William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Reach Out ; Year: 1967; Genre: Soul/Motown I guess it is one of those days where the song, or at least the artist(s), is chosen for me. As many probably know, "Duke" Fakir , who was the last surviving original member of the legendary Motown group The Four Tops passed away yesterday at the very young age of 88; he will be deeply missed along with the three members who already died. At least there's some more amazing music being played in Heaven! Rest in Peace.   Hear 7 Rooms of Gloom on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Spacehog - Zeroes   My song pick 2 years ago today: Carmen - Retirando   My song pick 3 years ago today: George Clinton - Last Dance My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - Cover My Eyes (Pain in Heaven)   My song pick 5 years ago today: Don Henley - All She Wants to Do Is Dance My song pick 6 years ago today: Brave Belt - Can You Feel It My song pick 7 years ago today: Soundgarden - Rowing My song pick 8...

From: Meeting of the Minds ; Year: 1974; Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Here's one of my favourites off The Four Tops' album Meeting of the Minds , which seemed like a perfect song for today. As always, Levi Stubbs just shines brightly throughout this track with those powerful and soulful vocals he was known for. Of course, the backing vocals and the music is beyond incredible as well and on top of that the saxophone solo is the "cherry on top" of this piece of funky soul.   Hear Right On Brother on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Jim Croce - Steel Rail Blues   My song pick 2 years ago today: Kansas - The Wall   My song pick 3 years ago today: Trio of Doom - Are You The One? Are You The One?   My song pick 4 years ago today: IQ - Fascination My song pick 5 years ago today: The Rolling Stones - Winter My song pick 6 years ago today: Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up My song pick 7 years ago today: Yes - Cinema My song pick 8 ye...

From: Still Waters Run Deep ; Year: 1970; Genre: Soul/R&B/Motown Yesterday marked yet another passing of a larger-than-life member of the music community, this time it was songwriter/arranger/producer extraordinaire Lamont Dozier of the Holland - Dozier - Holland songwriting and production team which penned some of the most important and famous songs to come out of Motown. The real sad part about it is that with so many legendary people involved with music are heading into their 80s and older I expect this to be a trend of sorts, but at least we get to keep their great work. Anyway, I felt like picking something from the Four Tops today anyway, so I went with this song that was written by Holland - Dozier - Holland and originally recorded by Diana Ross & the Supremes a few years prior, which is of course is the de-facto version of it. I absolutely love Levi Stubbs' vocals on this one; he, as always does an amazing job with his ultra powerful voice. Not to take away from A...

From: Four Tops Second Album ; Year: 1965; Genre: Motown/R&B This is such a great song; it immediately puts a smile on your face and gets you to tap your foot.  Hear I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Yes - Lightning Strikes My song pick 2 years ago today: Queensrÿche - For What It's Worth My song pick 3 years ago today: Marillion - The New Kings My song pick 4 years ago today: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - K.619 - Die ihr des Unermeßlichen Weltalls My song pick 5 years ago today: Billy Joel - She's Got a Way My song pick 6 years ago today: Rick James - Cold Blooded My song pick 7 years ago today: Primus - Amos Moses My song pick 8 years ago today: Pink Floyd - Speak to Me/Breathe/On the Run My song pick 9 years ago today: Aerosmith - Rag Doll My song pick 10 years ago today: John Lennon - Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) My song pick 11 years ago today: Fuel - Million Miles My song p...

From: It's All In The Game/Love Is The Answer (single); Year: 1967; Genre: Soul/Motown I was drawing a bit of a blank when suddenly a song from the Four Tops entered my mind. Of course being a big fan of the music of Motown and the Four Tops in particular and I knew I had to choose one of their songs today. Hear It's All In The Game on YouTube. My song pick 1 year ago today: Hammerfall - Wildfire My song pick 2 years ago today: Heart - Magic Man My song pick 3 years ago today: Allan Sherman - I See Bones My song pick 4 years ago today: Rush - Chemistry My song pick 5 years ago today: Rick James - Super Freak My song pick 6 years ago today: The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Three to Get Ready My song pick 7 years ago today: Rammstein - Rammstein My song pick 8 years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - You Send Me My song pick 9 years ago today: Frijid Pink - House of the Rising Sun My song pick 10 years ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Portrait of Tracy My ...

From: Four Tops ; Year: 1964; Genre: R&B/Soul/Motown Back to abnormal again I guess... here's one that's been on my mind for the last couple of days. This is a downright legendary song; Levi Stubs and company are perfect as always. Hear Baby I Need Your Loving on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Steeleye Span - The Cruel Mother My song pick two years ago today: The Fifth Dimension - Up, Up and Away My song pick three years ago today: Parliament - Rumpofsteelskin My song pick four years ago today: Mr. Big - Shine My song pick five years ago today: Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues My song pick six years ago today: Genesis - Land of Confusion My song pick seven years ago today: Jethro Tull - Stuck in the August Rain My song pick eight years ago today: Rammstein - Feuer Frei! My song pick nine years ago today: Huey Lewis and the News - Back In Time My song pick ten years ago today: Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)

From: Reach Out ; Year: 1967 (1966); Genre: Soul/Motown This morning I had a lot of Levi Stubbs' vocals running through my mind and as always I took it as a sign that I should pick one of The Four Top's songs. To say the least I was shocked when I realized that I had not chosen this one yet; I thought for sure that I had, but I guess not. Even though the music was performed by the same band over all of Motown I've often found The Four Top's music some of the "heaviest" from the label; I believe that most of that is due to the vocals of Levi Stubbs and company. Hear Standing in the Shadows of Love on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Asia - Here Comes the Feeling My song pick two years ago today: Sol Ho'opi'i - St. Louis Blues My song pick three years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Les Brers in A Minor My song pick four years ago today: Puhdys - He John My song pick five years ago today: Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands...

1347 The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There) From: Reach Out , Year: 1967 I've been in a Motown mood most of this morning; here's a track from one of my favourite artists from the label. I absolutely love this song; in my opinion it is one of the best from The Four Tops' catalogue. Hear Reach Out (I'll Be There) on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: The Hep Stars - Cadillac My song pick two years ago today: Hallo Venray - Orange My song pick three years ago today: Flatt & Scruggs - Foggy Mountain Breakdown +

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. +

I really had no song in mind today, so I spun my playlist and this song came up and I thought that I would choose it. Anyway, what can really be said about the sound of Motown that has not already been said? The musicianship is beyond excellent, as with most other Motown acts; the vocals are excellent and very tight as well, which makes this song a treat to listen to. Here is a studio recording on YouTube. Here is a classic live performance on YouTube. Here is a more recent live performance of the song in a medley with a cover of The Left Banke's Walk Away Renée on YouTube. +