Customer Reviews

The Definitive Collection

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4 star:		(1)
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I saw the Four Tops in Las Vegas in the 80s with the Temptations as the support act and remember that it was like watching a live juke box of timeless hits being performed. I got the same great feeling listening to this excellent CD.

Starting in 1964 they had several years of hits especially with the much used call and answer model of many Motown hits and the production of Holland and Dozier. Combined with an ability to push the limits, especially in Levi Stubbs passionate lead singing and the Funk Brothers backing, two early 60s hits of "Reach out I'll be there" and "I can't help myself" exemplify the winning formula.

The group has been unique in the history of Motown music with the four original members remaining the same for over 40+ years until the deaths of Lawrence Payton in 1997 and Levi Stubbs in 2009. While possessing no great songwriters (even though Obie Benson may have contributed to "What's going on"), the loss of Holland Dozier & Holland to Motown impacted the number of late 60s hits they achieved. Fortunately they avoided the influence of a dominant producer such as Norman Whitfield and his psychedelic phase with the Temptations, instead remaining true to their forte of strong vocals. Under Frank Wilson they kept with the harmonies and the hits ("Clear Water" and "It's all in the game") though not hitting the high levels of the charts again before ultimately leaving Motown .

This CD brings together all the hits across this time period on Motown and in its great selection of recordings (no great 60s hits seem to be missing) together with a clear mastered sound probably make this as the title implies the definitive collection of this group and the one Four Tops CD of hits to own.

This album got me all the Four Tops songs I really wanted to have in my collection, and they sound crisp and clear.

I was listening to Beardo and Spinners latest Bandana Blues Podcast when Reach Out, I'll Be There tune came on. I grew up in the 60's and boy did that song and the others on this album bring back memories.