Category: Four Tops
DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY RECORD FLASHBACK ’66!
SHAKE ME, WAKE ME (WHEN IT’S OVER) * The Four Tops * MOTOWN (1966)
THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’64
“ASK THE LONELY” (INSTRUMENTAL) * The Four Tops * 1964
THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’67
“BERNADETTE” (INSTRUMENTAL) * The Four Tops * 1967
MOTOWN SNAPSHOT FLASHBACK: THE FOUR TOPS, ’65!
- A MOTOWN SNAPSHOT FLASHBACK: The Four Tops, photographed during a live television performance, circa 1965. (Click on image 2x for largest view).
DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY RECORD FLASHBACK ’70!
FOUR TOPS * Still Water (Love) * MOTOWN (1970)
THIS WEEK 50 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!
NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65 * The Four Tops * WEEK OF 6/27 – 7/03/65
FOURTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “I Can’t Help Myself” by The Four Tops peaked this week (AGAIN!) at No. 01 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 week of June 27 through July 03, 1965. (source: Billboard).
MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.
MCRFB Note: Knocked off from the No. 1 position last week by the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man,” The Four Tops, “I Can’t Help Myself,” previously was the No. 1 single (1 week) on Billboard for the week of June 13-19, 1965. This Motown single was on top at No. 1 — twice — on the chart, two separate weeks during June-July, 1965.
THIS WEEK 50 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!
NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65 * The Four Tops * WEEK OF 6/13 – 6/19/65
FOURTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “I Can’t Help Myself” by The Four Tops peaked No. 01 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 week of June 13 through June 19, 1965. (source: Billboard).
MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.
THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’66
“REACH OUT” (INSTRUMENTAL) * The Four Tops * 1966
FOUR TOPS SPIN MAGIC OVERSEAS IN U.K. . . . NOVEMBER 26, 1966
From the MCRFB news archive: 1966
LONDON — Motown’s Four Tops took London by storm, Sunday, January 13, with a memorable one-night-only performance at Brian Epstein’s Saville Theater.
The group gave two sold-out concerts before an audience that included John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Donovan, Jane Asher, Eric Burdon, Georgie Fame, and EMI chief Sir Joseph Lockwood.
The fantastic reception the Four Tops were accorded should assure Epstein of boom box-office takings when the group undertakes a nationwide tour of Britain for him in January.
As the group’s stage debut marked the launching of the Saville — previously a legit theater — as a London showcase for pop talent. Following unsuccessful stage venues including Ron Moody’s musical “Joey, Joey,” Epstein has announced that he will concentrate on staging the world’s top pop talents at his West End venue.
In the words of Decca’s promoter Tony Hall, who hosted Sunday’s show, Epstein plans to turn it into the Apollo of Shaftesbury Avenue. Little Richard is expected to give a one-nighter there later this year, and Epstein has scheduled a Christmas show starring Georgie Fame and Julie Felex.
The concert acclaim for the Tops sets the seal on their British chart success with “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” which has climax a magnificent 1966 for Tamla-Motown here during time it has had up to six and seven acts simultaneously in the top 50 — a fantastic achievement for a U.S. label.
The Four Tops included three good renditions of non-Motown songs in their act, the Beatles’ “Michelle,” Tom Jones’ hit, “It’s Not Unusual,” and a great workout set on stage with “If I Had A Hammer.” They ran a number associated with their sound, “Baby, I Need Your Lovin,” and had to give two performances of “Reach Out.” They left their audience clapping, singing, and very happy — shouting, demanding more.
The quartet was backed by Bob Miller’s big pop band. Also on the bill was one of Epstein’s most professional acts, Cliff Beznett and the Rebel Rousers, whose strong act included their Beatles-penned British hit, “Got To Get You Into My Life,” and an Australian group called the Easybeats, currently scoring here with “Friday On My Mind.” END
(Information and news source: Billboard; November 26, 1966).
