Customer Reviews

50th Anniversary Anthology (Dig)

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Four Tops' formation in 1954, this Anthology compiles all of their significant chart hits over the years, with a couple of nice surprises thrown in. Motown of course is where they recorded the bulk of their hits and that tenure is represented on the first 30 (of 48) 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" 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"). The Tops reached their commercial peak in late 1966 to early 1967 with some of the most exciting recordings they ever cut: "Reach Out ("I'll Be There)," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," "Bernadette," and "Seven Rooms Of Gloom." 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 (although the ponderous "What Is A Man" ranks with their best recordings). 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 "In These Changing Times" and "(It's The Way) Nature Planned It" as well as the stunning "A Simple Game," a one-off collaboration with the Moody Blues.

Unfortunately these 1971-1972 singles 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. At Dunhill, 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 through 1974, but their 1975-1976 r & b hits (including the disco "Catfish," the reggae in molasses "Midnight Flower") were duds. This period concludes with the Tops' dance smash "H.E.L.P." which is finally making its cd debut (pleasant surprise number one).

In 1981 the Tops signed with Casablanca, where they released two of their strongest albums ever. They are represented here by the retro smash "When She Was My Girl," its amorous follow-up "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over," the wedding staple "I Believe In You And Me" (Levi's performance buries Whitney Houston's hit version), and the Grease II theme "Back To School Again" (the only redeeming component of that film). Bringing this retrospective to a close are "I Just Can't Walk Away" a stirring ballad from their shortlived return to Motown in 1983, and "Indestructible," their final top 40 entry from their lone 1988 Arista album, plus Levi Stubbs' wondrous contribution to the Little Shop Of Horrors film, "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" (pleasant surprise number two). The Tops also recorded many great album tracks over the years (most of which can be found on their box set FOUREVER). But if you only want the hits - all of them - this double-disc collection is the set to get.

It appears to be unanimous! All 10 of the reviews (make that 11) for Hip-O's "Four Tops 50th Anniversary Anthology" rate this incredible collection 5 stars. And why not? Hip-O has done just about everything right in putting together the history of this talented and venerable group. In this day and age serious collectors should demand nothing less from the record companies.

Suffice to say you will find nearly every single one of their great Motown sides on Disc One. And while just about everybody loves the big ones like "Reach Out, I'll Be There", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "It's The Same Old Song" and of course "I Can't Help Myself" there's a lot to be said for some of the lesser hits like "Something About You" and most especially "A Simple Game". That tune was originally written and recorded by of all people the Moody Blues. U.S. audiences largely ignored the Four Tops version but the Brits loved it and pushed it all the way up to number 3 on the U.K. charts. It is a tremendous record.

The Four Tops left the safe haven of Motown records in 1972 when the label moved its operations to the West Coast. They signed on with ABC/Dunhill and immediately went to work with new producers Steve Barri, Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Within just a few short months the Four Tops found themselves back in the Top Ten with "Keeper of the Castle" followed by one of their biggest hits of all-time "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got). Disc Two features these songs along with all of their other ABC sides. While their work at ABC/Dunhill did not exhibit quite the same drive and energy that could be found in their early Motown efforts, the ABC singles were for the most part excellent pop tunes. But unfortunately the general public had moved on to new and different sounds and many of those ABC singles stalled in the middle of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Disc Two also includes a pair of hits from the 1980's. "When She Was My Girl" made it all the way to #11 in the summer of 1981. And you may recall their final chart hit, 1988's "Indestructible" which NBC featured during its coverage of the Summer Olympics that year.

As I indicated above "The Four Tops: 50th Anniversary Anthology" 2 CD set just might be the finest anthology I own. Hip-O has certainly raised the bar and from this day forward I will expect more from the major record companies. The remastering is top rate and the 28 page booklet is absolutely among the best I have come across. Very highly recommended.

Of all the Four Tops collections on the market today, this is superior by far. It covers their entire career, spanning 3 different record companies, and contains every hit and some great rarities. What impressed me most about this set is the Shua Gur remastering job. The songs sound far better than on any of the other collections. I highly recommend this set over all the others.

In honor of the group's 50th anniversary, Hip - O records has put out this magnificent two - disc retrospective dedicated to the wonderful music of the Four Tops. From the classic Motown hits to the excellent if not well - known 1970s' recordings to a few 1980s' goodies, everything that you could possibly want is here.

Disc 1 features every hit they scored on Motown. Whether you enjoy "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'", "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch", "It's The Same Old Song", "Reach Out", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" or "Bernadette", you'll find all your favorite songs on this disc. Also, there are some rarely heard tracks included here, such "Ask The Lonely", "7 - Rooms Of Gloom", "You Keep Running Away" and their magnificent covers of the hits "Walk Away Rene", "If I Were A Carpenter' (their version easily buries Bobby Darin's), "It's All In The Game", "River Deep, Mountain High" (with post - Diana Ross Supremes) and "MacArthur Park" which closes disc one.

Disc 2 is very different from anything on the first disc. While the first disc solely from the Motown era, the bulk of disc 2 is made up by their 1972 - 79 stint at Dunhill. During this time, they scored two top 10 smashes, the funky message song "Keeper Of The Castle" (number 10, not number 4 as the liner notes list) and the mooth, soothing "Ain't No Woman (Like The I've Got)" (number 4), the latter of which is among their most popular songs. The rest of their 1970s' recordings featured here weren't hits (with the exception of the top 20 "Are You Man Enough" from "Shaft In Africa"), but remain just as good, especially "One Chain Don't Make No Prison", "Midnight Flower", "Catfish" and "H.E.L.P.".

As for the 1980s' hits, there's the huge 1981 hit "When She Was My Girl", as well as the sensual "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over" and the gorgeous "I Believe In You And Me", which became a hit for Whitney Houston in 1996. There are two songs they did that were recorded for movies: the "Grease 2" theme "Back To School Again" (as one reviewer already pointed out, this song was the only good thing in the film) and "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space", a Levi Stubbs solo number from "Little Shop Of Horror" (Stubbs did the voice of Audrey in the movie". Also there's the lush "I Just Can't Walk Away" from their short - lived Motown return, and "Indestructible", a duet with an uncredited Smokey Robinson that became their final hit in 1988.

This is such a great set. It's not entirely complete, as the singles "Ain't That Love" (from their short - live stint at Columbia Records), "You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart" (another post - Ross Supremes duet) and "Sad Hearts" (a 1983 release) are missing. But they are not among their most popular recordings, and their absence is not notable. This is a set that I hope you will consider buying soon.

Hip-O Records presents another winner from four guys that began their career in Detroit, Michigan around 1953, where Stubbs, Benson, Fakir and Payton were born and raised, when they were called "The Four Aims", while still attending high school. The group worked as opening acts with Brook Benton, Della Reese, Billy Eckstine and the band of Count Basie, by that time they had changed their name to "The Four Tops", and the rest is anthology!

Recorded for several labels before Motown Records in 1963, after signing with them a year later had their first hit "BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVING", reached No. #11 on the Pop Charts in July 1964. Big tune for them was Stubbs singing "ASK THE LONELY", was No.#9 on the R&B Charts, and No.#24 on Pop Charts ~ recorded for Dunhill in '73 reached No.#2 R&B Charts & No.#4 Pop Charts "AIN'T NO WOMAN LIKE THE ONE I'VE GOT" ~ "KEEPER OF THE CASTLE" was No.#7 on R&B Charts & No.#10 on Pop Charts, groovy hits by this legendary group.

Not to mention some special material like "WALK AWAY RENEE" (the alternate mix) ~ "DON'T LET HIM TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME" (stereo single mix) ~ "RIVER DEEP-MOUNTAIN HIGH" (stereo single edit - with the Supremes) ~ "A SIMPLE GAME" (U.K. single mix) ~ "MEAN GREEN MOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE" (Levi Stubbs and chorus) ~ "INDESTRUCTIBLE" (7-inch extended single) ~ many of this cues previously unreleased, what a collectors dreams for Top Fans!

Hip-O Records hats off to you for one of the most familiar and enthralling releases - "Four Tops-Anthology 50th Anniversary", simply as good as it gets. Melody, lyric and interpretation launched some of the most enduring songs ever recorded ~ gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Hip-O Records 96172 ~ (1/13/2004)

The Four Tops have been performing for 50 years as of 2004, a feat few if any other groups have accomplished. Their longtime partnership has been cemented by their enduring friendship and their lead singer's resistence to record solo. Even after one of them passed on, they carried on with a new member.

Disc 1 begins in 1964. This was the year they signed with Motown and hit it big with "Baby, I Need Your Loving", the first of a string of hits written and produced by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland. The song went to number 11 and paved the way for a long line of hit singles. Their next single, "Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile)" floundered on the charts, missing the Top 40. The follow - up, "Ask The Lonely", fared slightly better, but the Tops were in desperate need of anothr big hit. H - D - H gave them "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", an infectious composition that went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. The next single was the soundalike "It's The Same Old Song", which went to number 5. "Something About You" and "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" both made the Top 20, while "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" faltered at number 45. It was 1966 that Holland - Dozier - Holland produced the groundbreaking "Reach Out, I'll Be There". With this single, they moved out of the realm of piano - driven dance numbers into serious music. The soundalikes "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" and "Bernadette" both made the Top 10. Then "7 - Rooms Of Gloom" and "You Keep Running Away" failed to duplicate the success of those 3 singles. The Tops scored 2 Top 20 hits "Walk Away Renee" and "If I Were A Carpenter", both of which were covers of previous hits. In 1968, Holland - Dozier - Holland left Motown, leaving The Four Tops without a guiding force. Frank Wilson soon took over the studio reins, and produced two hit singles for them: a cover of Tommy Edwards' number one hit "It's All In The Game" and "Still Water (Love)". They also scored a hit with a cover of "River Deep, Mountain High", a duet with The Supremes. Three singles produced by Frank Wilson and group member Lawrence Payton followed, including an electrifying cover of "MacArthur Park".

Disc 2 begins with "A Simple Game". This was a strange collaboration with The Moody Blues that went to number 3 in Britain. The group recorded the album "Natured Planned It" in 1972. It was their last album for Motown. That year, they left the label and signed with Dunhill. Their first single was "Keeper Of The Castle". the song was a huge hit. It was their first Top 10 hit since "Bernadette" 5 years earlier, going all the way to number 10. "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)" followed. A heartfelt ballad, it climbed up the charts to number 4 and was their first single to sell 1, 000, 000 copies. They scored another hit with "Are You Man Enough". But the remaining Dunhill years were not successful and they left the label by 1979. In 1980, they scored a hit with "When She Was My Girl", which went to number 11. It was their last hit. They returned to Motown in 1983, but left after 2 years. In 1987, "Indestructible" became their last top 40 hit.

I suggest you buy this album. It's a great introduction to one of the greatest vocal groups ever.

Even today, the Four Tops are one of the most recognizable groups. They've certainly come a long way since they were called the Four Aims in the mid-1950s. The problem comes when you are deciding which album to buy. If you're looking for a collection with all of their hits, this is the one. I purchased this album and was pleasantly surprised to listen to the string of hits included, and even the lesser-known songs.

Many compilations exist, but I doubt you'll find one that encompasses any more without springing for a box set. The quality of the sound in this release is amazing. This should definitely be the standard for future anthologies and compilations. This collection chronicles their entire career (minus their Christmas album) and has every hit you could ask for. Do yourself a favor and buy it today. You won't regret it.

Finally they got it right! This collection contains all of the Four Tops' American Top 40 hits (and nearly all of their Hot 100 hits--I double checked with Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles book) and even includes their 1988 hit "Indestrutible." This collection offers ALL of the hits, wonderful art work and liner notes, and is available at a discounted price. There's no going wrong with this one!

It's all here, the great Motown stuff, the groovin' mid-70's stuff, the 80's wonderful hit, "When She Was My Girl." Oh yeah, all Four Tops fans will love this, but newcomers (that's you, you youngsters!) who haven't heard the Four Tops amidst today's mind-numbing Top 40, you should get this CD.

Levi Stubbs is one of the greatest lead singers in the history of music and he delivers the goods here on every song.

The first 10 songs on disc 1 are enough alone to open up the wallet for this great CD. If that's not enough, the trifecta of "Keeper of the Castle", "Ain't No Woman", and "Are You Man Enough" should put you on another level of happiness.

I've been extremely fortunate to have seen The Four Tops live twice within the last four years (though Levi isn't touring), with two original members left, and two great newcomers, including new lead Theo Peoples. They still deliver the goods!

This is the group at its finest.

This is the music I grew up with. Motown has many legendary performers and the 4 Tops are among the best. I was pleased with most of the tracks included on these cds, but there are some tracks which don't hit the high note, regardless you can't overlook hits like Keeper Of The Castle, Still Water (Love),Standing In The Shadows Of Love,It's All In The Game, etc.
This collection deserves much listening to!