Oct 24

The Four Tops - (ABC Years)

Posted by nikos1109

The Four Tops - 1972 - Keepers Of The Castle

This is another excellent contribution from my dear friend Trakbuv who has a deep Knowledge of Soul and Funk and loves the Four Tops :

“Hi Folks – Here are 2 of my favourite Four Tops LPs from my favourite period of theirs at ABC records. After leaving the security of the fame they enjoyed at Motown, they elected for an untested tenancy with Dunhill Records, a label more synonymous with pop, folk and country-based material. Fortunately, Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter were able to woo the mighty Four with their demos, and the rest was, for me, a marriage made in vinyl heaven.

Tracks
A1 Keeper Of The Castle (3:00)
A2 Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) (3:04)
A3 Put A Little Love Away (3:03)
A4 Turn On The Light Of Your Love (3:36)
A5 When Tonight Meets Tomorrow (3:41)
A6 Love Music (3:35)
B1 Remember What I Told You To Forget (3:50)
B2 (I Think I Must Be) Dreaming (2:55)
B3 The Good Lord Knows (4:04)
B4 Jubilee With Soul (3:20)
B5 Love Makes You Human (4:42)
B6 Keeper Of The Castle (Reprise) (1:25)

‘Keeper’ was the first result of this union, a glorious 12 tracker loaded with hooks, charm and assured production and was met with critical acclaim and due success (reaching 33 in the US Pop Charts). Both the title track and ‘Ain’t no woman’ went gold (attaining no. 10 and 4 spots, respectively, in the US Pop Charts), whereupon Levi and the gang must have released a huge sigh of relief that there definitely was life after Gordy.

There is a effervescence in Levi’s voice that fits so effortlessly into the tuneful material. Also, Lawrence Payton’s vocals enjoys some sympathetic arrangements, most notably with the awesome ‘Love makes you human’, a massively ignored track.

Download link

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The Four Tops - 1974 - Meeting Of The Minds

This was followed up the equally devastating ‘Main Street People’ LP in 1973, before what I consider to be their pinnacle, the ‘Meeting Of The Minds’ long player.

The songs are among Lambert and Potter’s finest moments, ‘ with the righteous delivery of ‘One Chain’, ‘Right on Brother’, and the exceptional title track all cracking with fire in the message. Add to that some breezy pop-orientated soul in ‘Midnight Flower’, ‘Love ain’t easy’ and ‘All my love’, a nod to Motown in ‘The Well Is Dry’, and arguably Lawrence’s finest moment, ‘Tell Me You Love Me’. He co-wrote the track featuring a sexy groove that Leon Ware would envy (with female vocals by Sylvia Smith, by the way).

Tracks
A1 One Chain Don’t Make No Prison 4.03
A2 Midnight Flower 4.06
A3 The Well Is Dry 3.43
A4 Love Ain’t Easy To Come By 3.33
A5 No Sad Songs 5.11
B1 Right On Brother 4.04
B2 Tell Me You Love Me 3.27
B3 All My Love 4.26
B4 I Found The Spirit 3.53
B5 Meeting Of The Minds 4.19

Maybe this chapter in the Four Tops story could be seen to convey an absence of soul, be too pop-orientated, and be lacking in gutsy ballads. Apparently, the Tops themselves have distanced themselves from this period. I think I love these 2 LP’s because there is so much unbridled joy in the over-worn grooves.

For me, Levi Stubbs had a voice that can crackle on the verge of tears or laughter with equal ease. This timbre is then carried over to the listener with a wave of emotion that cannot be ignored or denied. My heart is simply at his mercy. The purest of gifts from one of the purest of geniuses.

Download link

Listen up “ Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”

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Date October 24th, 2008

49 Responses to “The Four Tops - (ABC Years)”

  1. kizza Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Nice post! Yes, the Four Tops were amazing! Fantastic harmony soul group! R.I.P. Levi.

  2. Trakbuv Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    When they moved to ABC/Dunhill, it was like they were revitalized… Thanks!

  3. manny Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    thanks for posting

  4. invisiblenigma Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Thanks Trakbuv and Nikos! I’ve heard The Meeting of the Minds LP before. But I cant wait to hear Keepers of the Castle! Much Appreciated.

  5. Rebecca Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    That has to be one of the strongest voices in the history of singing. Legendary.

  6. snowmonkey Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    Jus found this site and WOW! Wasted about two hours of the workadaddy day routine just savoring these jewels donchaknow. Marvin, Tops, Chi-Lites, even Chairman of the Board! Gotts ta get off here before I get busted, but thank you so much!

  7. Craig Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Thanks Trakbruv, fantastic posts!

  8. Funkygirl Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 12:37 am

    The Tops can not anything wrong there brilliant!

  9. musicmeiho Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 1:21 am

    Thank you very much

  10. YankeeBoy Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 1:29 am

    To say that the ABC-Dunhill period was not as good as their Motown period is mising the point. They’re completely different. And “One Chain Dont Make No Prison” is a classic.

  11. hooch Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 1:57 am

    Many thanks as always guys!

  12. Simon666 Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 3:19 am

    ‘One Chain Don’t Make no prison” was a childhood favourite. As a child of the 70s, these were their most important two albums to me. thanks!

  13. Messiah of Soul Power Music Group Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 5:11 am

    Thanks Trak! Never heard the Meeting of The Minds album….appreciate it fam! Thanks Nikos for allowing us to re-live the wonderful sound these legends created. Peace

    Messiah

  14. Kent Eriksson Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 10:15 am

    Don´t know how to thank you Nikos for bringing back al those sweet memories from the early 70s! Why don´t we here this kind of soul nowadays?

  15. k02 Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 11:50 am

    Thank you Nikos

  16. fooliver Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    Thx 4 this great share!!!

  17. jeremy Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    Back to 1970s when music, esp. R&B, made you actually feel something! Great albums.

  18. Jack Flash Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    Thanks for sharing Levi and The 4 Tops with all of Us…
    R.I.P. Levi

  19. Ben Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    He will be deeply missed, as a man and a voice :(

  20. George Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    Excellent! Thank you!

  21. Groovy Emmanuel Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    Yeah, it’s great music, no question about that. But it’s also great to see people sharing not just the music they like, but the pleasure and everything they feel upon hearing it… and thus communicating. The true meaning of listening (and dancing…) to the music. Thanks Nikos and Trakbuv for keeping up the true spirit!

  22. mr.No Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    God bless a great artist. Levi you will be missed your song will always remain a great memory of my life.

  23. Tom Says:
    October 25th, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    Great post. My fav motown group. Love it.

  24. Dennis L Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 4:17 am

    Thank you for the love and support of these Four Tops albums from the Dunhill period. Levi was my childhood idol and the Tops were my all-time favorite group. Working with them brought me more success and soul satisfaction than than I could have imagined.

    Levi will be long remembered for his incredible vocal gifts, his kindness and his humility.

    Lawrence and Obie…R.I.P. Duke…you carry the torch for your lifelong soul mates. God Bless, my old friend.

  25. Chad Young Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 8:57 am

    Much Thanks

  26. Trakbuv Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    Mr Lambert - many thanks for gracing our pages here at Funk My Soul. I am sure that you will find that Nikos has a deep respect for your fellow artists and a not so forgotten era. I truly hope you can take comfort from these deeply appreciative blogs that refuse to allow the legacy of our heros to go unheralded. I for one am a big fan of what you achieved with the Four Tops and the Tavares. Bless you and all your colleagues for giving us so much pleasure - something that will stand the test of time. Peace and good health.

  27. Roger Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    Bloody excellent!! What a fantastic blog!!!! Congratulations.

  28. MadL Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    Those are indeed an exceptional records..smooth in every sense of the word.

  29. Myrhax Says:
    October 26th, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    Booyah…!!!
    THX

  30. william Says:
    October 27th, 2008 at 11:22 am

    Thanks for The Four Tops albums!

  31. Doctor Okeh Says:
    October 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    finally got these two , many thx fam!
    I’mm have to grab the others b4 I even start diggin in , can’t wait yo
    many many thx again, 4 Tops was top shelf!

  32. Paul Says:
    October 28th, 2008 at 1:01 am

    Two wonderful Lps - Thank you

  33. Zion Says:
    October 28th, 2008 at 2:03 am

    Really need to hear this music in these times to bring back the good memories. Thanks for this.

  34. Rusty Says:
    October 28th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    Thanks Trakbuv and nikos for the wonderful oblation to The Four Tops.

  35. rich Says:
    October 28th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    many thanx for the meeting of the minds album didnt have that one.

  36. Roman Says:
    October 28th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Thank you very much for transferring and sharing this music!!! I’ve just discovered the best side of Four Tops.

  37. avocado kid Says:
    October 28th, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    right on! gonna git my funky soul on.

  38. jose Says:
    October 31st, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Hi, nikkos, i´m pleased to meet you again. thank you for been there!!

  39. Alan Brain Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 am

    Hi,

    Thanks a lot. I always had a deep love for the four tops, but never listened to these albums. Great Work Brother!! really, you are feeding my soul!!!!

  40. Chris Says:
    November 13th, 2008 at 3:25 am

    Thanks for the Four Tops music on ABC. They did some funky, funky stuff on ABC!!! Peace

  41. pedro Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    great lp thanks for this one

  42. liam Says:
    December 26th, 2008 at 6:32 am

    Thanks for the opportunity to open my ears to a side of the Tops I’ve yet to hear and many other artists through your blog.

    Much respect for the time, money etc you spend to share. Keep on keepin’ on.

  43. Claudio Says:
    March 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 am

    Very good, many thanks.

  44. gms500 Says:
    May 30th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    Thanks a lot for these two lost treasures. I have been looking out for them for quite a while. As a regular visitor to Lost-In-Tyme I really felt its loss. It’s nice to find you again. No doubt I’ll become a regular visitor! Thanks

  45. Geewiz Says:
    July 12th, 2009 at 3:25 am

    What can I say about the four tops that hasn’t already been said. Great!!!!!!!!

  46. Jazzwhat Says:
    July 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks for sharing, i just love the four tops!

  47. Troods Says:
    August 6th, 2009 at 2:51 pm

    It’s been blocked at rapidshare. My heart is broken. Had this album way back when. Can it be saved? Thank you for all you do!

  48. Sheldon Says:
    October 27th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    Keeper Of the Castle……..do you have this on CD?? I’d prefer the CD version if at all possible…

    thanks

  49. Cris Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 am

    Wonderful soul…

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