 1981 the Tops signed with Casablanca and released two of their strongest albums ever. They are represented by the retro smash "When She Was My Girl" and the wedding staple "I Believe In You And Me" (Levi's performance buries Whitney Houston's hit version). Interspersed between these two gems is "I Just Can't Walk Away" a stirring ballad from their shortlived return to Motown in 1983. The Tops also recorded many lesser hits and great album tracks over the years (most of which can be found on their box set FOUREVER). But if you only want the big hits, this 24 track collection is the best single disc set available.

The Classic Four Tops.......2002-11-07

The Four Tops were perharps Motown's finest all-male acts. Their work on the label was consistently excellent and though after their departure from Motown their work lacked the commecial success they'd previously enjoyed, their work was still distinct, made instantly recognisable by Levi Stubb's explosive and dynamic vocal expertise. The Essential Collection offers the majority of their familiar hits though for some odd reason, the chilly, atmospheric classic, 7 Rooms Of Gloom is not included. Their first really major hit came with the infectious, I Can't Help Myself where Stubb's inimitable and persuasive voice is just pure soul. Far more ambitious however was the haunting, Reach Out I'll Be There. Stubb's voice cuts effectivley through the multi layered arrangements of flutes, oboes and tambourines. This compelling number became another U.S chart topper for The Four Tops and became one of the key landmarks in their career. After this the formular continued to bubble consistently with excellent soul classics such as the fabulous, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, the yearning Bernadette, beautifully delivered ballads like Walk Away Renee and It's All In The Game becoming huge sellers on both sides of the Atlantic. The quality in this collection never once dwindles making for consistent and compelling listening. These were one of Motown's major, legendary acts and their work remains unique and unparalled. Highly recommended!

Very Essential.......2001-09-25

it's a shame that the Four Tops haven't gotten more attention because there songs here are true Gems.they have the kind of Skills that Legends are made of."Still Water" is deep as is the Classic "Reach Out(I'll Be There)" that urgency passion&rush make that a Gem.a Must Have.

Christian Music:

Christian Music

christian music

Christian Music

Strawberry Girl [Import]

Harmoniemusiken

Heritage of the Blues [Original recording remastered]

Hair: Original Soundtrack Recording - Special Anniversary Edition [Extra tracks] [Cast Recording] [Soundtrack]

Home

Live in Paris 1975 [Import] [Live]

Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001 [Box set] [Original recording remastered]