Episode description
Episode description
(S4-Ep13) The Four Tops - Reach Out (Motown)
Released July 1967 and Recorded between 1966-1967
Reach Out is the Four Tops’ best-selling studio album and a landmark Motown release. The album features their signature hit, “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” It showcases Levi Stubbs’ passionate vocals, dramatic orchestration, and the Funk Brothers’ impeccable musicianship. Other standout tracks include “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette,” and “7-Rooms of Gloom,” all highlighting the group’s dynamic intensity and James Jamerson’s masterful bass playing. This was the last album the Four Tops recorded with the legendary Holland–Dozier–Holland team before they departed from Motown, marking the end of an era. To broaden the group’s crossover appeal, Motown’s Berry Gordy had them cover several contemporary pop hits, including The Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renée,” Tim Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter,” and two Monkees songs, “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville.” Though some of these covers felt somewhat forced, the album remains a defining moment in their career. Reach Out was a commercial success, reaching #11 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and #4 in the UK. Its legacy endures, earning a spot on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and solidifying the Four Tops’ place in Motown history.
Signature Tracks: "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love,""Bernadette"