Four Tops – Four Tops Reach Out

Released smack dab in the middle of the summer of love, where across the musical spectrum, the mid 60’s were staggering, delivering material that has never been bested, everything from “In My Room” by The Beach Boys to the Rubber Soul album by The Beatles, yet Motown stood at the pinnacle, sending out one luscious hit after another, to not just black audiences, but achieving notoriety with everyone, with music that was impossible to ignore.

Case in point, “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” another masterpiece penned by Holland, Dozier and Holland, with the vocals of Levi Stubbs making listeners feel that his heart and soul were actually on the verge of shattering into a million dark pieces. The song is a timeless emotional classic, one that weaves its way into the core of your being, stamping it with the power of unforgettability. Seldom does music translate these levels of psychic pain, with the number standing as an anthem for those of us in Viet Nam, moving though the days in a sea of green, decked out in tattered olive-drab uniforms, where we were actually standing forgotten in the shadow of the ‘love’ generation back home.

“Standing In The Shadows …” was almost Dylan-esque in it’s nature, harking back visions of of the darker more introspective ventures from Blonde On Blonde. Along with “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” the Four Tops were infusing soul and R&B with new levels of maturity and taste, making the songs impossible to ignore and validating them with a new certainty of purpose.

This was a time when formal albums were created around a single hit, with the album Reach Out being a true exception to the rule, though one should certainly consider that by this time, the marketplace was catering to those who were used to purchasing full and thoughtful albums, demanding that 33’s be laced with a body of material that was cohesive and filled with considered first rate songs. To that end, Reach Out blessed listeners with not only “Standing In The Shadows …,” but “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” the chilling “Bernadette,” the harmonic and upbeat “I’ll Turn To Stone,” along with the Four Tops haunting versions of “Walk Away Renee” and “If I Were A Carpenter.” Unexpectedly, they also cover two hits that belonged to The Monkees, “Last Train To Clarksville” and “I’m A Believer,” though with their ability to understand and interrupt the material of others, what the Four Tops bring to the table with these two numbers is remarkable.

For those of you who are not musical completists, please allow me to suggest the 1973 Anthology album, a body of work that’s sure to please, one that I chose more often than not, and contains other later blistering tracks such as “Shake Me, Wake Me” and “It’s The Same Old Song,” along with others too numerous to mention. That being said, if you’re already this deep into the woods, why not go the extra mile and secure yourself a copy of the 1986 Anthology, with over forty songs that will live in your soul forever.

*** The Fun Facts: Originally flying under the moniker of The Four Aims, the Tops name was changed by Motown in order that they not be confused with the Ames Brothers, with their spinning and dancing stage presence being reminiscent of four tops.

The album has been majorly reissued twice, the first reissue has been sourced from flat analog transfers of the original, while the Speakers Corner reissue is more dynamic fitted with better extension at the frequency extremes, but it's also a bit bright on top and lacks the original album’s transparency, so it's a mixed bag, leaving me to suggest that if one wishes to hear the vinyl, secure yourself an original copy, they are readily available in great condition.

It’s been suggested by several music critics that “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” was a reworking of “Standing At The Crossroads Of Love” by the Supremes, though others, including myself, insist that these groups were so intermingled with writers, musicians and backup singers, all contributing, all subliminally aware of the work others were doing, that it was absolutely impossible for some material not to dovetail into others.

Review by Jenell Kesler

Fantastic album by the 4 Tops, containing many smash hits and presented in a wonderful mono presentation that comes with much power and is very crankable! Great listen for all you Motown fans.