Recommendations of the Editorial team
There is only once a vocal group like the Four Tops. When I grew up in Detroit, they were by far the most talented in the whole area. When I was eleven years old, I founded my own group, from which the Miracles later emerged. The Four Tops was still called The Four Aims, and how they sang at street corner, school festivals or private parties.
They were the first group to take up modern harmonies. They were still able to sing gospel, but they interpreted R&B like no other. I love singers that you can already identify if they only open their mouths – and Levi Stubbs was one of them, one of the largest who has ever lived. His voice had an unmistakable timbre, and together with Obie Benson, Duke Fakir and Lawrence Payton, he was simply unbeatable.
When they came to Motown and were clamped with Holland dozier-Holland, there was no stopping. They sang some of the most gripping songs that have ever been written: “Standing in the Shadows of Love”, “Bernadette”, “Reach Out I’ll Be there”, “I Can’t Help Myelf” and “Baby I Need Your Loving”. Later, when Holland-Dozier-Holland had left, I wrote “Still Water (Love)” for her together with Frank Wilson.
The Four Tops will always be at the top
They were always great singers, but they were also great guys privately. When they were contracted by Motown, I was already on board with the Miracles. But all the boys kept together like bad luck and sulfur. If you came home after a 51-city tour, you briefly put yourself in the shower and then drove back to the Motown office. We played cards or billiards until the early hours of the morning.
The Four Tops will always be at the top. Your music is for eternity.