The Four Tops: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1990

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-four-tops/bio/

Official Site:

http://www.thefourtopsoriginal.com/

Their career in links.

In 1956, Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson, and Lawrence Payton sang together at a birthday party. They decided to stay together and signed with Chess Records. They changed their name from The Four Aims to The Four Tops and later signed with Motown Records.

Baby I Need Your Loving (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joqjBAJx4ZA

I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3bksUSPB4c

It’s the Same Old Song (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS2nWLz-AbE

Motown was not immune to what was going on in the 60s. The Four Tops echoed the streets with…

Reach Out I’ll Be There (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnDm3qr1Knk

And a more depressed Tops released…

Standing in the Shadows of Love (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhtzMwA5gJI&feature=related

Bernadette (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pVM00eoohI

7 Rooms of Gloom (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZdhvTUZZwI

If I Were a Carpenter (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXX36b_mlMo

Their chief songwriters, Holland-Dozier-Holland quit Motown over a royalty dispute with Berry Gordy. They struggled until 1970.

Still Water (Love) (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NASl6heMzw

It’s All in the Game (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvD7RkEkH5A

River Deep-Mountain High w/The Supremes (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHpH5rnX0Ec

Their Still Waters Run Deep album inspired Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On?

They left Motown in 1972 when Gordy relocated to LA. They joined ABC Records.

Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got) (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drotqeAuVRI

In 1980, they signed with Casablanca Records.

When She Was My Girl (1981):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejg-22i4VYQ

They returned to Motown in 1983.

Indestructible (1988):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COtHMn2BUDE

They were scheduled to fly on Pan Am Flight 103, but missed their plane.

Since the late 80s, they have concentrated more on touring and less on recording.