Essential Collection

The Four Tops | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Records
• ASIN: B000050I1X
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,094 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #85 in Music > R&B > Classic R&B

Editorial Reviews

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tops, August 3, 2001

By 

Zub "Zubenelgenubi" (Forks Twp., PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Essential Collection (Audio CD)

If you're going to limit yourself to one single-disc CD of the Four Tops, this should be near the top of your shopping list. It contains most of the important and best-known singles spanning the entire career of this exceptional group out of Motown. While their music style evolved over the years and even as they switched label companies and styles, their music was always consistently exceptional. The fact that they had no personnel changes in their entire recording career, an almost unheard of accomplishment, was a big factor in their musical continuity.

While there is a slight emphasis on their later post-Motown output, the selection of the 24 tracks chosen here is pretty close to optimum. The only omission that keeps this CD from being the ultimate career retrospective is the pre-Motown "Ain't That Love" track. Credit to Hip-O though for the inclusion of the hypnotic ballad "I Believe In You And Me", a track that, though originally only the b-side of a lesser single, has become a classic Four Tops tune.

Sound quality is very good with many of the early Motown singles appearing in the mono versions that are more true to the sound of the Tops on AM radio. Tracks 1-10 and 13 are in mono with the remainder in stereo. Included is a 16-page booklet with about half devoted to a musical history of the group and the remainder being track info, credits and pictures.

Here we find a top-notch product that does justice to this phenomenal music group deserving of consideration by the fan considering adding a Tops' compilation CD to their library.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Single Disc Overview Of The Tops, July 29, 2003

By 

James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Collection (Audio CD)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "soulfully resilient, sweet melody personify the Tops", November 14, 2000

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Collection (Audio CD)

The Four Tops began in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, 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".

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"...and "KEEPER OF THE CASTLE" was No.#7 on R&B Charts & No.#10 on Pop Charts, wonderful hits by this legendary group of artists.

Hip-O Records hats off to you for one of the most familiar and enthralling releases - "Four Tops - Essential Collection", simply as good as it gets...melody, lyric and interpretation launched some of the most enduring songs ever made!

Total Time: 76:15 on 24 Tracks...Hip-O Records 314 560 824...(2000)