Download MP3s from Amazon.com:
By: The Four Tops, formed in Detroit, Michigan (originally as The Four Aims) by lead singer Levi Stubbs (a cousin of Jackie Wilson,) Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton.
The Four Tops helped define the Motown Sound. Unlike other groups, they had a baritone (Levi Stubbs) as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor.
The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There".
Levi Stubbs hated "I Can’t Help Myself" but Brian Holland insisted they do it. After recording two takes of the song, Stubbs was still upset, so Holland assured him they could re-record it the following day. There was no second try at it: take 2 was released as the single.
In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song #415 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Motown Records quickly followed it with a song that was essentially a rewrite. It was humorously titled "It's the Same Old Song" (which reached #5 in the US.)
Chart position: #1 (US), #1 (US R&B), #26 (UK).
It was at #1 in the US for two non-consecutive weeks in June and July 1965.
It replaced "Back in My Arms Again" (by label-mates the Supremes,) was first replaced by "Mr. Tambourine Man" (Byrds,) then regained the top spot before being replaced by "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (Rolling Stones).
The Top Ten Songs: June 19, 1965 (US Billboard Hot 100).
- "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" (Four Tops)
- "Mr. Tambourine Man" (Byrds)
- "Wooly Bully" (Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs)
- "Crying in the Chapel" (Elvis Presley)
- "Back in My Arms Again" (Supremes)
- "Wonderful World" (Herman's Hermits)
- "Help Me, Rhonda" (Beach Boys)
- "Engine, Engine #9" (Roger Miller)
- "For Your Love" (Yardbirds)
- "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" (Patti Page)
The song trio of Holland/Dozier/Holland also wrote and produced hits such as "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave", "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "You're a Wonderful One", "Dancing in the Street", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "Nowhere to Run", "Back in My Arms Again", "It's the Same Old Song", "I Hear a Symphony", "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Standing in the Shadows of Love", "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)", "You Can't Hurry Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", "Bernadette", "Jimmy Mack", "Reflections", "Give Me Just a Little More Time", "Band of Gold", and many more.
Download MP3s from Amazon.com:
Want to submit facts and trivia about this song? Leave a comment!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be sure to leave a comment. If you love the oldies, then by all means, say so!