Four Tops sing "In the Still of the Night" & "Eleanor Rigby"

[Xawntoia]

That version of Eleanor Rigby was haunting!

[no14topfan]

this is one of their favorites that they kept in their shows in the sixties. It is from their early years before Motown, but was recorded for thier deut motown album Breaking through (I'm not shure if it made the final song line up to be included on it or not.) It was never released. It was recorded in1963/4To be released in 1964 but never was.a A version recorded in 1965, was on the 1966 album ON TOP.The second tune is from the album NOW in 1969 which was latter renamed MACARUTHUR PARK in 1971

[simon4186]

The Four Tops-There were four of them and they were definitely tops. Makes sense: I LOVE MOTOWN!

[ArtisticPropaganda]

I like the way he delivers "Eleanor Rigby " he does some spots slow then jams other parts together.

[rxcutrona]

Thwy will live on forever.

[SFFOOL76]

i know this may be almost Sac Relig to say this, but I know Marvin had a voice from heaven. Levi Stubbs is my favorite singer to hear.

[kickassfan]

What an act,u go Four Tops

[MrLevistubbs]

it's weird seeing a 1969 clip of them. Lawrence has his 70's look already but levi still has his 60's look meaning just his nice thin mustache and lawrence with his goatee and duke's sideburns but mostly he still has a 60's look.

[susan8163]

the best rendition of Elinor Rigby I've ever heard. I never liked the song until I heard Levi do it......

[OropherThranduil]

@susan8163

oh well, many motown guys are not into the beatles.

simply because, well, the beatles wrote their music, they played it, they sang on it, and they're regarded as the greatest band of all time.

[Tunes342]

@OropherThranduil ,,no, it is because the Beatles are not that great in the vocal department,their music wasnt that great in all honesty,theyre extremely overrated, they are regarded as the greatest by Pop and Rock fans, not by real r&b and soul and motown fans.

[OropherThranduil]

@Tunes342

look what R'N'B is today, a laughing stock of shit.

and they had 2 of the grwatest lead singers of all time, vocal harmonies second only to the beach boys (who own any motown group nayday too), their insturmetnal playing and music overall were the best and most influential, and the most analyzed band in the history of music is not overrated.

[Tunes342]

@OropherThranduil ,a matter of opinion,but I would say the Tempts, Tops, Miracles,Drifters, Chi-Lites,Dells, and some others have better harmonies than the Beach Boys,who have better harmonies than the Beatles.I still say they were overrated

[OropherThranduil]

@Tunes342

opinions are like assholes, everybody got one.

i like motown, but the motown sound, just so many bands had it, sounds too much a like for my taste, the beatles got more diversity on one album than some discographys by motown acts, and that most of them didn#t play their own music and weren't big songwriters, but yeah, their harmonies were awesome, but pet sounds and the rest of that beach boys era for me has the best ever harmonys.

like good vibrations

[OropherThranduil]

@Tunes342

good vibrations has sometimes 4 different vocal lines going on, but they blend perfectly together and enhance the others, never getting in the way of the rest or the brilliant instrumental track, and the chorus is so awesome, no wonder that song cost 50000 dollars.

[iwannafite]

soilders in the front let the heat pump, troops on the left fight to the death.....

[stu0812]

Lol @ when Obie looks at Duke after he bumps into him. This was a great performance.

[hogan85]

at 3:06 obie and duke bump into each other lol good preformance still

[solesirching73]

hear the studio version of the 4 Tops' "Eleanor Rigby" - James Jamerson was getting down on the bass

[hogan85]

the music was recorded in l.a but the tops did the vocals in detroit

[OropherThranduil]

@solesirching73

Mccartney songs are just always perfect for great basslines.

the mans melodies are a bass players dream, most of the times he proved that by playing them, but rigby, well, orchestra was great too, i love baroque pop.

rock instruments would have destroyed the fell of the original.

[MrAjlombardo]

What most people do not know..the Tops were first the Four Aims...a jazz group. They sang back-up for Billy Eckstine in the 50's. After a name change, Motown signed them. Their first albums flopped (doing jazz). After changing to pop, they recorded Baby I need your lovin...the rest is history. Levi once said "you gotta be commercial".....they are THE BEST!!

[hbelouchi]

@MrAjlombardo the best the 4tops the 4tops means the best.

[MrAjlombardo]

What most people do not know....The Four Tops were first known as the Four Aims....they sang back-up for Billy Eckstine all thru the 50's. When Motown signed them, their first albums were jazz, which is what they wanted to do. After being unable to sell records, they recorded Baby I need your lovin'....the rest is history. They did NOT want to go the rock route....Levi once said "you gotta be commercial to make it"..........They are THE best!!!

[topsmaniac]

Duke On Top , Wow !

[ZGAZBass28]

Whoever is playing the bass is absolutely tearin it up

[funnyjerrypie]

duke in "in the still of the night" is superb.

levi's "eleanor rigby".... boy.. he was such a great interpreter.

[wes170]

Levi Stubbs is just pure class, and those harmonies are just as good as anything the Temps could do, thanks for posting!

[beebandloz]

What beautiful harmonies. Loving the Four Tops, R.I.P Lawrence, Obie and Levi!

[simonsez0800]

great harmony i love duke voice on the song in the still of the night

[travelinman]

Man Levi's voice is strong.

[funnyjerrypie]

this is fabulous!

miss you levi..

[FABULOUSFAG]

wooooooooooooow!!!!!!!!

[DetroitD60]

Amazing!

[badboytonyp]

larry is just another name given to someone called Lawrence. like bob for robert etc.... lol

what a great harmony!!

[DaRottweiler84]

beautiful harmony

[PJDooWop]

This sounds just like their early stuff on the Chess label from 1955... Same kind of jazz harmony.

[simonsez0800]

lawrence not larry

[MOTOWNFOREVER]

RIP LEVI, OBIE, AND LARRY...