[citation needed], The Tops departed Motown for ABC-Dunhill, where they were assigned to writer-producers Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and the label's head of A&R, Steve Barri as producer, with The Tops' own Lawrence Payton later also serving as a producer and writer. Four Tops records often represented the epitome of the Motown Sound: simple, distinctive melodies and rhymes, call-and-response lyrics, and the musical contributions of studio band, the Funk Brothers. “Ask the Lonely” was a respectable hit, reaching #24 on the Top 100 chart, and #9 on the r&b chart. The Four Tops were among a number of groups, including the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, and the Supremes, who established the Motown Sound heard around the world during the 1960s. Two ABC/Dunhill singles, 1974's "I Just Can't Get You Out of My Mind" and 1975's "Seven Lonely Nights" have become popular tunes in the southeast Beach/Shag Club Dance circuit. This 1960s single-related article is a stub. In addition, the company moved its operations from Detroit to Los Angeles, California, where Berry Gordy, Jr. planned to break into the motion picture and television industries. [4] At first, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, and Abdul "Duke" Fakir toured as a trio called The Tops. Only one more Tops album would be released by Motown, Magic in 1985. Another track, "Loco in Acapulco", written and produced by British pop musician Phil Collins and former Motown composer-producer Lamont Dozier, climbed into the UK Top 10 and made #7 in early 1989. Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While), I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), "Ask The Lonely / Where Did You Go - Four Tops", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ask_the_Lonely&oldid=1015661164, Songs written by William "Mickey" Stevenson, Song recordings produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 April 2021, at 19:17. The lyrics of "Just ask the Lonely", says it all. The band track for Ask The Lonely, a massive torch song complete with overdubs from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s string section, was reposessed before Tommy even got a chance to record any vocals over it (the version credited to him on the Motown Sings Motown Treasures compilation sounds nothing like him, and Tommy himself has said it’s not him). It's notable for it being co-written by longtime Motown staffer Mickey Stevenson as most of the group's hits on Motown were written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. Released in 1965, the song rose to number 24 pop[2] and number 9 R&B. Watch official video, print or download … You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. All their music is great but this song brings back memories. The Four Tops were honored with an induction into the R&B Music Hall of Fame at the Inaugural ceremony held at Cleveland State University's Waetejen Auditorium on Saturday August 17, 2013. Ronnie McNeir 2012 Interview at Soulinterviews.com. The quartet decided to remain together and named the group the Four Aims. [citation needed], On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Four Tops among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[8]. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Tops&oldid=1017988187, Articles lacking in-text citations from August 2008, Articles needing additional references from February 2008, All articles needing additional references, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2020, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with multiple identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)", Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, This page was last edited on 15 April 2021, at 18:06. Founded as the Four Aims, lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, … These singles and the original "I'm in a Different World" were their last hits produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, who left Motown in 1967 after disputes with Berry Gordy, Jr. over royalties and ownership of company shares. Seller 99.5% positive. Without any hit records to their name, they toured frequently, developing a polished stage presence and an experienced supper club act, as well as supporting Billy Eckstine. The group disappeared from the recording scene until the early 1980s. BiographyThe Four Tops' story is one of longevity and togetherness: these Motown legends teamed up in high school and spent over four decades without a Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. [2][3] They left London however using a later British Airways flight. The Four Tops have won many awards, including the following: In early 2018, The Four Tops' 1965 #1 Pop Hit, "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" became their second song to be inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame. With the help of Payton's songwriter cousin Roquel Davis, the Aims signed to Chess Records in 1956, changing their name to the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers. [citation needed], Without Holland-Dozier-Holland, the hits became less frequent. The lead single from that album, "Sexy Ways", was almost a Top 20 R&B hit, peaking at #21 on the Soul Charts in mid-1985. They recorded only one album, returning again to Motown for 1995's Christmas Here with You. $30.98 previous price $30.98. It hit with the public to the tune of number nine R&B but only number 24 pop in 1965. In July of that year, the group performed at the Live Aid concert, singing five of their hit songs. The group worked with a wide array of Motown producers during the late 1960s, including Ivy Jo Hunter, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, Norman Whitfield and Johnny Bristol, without significant chart success. All four members of the group began their careers together while they were high-school students in Detroit. Older acts such as Martha and the Vandellas and The Marvelettes were slowly moved aside or dropped to focus on newer acts, such as Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Rare Earth, and the now-solo Diana Ross. In 1972, it was announced that the entire company would move west and that all its artists had to move as well. Their 1970 album Still Waters Run Deep was a forerunner of the concept album. By now, the Tops were the most successful male Motown act in the United Kingdom (in the United States, they were second to the Temptations), and began experimenting with more mainstream pop hits. The group was the main male vocal group for the highly successful songwriting and production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, who crafted a stream of hit singles for Motown. In 1998, they recruited former member of the Temptations Theo Peoples to restore the group to a quartet. Always loved the Four Tops. This pairing resulted in the 1988 song "If Ever a Love There Was", which became a popular R&B and Adult Contemporary hit, as well as being featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 motion picture I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Four Tops - 'Ask The Lonely' - Hitsville Sound Studios Acetate Posted up by John Manship, and alternate mix to the released version, this one also mixed by Lawrence Horn : - Cheers Paul 09-16-2020, 05:58 AM #2. paul_nixon. Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Four Tops - Ask The Lonely at Discogs. Released in 1965, the song rose to number 24 pop and number 9 R&B. SOUL Four Tops - Ask The Lonely 7" (1965) Motown MT-1073. in 1971. They scored hits with their versions of Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter" in late 1967 (mid-1968 in the U.S.) and the Left Banke's "Walk Away Renée" in early 1968. "Sweet Understanding Love" (1973); "Midnight Flower (1974); and "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" (1974) all reached the R&B Top 10 between 1972 and 1974. All their music is great but this song brings back memories. [citation needed] On June 20, 1997, 59-year-old Lawrence Payton died as a result of liver cancer, after singing for 44 years with the Four Tops who, unlike many other Motown groups, never had a single lineup change until then. The final PBS special, titled Motown: The Early Years, featured a message of Benson's passing following the credits. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them #79 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. They were featured on the company's 1983 television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, taking part in one of the highlights of the show - a battle-of-the-bands between The Tops and The Temptations, patterned after similar competitions Berry Gordy, Jr. had staged during the 1960s. It was almost immediately followed by the similar-sounding "Standing in the Shadows of Love"; its depiction of heartbreak reflecting the opposite of the optimism in "Reach Out". In addition, they sang backup on Motown singles[1] by the Supremes ("Run, Run, Run", 1964), Martha and the Vandellas (on the 1966 hit "My Baby Loves Me") and others. [citation needed], In addition to their own albums, the Tops were paired with The Supremes, who had just replaced lead singer Diana Ross with Jean Terrell, for a series of albums billed under the joint title The Magnificent 7 in 1970, and The Return of the Magnificent Seven and Dynamite! [Part 6]", "Silver State News Service: Lockerbie Anniversary", "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - FOUR TOPS", "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire", The Four Tops Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Four Tops - Inductees - The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation, Gallery | Hollywood Walk of Fame recipients | Photo 38 | accessatlanta.com, List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Q–Z - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, "GRAMMY Awards: Here Are the 2018 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Inductees", Four Tops to receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | The Detroit News, Rhythm & Blues Foundation - Preserving America’s Soul, Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists list, R&B Music Hall of Fame - Inaugural Induction Ceremony at Waetejen Auditorium, Cleveland Ohio, "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone", https://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/74-four-tops, Entertainment | Four Tops to get lifetime Grammy, Grammys To Honor Autry, Four Tops, Martin, Four Tops biography by John Bush, discography and album reviews, credits & releases, Four Tops discography, album releases & credits, Vocal Group Hall of Fame page on the Four Tops, Levi Stubbs/The Four Tops interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 1992 (republished November 2008). The song did not fare well on the U.S. charts, but reached number three on the UK charts. It was given to the first artist on the … Listen to Ask The Lonely by The Four Tops, 24,197 Shazams, featuring on Motown Essentials, and Pop Hits: 1964 Apple Music playlists. Wilson and the Tops began working on a number of innovative tracks and albums together, echoing Whitfield's psychedelic soul work with the Temptations. [citation needed], Their first major hit in a long time came in the form of 1970's "It's All in the Game", a pop Top 30/R&B Top Ten hit produced by Frank Wilson. Billboard described the song as a "strong ballad follow-up to [the Four Tops' previous single] 'Without the One You Love.'"[4]. Label: CBS - 1707a • Format: Vinyl 7 Four Tops - Ask The Lonely (1965, Vinyl) | Discogs The Four Tops are an American Motown musical quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, RnB, disco, adult contemporary, showtunes, and even psychedelic rock. In 1963, Berry Gordy, Jr., who had worked with Roquel "Billy" Davis as a songwriter in the late 1950s, convinced the Tops to join the roster of his growing Motown record company. A whole side of the album was produced by the Holland-Dozier-Holland, including the R&B Top 40 single, "I Just Can't Walk Away". Background: Aaah Levi: But ask the lonely... Background: Aaah How vainly a heart can yearn, Background: Aaah Levi: For losing a love that will never return. Motown slowed the groove on the Four Tops' third single. An additional 21 have reached the UK Top 40 with ten reaching the top ten and one reaching #1 on the chart. SPINNERS V.I.P. These included two Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits for the Tops: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" in 1965 and "Reach Out I'll Be There" in 1966. Seller 99% positive. Released as the group's third single, the single became the group's second successful single ever since signing to Motown in 1963. Free shipping. They also wrote additional background vocals for a female group, the Andantes, on many of the songs, to add a high end to the low-voiced harmony of the Tops. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While), I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, "Show 50 - The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. From there, the group began to make its mark. On its release in mid-1964, "Baby I Need Your Loving" made it to number 11 on the Billboard pop chart. It was the Tops next single, “Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” that made them immortal. The Four Tops continue to perform with Fakir as the last surviving original member. 35. Whilst the albums themselves did not perform really well on the charts, The Magnificent Seven featured a Top 20 version of Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep - Mountain High", produced by Ashford & Simpson. Promo 45 We'll Have It … Always loved the Four Tops. In 1982, their song "Back to School Again" appeared in both the movie Grease 2 and its soundtrack. It was also featured in the 1988 science-fiction cop film, Alien Nation. However, the song proved to be much more popular on trend-setting radio stations in key U.S. markets and has since grown in popularity over the years to be one of the group's classic tracks. The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. Stubbs later died on October 17, 2008 at his home in Detroit. Many of the older Motown acts, already neglected by the label, opted to stay in Detroit, including The Funk Brothers studio backing band, Martha Reeves, and the Four Tops. When singing the last line of "The Star Spangled Banner", "...and the home of the brave", they quickly sang the words "Ain't No country Like the One I Got", before singing the last word, "brave". The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. [citation needed]. Signing a deal with Casablanca Records, the Tops made a comeback in 1981 with the #1 R&B hit "When She Was My Girl". Complete your Four Tops collection. He has been noted for his powerful, emotional, dramatic style of singing. [citation needed], The first follow-up single, "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)" (1964), just missed both the pop and R&B Top 40 charts, but "Ask the Lonely" (1965), written and produced by Motown A&R head William "Mickey" Stevenson with Ivy Jo Hunter, was a Top 30 pop hit and a Top 10 R&B hit in early 1965. [6] The Four Tops were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005. By the turn of the century, Stubbs had become ill from cancer; Ronnie McNeir was recruited to fill the Lawrence Payton position and Theo Peoples stepped into Stubbs' shoes as lead singer. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1965 Vinyl release of "Ask The Lonely" on Discogs. After the single's success, the Tops were pulled away from their jazz material and began recording more material in the vein of "Baby I Need Your Loving". They know the hurt and pai The songs told the story of everyone's sadness and happiness. Ask The Lonely book. It was another Top 10 hit for the Tops. It was the group’s second successful single, charting as the number 9 R&B in the country at the time. The group also scored a UK Top 10 hit with the song and had another hit there with the follow-up, "Don't Walk Away". Four Tops - Ask The Lonely Lyrics. They decided to craft the song as a more mainstream pop song for the Four Tops and proceeded to create "Baby I Need Your Loving" from the instrumental track. It also served as an inspiration for Marvin Gaye's 1971 classic album What's Going On, the title track of which was co-written by the Tops' Renaldo "Obie" Benson. "Ask the Lonely" by Four Tops From the 1964 album Four Tops [Intro] Dm G Dm G Dm G C F C F C Just ask the lonely [Verse] C When you feel that … Free shipping. About “Ask the Lonely” Song recorded by Motown Recording group The Four Tops. Explain your version of song meaning, find more of Four Tops lyrics. [citation needed], Motown as a company began to change during the early 1970s. This is a listing of all the singles and albums released by Motown singing group The Four Tops.. [citation needed], The 1971 single "A Simple Game" featured backing vocals from members of The Moody Blues. [citation needed], By 1983, The Tops had rejoined Motown, where their former ABC-Dunhill producer, Steve Barri was vice-president of A&R. "Ask the Lonely" is a soul/pop ballad recorded by Motown singing group the Four Tops. [citation needed], After their first number 1 hit, "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" in June 1965, the Four Tops released a long series of successful hit singles. [citation needed], In December 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 (a disaster known as the Lockerbie bombing) became the group's scheduled return flight to the U.S. for Christmas after completing their European tour. Four Tops "Ask The Lonely" My Extended Version TWO! The songs told the story of everyone's sadness and happiness. Ivy Jo Hunter's "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1966) was one of a few exceptions. Released as the group's third single, the single became the group's second successful single ever since signing to Motown in 1963. Founded in Detroit, Michigan as The Four Aims, lead singer Levi Stubbs and group mates Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, finally forced to endure a … [citation needed], During their early Motown years, the Four Tops recorded jazz standards for the company's Workshop Jazz Records label. I was a teenager in the 60's and that was a great time to fall in love, break up and fall in love again. [citation needed], The first of The Tops' albums under their new Motown contract was Back Where I Belong (1983). Four Tops: Woo-hoo Levi: So they run away... Four Tops: Woo-hoo hoo hoo Levi: Confident and sure that fate Four Tops: Woo-hoo Levi: Will bring another love their way. $8.00. Produced by David Wolfert, it just missed the Billboard pop Top 10, peaking at #11. Founded as the Four Aims, lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, performing from 1953 until 1997 without a change in personnel. [citation needed], The title track of 1988's Indestructible was the group's final Top 40 hit, reaching No. [citation needed], The group's first release on the label, "Keeper of the Castle" (1972) was their first pop Top 10 hit since "Bernadette" in 1967. [citation needed], Over the next seven years, the Tops had unsuccessful tenures at Chess, Red Top, Riverside Records and Columbia Records. Original lyrics of Ask The Lonely song by Four Tops. William Stevenson and Ivy Hunter's poignant "Ask the Lonely" came out in January 1965 during the heart of winter, but Levi Stubbs' emotive baritone warms the heart on this declaration of loneliness. To move as well Tops were inducted into the 1970s, including the million-seller `` Ai n't Woman... 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