Song 416 ( The Four Tops - Bernadette )

-


Yesterday I learned on the news that The Four Tops' lead singer, Levi Stubbs died of lung cancer at the age of 72.
For me, one of the main aspects that set The Four Tops apart from a lot the vocal acts to front the Funk Brothers on the Motown label was the amazing power and emotion behind Levi Stubbs' vocals. This song in my opinion was one of the best to showcase his talents. And of course the music is incredible as well; I just love James Jamerson's bass line in this one.

Here is the studio version on YouTube.
Here is a live performance on YouTube.

+

Comments

Post a Comment

Comment on this post:

Popular posts from this blog

6747. Elmer & Brenda Parker and The Nite Lighters - Got To Get Back To Louisiana Pt. 2

-
Image
From: Movements 2 ; Year: 2006; Genre: Funk/Soul Thinking about choosing something from Tobias Kirmayer's Movements series of deep funk and soul cuts. This one seems to be among the rarer songs from the compilations; all I can really find out about it is that it was recorded at the end of the 1960 and released in either '70 or '71. He really did a service to us fans of these obscure and forgotten tracks; apparently an original 45rpm single runs upward of $90 plus as far as I can tell. Anyway, if you like some real raw, unfiltered funk this one will be right up your alleyway. Don't be surprised if you start moving to this groove; some amazing drumming and bass and then some.   Hear Got to Get Myself Back to Louisiana Pt. 2 on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Three Dog Night - Chest Fever     My song pick 2 years ago today: Them - Gloria   My song pick 3 years ago today: Vince Guaraldi - Red Baron   My song pick 4 years ago tod...
Read more

6748. Commodores - The Zoo (The Human Zoo)

-
Image
From: Machine Gun ; Year: 1974; Genre: Soul/Funk/Rock Just had some Lionel Richie on my mind; I decided for today's pick that I'd go way back to the Commodores' debut studio record with this track that caught my ear. I tell ya, if you are used to only their mainstream hits you are in for a surprise. A lot heavier and funk/rock driven, but great to hear!      Hear The Zoo (The Human Zoo) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Cameo - Am I Bad Enough     My song pick 2 years ago today: John Denver - Mother Nature's Son   My song pick 3 years ago today: Rossington Collins Band - Don't Misunderstand Me   My song pick 4 years ago today: ABBA - Just a Notion   My song pick 5 years ago today: Jigsaw - Freud Fish   My song pick 6 years ago today: Rush - Faithless   My song pick 7 years ago today: Our Lady Peace - Starseed My song pick 8 years ago today: David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) My son...
Read more

6749. The Chambers Brothers - A New Time - A New Day

-
Image
From: A New Time - A New Day ; Year: 1968; Genre: Psychedelic Soul Don't know wot it is like elsewhere in the world, but today marks the start of Daylight Savings Time over here, which really sucks. I felt the need to pick something more appropriate for the occasion. One of the first tracks that came to mind was The Chambers Brothers' classic Time Has Come Today , which I had already picked. However, on the followup album they had this apt title track, which absolutely fit wot I needed, and love those lead vocals a lot. Whilst I have never gotten full-on into this band, every time I hear one of their tracks immediately I like it. I definitely will have to delve further into their catalogue.    Hear A New Time - A New Day on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes     My song pick 2 years ago today: Rose Royce - Keep On Keepin' On   My song pick 3 years ago today: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Midni...
Read more

6750. Van der Graaf Generator - My Room (Waiting for Wonderland)

-
Image
From: Still Life ; Year: 1976; Genre: Progressive Rock Probably the last time I will be posting a track from Still Life , which is one of favourites from VdGG. It's not surprising with both how much I like it and the fact that they're one of the bands that released full records with five or six very long songs on it; with this one originally with only five. At around eight minutes in length, My Room is kind of the median length wise with two longer and two shorter songs on it. Anyway, the vocals are somewhat unique sounding with Peter Hammill singing quiet, low, and airy vocals with David Jackson's saxophone essentially playing a duet/counter line to the vocals, essentially treating the woodwind as a vocal in and of itself.   Hear My Room (Waiting for Wonderland) on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Moon Crazy     My song pick 2 years ago today: Chad Allan & The Expressions (The Guess Who) - Theme from a Music Box...
Read more

6752. Kansas - Aperçu

-
Image
From: Kansas ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock Here's another one from a band's debut album, although, I'd say that with Kansas they already had their defined sound which would just get all the more polished as time went on. Although, it would take a few albums and patience for them to reach their full fame. It was there, and Aperçu is one that I really love off the record, and is among my favourites from Kansas; both the album and song.   Hear Aperçu on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: Marillion - Just for the Record     My song pick 2 years ago today: Fates Warning - Outside Looking In   My song pick 3 years ago today: Toad The Wet Sprocket - Fall Down   My song pick 4 years ago today: James Brown - Out Of Sight   My song pick 5 years ago today: Glenn Miller - PEnnsylvania 6 - 5000   My song pick 6 years ago today: Nirvana - Negative Creep   My song pick 7 years ago today: Gravity Kills - Falli...
Read more

6751. Blue Öyster Cult - She's as Beautiful as a Foot

-
Image
From: Blue Öyster Cult ; Year: 1972; Genre: Psychedelic Rock Been listening to early BÖC lately; I've always found their self-titled debut album is kind of a "grab bag" of sorts. Sure there are some hits and ones that sound a lot like their emerging sound, then you got some oddities... like this one. Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad song, just different. If one does not pay too much attention to the lyrics, the somewhat "mystical" sounding melody is great. However, there's not very many bands out there that can make a song about a lady being compared to a foot, but Eric Bloom really sell it amazingly. I mean, some people have a thing for feet, so it could be a compliment, but it does go into stranger areas when it tells of a man biting her face and saying she tasted like "a falling arch" and her face changing to a Guernsey cow. It may be weird, but sometimes weird is good, and is a reason I love Blue Öyster Cult and their music so much; neve...
Read more

1008 Jethro Tull - 10.08 to Paddington

-
Image
1008 Jethro Tull - 10.08 to Paddington What a huge surprise: yet another Jethro Tull song on my blog. I noticed the number of the song pick today and just had to choose this one. For those who are not acquainted with A Passion Play , it's a concept album and Rock Opera about life after death in which Ian Anderson wrote about the concept of what if you still had choices to make even after death in the Christian concept of the afterlife. The story follows the death, afterlife, and rebirth of one Ronnie Pilgrim. For obvious reasons the album stirred up some controversy; while it did reach number 1 on the charts, it was scathed by critics and caused an apparent rift between the band and the media. What is truly awesome about this album is that, with how technically complex it is, was conceived, written, and recorded in 17 days out of the ashes of the Château d'Hérouville recording sessions. In reality, I would not be as big of a 'Tull fan if it was not for this album....
Read more