The Four Tops Album: “Anthology: 50th Anniversary”

It appears to be unanimous! All 10 of the reviews (make that 11) for Hip-O's "Four Tops 50th Anniversary Anthology" rate this incredible collection 5 stars. And why not? Hip-O has done just about everything right in putting together the history of this talented and venerable group. In this day and age serious collectors should demand nothing less from the record companies.

Suffice to say you will find nearly every single one of their great Motown sides on Disc One. And while just about everybody loves the big ones like "Reach Out, I'll Be There", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "It's The Same Old Song" and of course "I Can't Help Myself" there's a lot to be said for some of the lesser hits like "Something About You" and most especially "A Simple Game". That tune was originally written and recorded by of all people the Moody Blues. U.S. audiences largely ignored the Four Tops version but the Brits loved it and pushed it all the way up to number 3 on the U.K. charts. It is a tremendous record.

The Four Tops left the safe haven of Motown records in 1972 when the label moved its operations to the West Coast. They signed on with ABC/Dunhill and immediately went to work with new producers Steve Barri, Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Within just a few short months the Four Tops found themselves back in the Top Ten with "Keeper of the Castle" followed by one of their biggest hits of all-time "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got). Disc Two features these songs along with all of their other ABC sides. While their work at ABC/Dunhill did not exhibit quite the same drive and energy that could be found in their early Motown efforts, the ABC singles were for the most part excellent pop tunes. But unfortunately the general public had moved on to new and different sounds and many of those ABC singles stalled in the middle of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Disc Two also includes a pair of hits from the 1980's. "When She Was My Girl" made it all the way to #11 in the summer of 1981. And you may recall their final chart hit, 1988's "Indestructible" which NBC featured during its coverage of the Summer Olympics that year.

As I indicated above "The Four Tops: 50th Anniversary Anthology" 2 CD set just might be the finest anthology I own. Hip-O has certainly raised the bar and from this day forward I will expect more from the major record companies. The remastering is top rate and the 28 page booklet is absolutely among the best I have come across. Very highly recommended.

In honor of the group's 50th anniversary, Hip - O records has put out this magnificent two - disc retrospective dedicated to the wonderful music of the Four Tops. From the classic Motown hits to the excellent if not well - known 1970s' recordings to a few 1980s' goodies, everything that you could possibly want is here.

Disc 1 features every hit they scored on Motown. Whether you enjoy "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'", "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch", "It's The Same Old Song", "Reach Out", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" or "Bernadette", you'll find all your favorite songs on this disc. Also, there are some rarely heard tracks included here, such "Ask The Lonely", "7 - Rooms Of Gloom", "You Keep Running Away" and their magnificent covers of the hits "Walk Away Rene", "If I Were A Carpenter' (their version easily buries Bobby Darin's), "It's All In The Game", "River Deep, Mountain High" (with post - Diana Ross Supremes) and "MacArthur Park" which closes disc one.

Disc 2 is very different from anything on the first disc. While the first disc solely from the Motown era, the bulk of disc 2 is made up by their 1972 - 79 stint at Dunhill. During this time, they scored two top 10 smashes, the funky message song "Keeper Of The Castle" (number 10, not number 4 as the liner notes list) and the mooth, soothing "Ain't No Woman (Like The I've Got)" (number 4), the latter of which is among their most popular songs. The rest of their 1970s' recordings featured here weren't hits (with the exception of the top 20 "Are You Man Enough" from "Shaft In Africa"), but remain just as good, especially "One Chain Don't Make No Prison", "Midnight Flower", "Catfish" and "H.E.L.P.".

As for the 1980s' hits, there's the huge 1981 hit "When She Was My Girl", as well as the sensual "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over" and the gorgeous "I Believe In You And Me", which became a hit for Whitney Houston in 1996. There are two songs they did that were recorded for movies: the "Grease 2" theme "Back To School Again" (as one reviewer already pointed out, this song was the only good thing in the film) and "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space", a Levi Stubbs solo number from "Little Shop Of Horror" (Stubbs did the voice of Audrey in the movie". Also there's the lush "I Just Can't Walk Away" from their short - lived Motown return, and "Indestructible", a duet with an uncredited Smokey Robinson that became their final hit in 1988.

This is such a great set. It's not entirely complete, as the singles "Ain't That Love" (from their short - live stint at Columbia Records), "You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart" (another post - Ross Supremes duet) and "Sad Hearts" (a 1983 release) are missing. But they are not among their most popular recordings, and their absence is not notable. This is a set that I hope you will consider buying soon.

The Four Tops have been performing for 50 years as of 2004, a feat few if any other groups have accomplished. Their longtime partnership has been cemented by their enduring friendship and their lead singer's resistence to record solo. Even after one of them passed on, they carried on with a new member.

Disc 1 begins in 1964. This was the year they signed with Motown and hit it big with "Baby, I Need Your Loving", the first of a string of hits written and produced by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland. The song went to number 11 and paved the way for a long line of hit singles. Their next single, "Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile)" floundered on the charts, missing the Top 40. The follow - up, "Ask The Lonely", fared slightly better, but the Tops were in desperate need of anothr big hit. H - D - H gave them "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", an infectious composition that went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. The next single was the soundalike "It's The Same Old Song", which went to number 5. "Something About You" and "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" both made the Top 20, while "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" faltered at number 45. It was 1966 that Holland - Dozier - Holland produced the groundbreaking "Reach Out, I'll Be There". With this single, they moved out of the realm of piano - driven dance numbers into serious music. The soundalikes "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" and "Bernadette" both made the Top 10. Then "7 - Rooms Of Gloom" and "You Keep Running Away" failed to duplicate the success of those 3 singles. The Tops scored 2 Top 20 hits "Walk Away Renee" and "If I Were A Carpenter", both of which were covers of previous hits. In 1968, Holland - Dozier - Holland left Motown, leaving The Four Tops without a guiding force. Frank Wilson soon took over the studio reins, and produced two hit singles for them: a cover of Tommy Edwards' number one hit "It's All In The Game" and "Still Water (Love)". They also scored a hit with a cover of "River Deep, Mountain High", a duet with The Supremes. Three singles produced by Frank Wilson and group member Lawrence Payton followed, including an electrifying cover of "MacArthur Park".

Disc 2 begins with "A Simple Game". This was a strange collaboration with The Moody Blues that went to number 3 in Britain. The group recorded the album "Natured Planned It" in 1972. It was their last album for Motown. That year, they left the label and signed with Dunhill. Their first single was "Keeper Of The Castle". the song was a huge hit. It was their first Top 10 hit since "Bernadette" 5 years earlier, going all the way to number 10. "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)" followed. A heartfelt ballad, it climbed up the charts to number 4 and was their first single to sell 1, 000, 000 copies. They scored another hit with "Are You Man Enough". But the remaining Dunhill years were not successful and they left the label by 1979. In 1980, they scored a hit with "When She Was My Girl", which went to number 11. It was their last hit. They returned to Motown in 1983, but left after 2 years. In 1987, "Indestructible" became their last top 40 hit.

I suggest you buy this album. It's a great introduction to one of the greatest vocal groups ever.

Finally they got it right! This collection contains all of the Four Tops' American Top 40 hits (and nearly all of their Hot 100 hits--I double checked with Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles book) and even includes their 1988 hit "Indestrutible." This collection offers ALL of the hits, wonderful art work and liner notes, and is available at a discounted price. There's no going wrong with this one!

This review refers to the 2 cd Hip-O version as there are many 4 Tops compilations out there and Amazon has a tendency to jumble reviews for different cd's together.

This has to be THE BEST 4 Tops compilation on the market. The mastering is great. These are all STEREO MIXES and I'm hearing stuff I've never heard before and i'm familiar with the earlier singles from when they were initially released. The price is low for a two cd set of this quality so you're getting more than your money's worth. Hip O should be commended for producing this package.