(June 2023) Episode 501 is THE FOUR TOPS. Motown superstars, their hits have become indelible parts of our culture, powered by the songwriting giants of Holland-Dozier-Holland. They’re also remarkable for their durability, a foursome from high school that lasted decades. Not to detract from their signing talents, the Four Tops do feel like a corporate product of the label, at least in comparison to artists like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder who branched off toward their own unique and creative sounds. The Four Tops kept it up through the 70s and 80s, but their treatment of funk and disco lacked spark and edge.
Favorite album: Reach Out
Favorite song: Reach Out I’ll Be There
Favorite post-Motown album: Main Street People (1973)
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: A collection of their greatest hits is enough
Opus Project 