Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
All four members of the group began their careers together while they were high school students in Detroit.
At the insistence of their friends, Pershing High students Levi Stubbs and Abdul Duke Fakir performed
with Renaldo Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton from
Northern High at a local birthday party. The quartet decided to remain together and christened themselves The
Four Aims. With the help of Paytons songwriter cousin
Roquel Davis, The Aims signed to Chess Records in
1956, changing their name to Four Tops to avoid confusion with The Ames Brothers. Over the next seven years,
The Tops endured unsuccessful tenures at Chess, Red
Top, Riverside Records and Columbia Records. Without
any hit records to their name, The Tops toured frequently,
developing a polished stage presence and an experienced
supper club act, as well as supporting Billy Eckstine. In
1963, Berry Gordy, Jr., who had worked with Roquel
Davis as a songwriter in the late-1950s, convinced The
Tops to join the roster of his growing Motown record
company.
The group was the main male vocal group for the highly
successful songwriting and production team of Holland
DozierHolland, who crafted a stream of hit singles on
Motown. These included two Billboard Hot 100 numberone hits for the Tops: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie
Honey Bunch)" in 1965 and "Reach Out I'll Be There"
in 1966. After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in
1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson, but generally with less
success.
When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit but signed
a new recording deal with ABC Records' Dunhill imprint. Recording mainly in Los Angeles, they continued
to have chart singles into the late 1970s, including the
million-seller, Ain't No Woman, their second release
on Dunhill, produced by Steve Barri and composers Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter.
In the 1980s, the Four Tops recorded for Casablanca
Records, Arista Records and Motown, returning to that
label on two occasions for brief stays. Apart from their
Indestructible album (owned by Sony Music Entertainment), Universal Music Group controls the rights to their
entire post-1963 catalog (through various mergers and
acquisitions), as well as their 1956 single, Could It Be
You.
HISTORY
1.6
Return to Motown
not fare well on the U.S. charts, but reached number three television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Foron the UK charts.
ever, taking part in one of the highlights of the show a battle-of-the-bands between The Tops and The Temptations, patterned after similar competitions Berry Gordy
1.5 ABC Records and Casablanca Records had staged during the 1960s. Levi Stubbs and Temptation Otis Williams decided the Temptations/Tops battle
Motown as a company began to change during the early would be a good one to take on the road and both groups
1970s. Older acts such as Martha and the Vandellas and began semi-regular joint tours.
The Marvelettes were slowly moved aside or dropped to The rst of The Tops albums under their new Motown
focus on newer acts, such as Michael Jackson and The contract was Back Where I Belong. A whole side of the
Jackson 5, Rare Earth, and the now-solo Diana Ross. In album was produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, includaddition, the company moved its operations from Detroit ing the R&B Top 40 single, I Just Can't Walk Away.
to Los Angeles, California, where Berry Gordy planned Only one more Tops album would be released by Moto break into the motion picture and television industries. town, Magic in 1985. In July of that year, the group
In 1972, it was announced that the entire company would performed at the Live Aid concert, singing three of their
move west and that all its artists had to move as well. hit songs. The album Hot Nights was completed in 1986,
Many of the older Motown acts, already neglected by the but was then cancelled, as the group and the Motown lalabel, opted to stay in Detroit, including The Funk Broth- bel began to disagree over marketing and musical direcers studio backing band, Martha Reeves, and the Four tion. The following year, the Four Tops decided to leave
Tops.
for Arista Records, buying back several masters they had
The Tops departed Motown for ABC-Dunhill, where they
were assigned to writer-producers Dennis Lambert and
Brian Potter and the labels head of A&R, Steve Barri as
producer, with The Tops own Lawrence Payton later also
serving as a producer and writer. He also took over lead
vocal duties on several tracks.
recorded for Hot Nights. Its not clear how many songs
from Hot Nights were used on Indestructible, but the 2001
box set, Fourever includes the title track (previously released as a single), Red Hot Love and The Four Of Us
(previously released outside the U.S. on a CD single of
Loco in Acapulco), as well as Indestructible.
The groups rst release on the label, Keeper of the Castle was their rst pop Top 10 hit since Bernadette in
1967. Follow-ups included the million-selling "Ain't No
Woman (Like the One I've Got)", also a top 10 pop hit
and their third R&B number 1, and the Top 20 hit, "Are
You Man Enough", (from the movie "Shaft In Africa").
"Sweet Understanding Love"; "Midnight Flower"; and
"One Chain Don't Make No Prison" all reached the R&B
Top 10 between 1972 and 1974. Two ABC/Dunhill singles, 1974s "I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" and
1975s "Seven Lonely Nights" have become popular tunes
in the southeast Beach/Shag Club Dance circuit.
The title track of 1988s Indestructible was the groups nal Top 40 hit, reaching No. 35. It was also featured
in the 1988 science-ction cop lm, Alien Nation.. Another track, Loco In Acapulco, written and produced
by British pop musician, Phil Collins and former Motown
composer-producer, Lamont Dozier climbed into the UK
Top 10. The Arista contract provided an opportunity to
pair Levi Stubbs with fellow Arista artist, another legendary R&B vocalist from Detroit, Aretha Franklin, who
was at the height of her own 1980s hit streak. This pairing
resulted in the song "If Ever A Love There Was", which
became a popular R&B and Adult Contemporary hit, as
well as being featured on the soundtrack of the motion
picture "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka.
2 DISCOGRAPHY
1.7
Later years
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
The Four Tops sang the National Anthem before the start
Fame in 1990, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in
of game 5 for the 2011 ALCS between the Texas Rangers
1999. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked them #79
& Detroit Tigers on October 13, 2011 in Detroit, MI.
on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[5]
When singing the last line of "The Star Spangled Banner", "...and the home of the brave, they quickly sang
the words Ain't No country Like the One I Got, before
1.8 The Four Tops Career Awards
singing the last word, brave. The Four Tops were honThe Four Tops have won many awards during their long ored with an induction into the R&B Music Hall of Fame
at the Inaugural ceremony held at Cleveland State Uniand distinguished career, including the following:
versity's Waetejen Auditorium on Saturday August 17,
[6]
2013.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1990)
Vocal Group Hall of Fame (1999)[7]
Hollywood Walk Of Fame (1997)[8][9]
2 Discography
Grammy Hall Of Fame (Reach Out I'll Be There- Main article: Four Tops discography
1998)[10]
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2009-51st
2.1
Annual Grammy Awards)[11]
Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award The following singles reached the top thirty of the singles
(1997)[12]
charts.
2.3
2.2
DVDs
Albums
Motown releases
5
Motown releases
1983: Back where I Belong
Arista releases
1988: Indestructible (US #149)
Motown releases
1995: Christmas Here With You
2.3 DVDs
The Four Tops Reach Out: Denitive DVD Motown/Universal (2008)
The Four Tops: From the Heart: The 50th Anniversary Concert
The Four Tops: Live at The MGM Grand: 40th Anniversary Special (1996)
The Four Tops: (semi- documentary /concert
rehearsal- recorded live for French TV,1971) 2004.
3 See also
List of best-selling music artists
4 References
[1] Obituary: Levi Stubbs, The Guardian, October 17 2008
[2] Show 50 - The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music
at the summit. [Part 6] : UNT Digital Library
[3] Silver State News Service: Lockerbie Anniversary. Silver State News.
Casablanca releases
1981: Tonight! (US #37)
1982: One More Mountain
[5] The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946.
Rolling Stone.
[6] The Four Tops Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum. Rockhall.com. Retrieved on 201211-10.
External links
Four Tops at the Internet Movie Database
Four Tops at the Internet Broadway Database
Vocal Group Hall of Fame page on the Four Tops
Levi Stubbs/The Four Tops interview by Pete Lewis,
'Blues & Soul' October 1992 (republished November 2008)
History of Rock article
The Four Tops on Myspace
The Four Tops discography at MusicBrainz
Four Tops, The Ed Sullivan Show
Ronnie McNeir 2012 Interview at Soulinterviews.com.
EXTERNAL LINKS
6.1
Text
Four Tops Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Tops?oldid=671234958 Contributors: Vudujava, TUF-KAT, BRG, Bearcat, JackofOz, David Gerard, Alexf, Ary29, Ingman, Marcus2, Kate, Heegoop, Speedway, Kbh3rd, JoeSmack, Jpgordon, Bobo192, Steeltitan,
B Touch, Nsaa, Alan Isherwood, Snow1215, Alansohn, CyberSkull, WhidbeyIslander, Mysdaao, Phyllis1753, Ghirlandajo, Japanese
Searobin, Thryduulf, Firsfron, Woohookitty, Schroeder74, Vorash, Rufous, BD2412, Kbdank71, Ted Wilkes, Rjwilmsi, Koavf, The wub,
FuriousFreddy, BrothaTimothy, CCRoxtar, FlaBot, Chobot, YurikBot, RussBot, Musicpvm, RadioFan, Theelf29, NawlinWiki, Tony1,
Dissolve, BassPlyr23, Engineer Bob, Little Savage, Sugar Bear, SmackBot, LightningMan, Hmains, Tsca.bot, Egsan Bacon, Diehard2k5,
Midnight12, Derek R Bullamore, Jna runn, Rklawton, Clausule, SilkTork, Joydawg, Goodnightmush, Syrcatbot, Ckatz, Hulmem, EKartoel, Skinsmoke, Scorpion0422, Cbuckley, Technohead1980, Jkaharper, Fifties, Simon12, DougHill, MightyWarrior, CmdrObot,
Rcsfca, MFlet1, ShelfSkewed, EvilTacox4, CafMan, RickBurila, Cydebot, Waterloo1974, Arrowned, Dshzzzt, GassyGuy, Lanky, JustAGal, Nhl4hamilton, DavidOPerson, Bigjimr, DukeEgr93, JPbio, MB1972, MR. MOTOWN, Wildhartlivie, ZPM, Avicennasis, Cgingold,
Bobby H. Heey, KrissyJ, Pauledwardharris, Bradroenfeldt, Wurdnurd, Pattonre, Keith D, CommonsDelinker, Thekeel, FMAFan1990,
Pstoller, Bellagio99, Ton1~enwiki, Wkandy26, Jayhare, Siamsens, VolkovBot, Ericamandy, Kyle the bot, Kww, Slysplace, Broadbot, Lasttiger, Monsieurdl, Barrympls, Bfpage, Sposato, HuggaBounce, Rlendog, Moonriddengirl, Arnielee, LeadSongDog, Steveking 89, Arbor to
SJ, Samquinn, Lightmouse, Michaelcar, Explicit, SallyForth123, ClueBot, IPAddressConict, Clinton Baptiste, Dantesque1, Niceguyedc,
V1iciouslady, Billyfutile, Excirial, Sun Creator, Soundvisions1, Tuzapicabit, Willgee, Avoided, Halls452, Kbdankbot, Addbot, Kenneth
Hardeman, Jafeluv, Dafydd2211, SpBot, Tassedethe, Lightbot, Zorrobot, Nicolas Love, Yobot, Ptbotgourou, Dove, Xqbot, TracyMcClark,
ProtectionTaggingBot, Cresix, Jnocook, Superastig, FrescoBot, Tripplepoints, Stu.W UK, Neil Warnock, Tinton5, PeterALewis, Joseph
Siambola, Tim1357, Discographer, Ctatrains, Koh2005, Target Jackson, Julie Chapman, Halls4521, Tbhotch, Bossanoven, Michrrleg, GoingBatty, Burbridge92, Bigonstats, TBM10, ClueBot NG, Joefromrandb, PumpkinSky, Weegielikespie, Winkelvi, Drjandlynn, Mogism,
MASTER2BE, Squanjaili, Sosthenes12, Charge2charge, Man010sallow, Ukenation, KasparBot and Anonymous: 155
6.2
Images
File:Ambox_important.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Own work, based o of Image:Ambox scales.svg Original artist: Dsmurat (talk contribs)
File:FourTops1967.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/FourTops1967.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
Contributors: Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Sreejithk2000 using CommonsHelper. Original artist:
Arnie Lee (Arnielee) at en.wikipedia
File:Office-book.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Office-book.svg License: Public domain Contributors: This and myself. Original artist: Chris Down/Tango project
File:Question_book-new.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
File:Symbol_book_class2.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Symbol_book_class2.svg License: CC
BY-SA 2.5 Contributors: Mad by Lokal_Prol by combining: Original artist: Lokal_Prol
File:Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Text_document_
with_red_question_mark.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Created by bdesham with Inkscape; based upon Text-x-generic.svg
from the Tango project. Original artist: Benjamin D. Esham (bdesham)
6.3
Content license