Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
The last of the major Motown groups to receive proper box-set treatment, the Four Tops in a sense got the best of the bunch, since this tells a ripping history while providing a cornucopia of rarities. The latter part of that statement is what prevents the set from being a true must-have for those who just want a comprehensive history, because there are too many major songs present in alternate mixes or versions that are slightly different than the hits that brought the group its deserved fame and fortune. Not that any of these are bad -- it's just that it presents the group's history through a slightly skewed prism, enough to prevent it from being thoroughly comprehensive. Still, it's an accurate history and a wholly engaging one, largely because the Four Tops had a fairly extensive pre-history before joining Motown, and they continued to have hits after leaving Motown, thereby giving the box a real narrative thrust -- especially because the late-'50s recordings that dominate the first half of the first disc are as gritty and powerful as their mid-'70s recordings were smooth, stylish, and sexy. Like many comprehensive four-disc box sets, it spends too much time in the post-hit era. Sure, the Four Tops continued to chart until the early '80s, but this extends into the early '90s, meaning that the record just sort of peters out to a less-than-satisfying conclusion. Nevertheless, that's a minor quibble, because the box does tell the story very effectively and is filled with great music, great sound, and solid liner notes, especially notable for its rare pictures. For the hardcore who have been waiting a long time for a Four Tops set, such loving presentation and abundance of alternate takes and mixes makes it worth the wait.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Billy Davis, Producer - Roquel Davis, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Arthur Johnston, ComposerLyricist - Burt Keyes, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Burke, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1962 Fantasy Records Inc.
Henry Cosby, Producer - Don Wolf, ComposerLyricist - Freddie Green, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, Producer, Co-Producer, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1964 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1965 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - The Andantes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1964 UMG Recordings, Inc.
M. Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Mary Johnson, Producer
℗ 1965 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ivy Joe Hunter, Producer, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ivy Joe Hunter, Producer, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Frank Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1965 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Warren Moore, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist - Ronnie White, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1965 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1965 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Mickey Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - The Andantes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Keyboards, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Stevie Wonder, ComposerLyricist - Ivy Joe Hunter, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer - Brian Holland, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Orlando Murden, ComposerLyricist - Frank Wilson, Producer - Ron Miller, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1967 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Renaldo Obie Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1967 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - R. Dean Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - The Andantes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lamont Dozier, Producer - Brian Holland, Producer - Michael Brown, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Tony Sansome, ComposerLyricist - Bob Calilli, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ivy Joe Hunter, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - De Mell, ComposerLyricist - Goga, ComposerLyricist - Lawrence Payton, Producer
℗ 1968 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Hardin, ComposerLyricist - Lamont Dozier, Producer - Brian Holland, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist - The Andantes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Temptations, MainArtist - Ivy Joe Hunter, Producer, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Frank Wilson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lena Manns, ComposerLyricist - The Vandellas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Pamela Sawyer, ComposerLyricist - Vernon Bullock, ComposerLyricist - Ivy Joe Hunter, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Jack Alan Goga, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1968 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
NICKOLAS ASHFORD, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Valerie Simpson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - R. Dean Taylor, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist - The Andantes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Bristol, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Doris McNeil, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Marvin Tarplin, ComposerLyricist - AL CLEVELAND, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Long, Conductor - Barrett Strong, ComposerLyricist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - The Andantes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmy Webb, ComposerLyricist - Frank Wilson, Producer - Wade Marcus, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, Producer
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmy Webb, ComposerLyricist - Frank Wilson, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1969 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Warren Moore, ComposerLyricist - AL CLEVELAND, Producer - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - AL CLEVELAND, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Frank Wilson, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1969 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Pam Sawyer, ComposerLyricist - Frank Wilson, Producer - Joe Hinton, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1969 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Henry Cosby, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Pamela Sawyer, ComposerLyricist - EDWIN STARR, MainArtist - Joe Hinton, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 3
Renaldo Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Long, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Roach, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Carl Sigman, ComposerLyricist - Charles Gates Dawes, ComposerLyricist - Frank Wilson, Producer - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs Jr., Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1970 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Frank Wakefield, ComposerLyricist - Frank Wilson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, Producer
℗ 1970 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Jerry Long, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Roach, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Wilson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 2001 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Terry Johnson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Lawrence Payton, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2001 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Riser, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - PHIL SPECTOR, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Barry, ComposerLyricist - Ellie Greenwich, ComposerLyricist - NICKOLAS ASHFORD, Producer - Valerie Simpson, Producer - Cindy Birdsong, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - The Supremes, MainArtist - Four Tops, MainArtist - Mary Wilson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Renaldo Obie Benson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Payton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Terrell, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Levi Stubbs, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Abdul Fakir, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Riser, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - NICKOLAS ASHFORD, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Valerie Simpson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - The Supremes, MainArtist - Four Tops, MainArtist
℗ 1971 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
The last of the major Motown groups to receive proper box-set treatment, the Four Tops in a sense got the best of the bunch, since this tells a ripping history while providing a cornucopia of rarities. The latter part of that statement is what prevents the set from being a true must-have for those who just want a comprehensive history, because there are too many major songs present in alternate mixes or versions that are slightly different than the hits that brought the group its deserved fame and fortune. Not that any of these are bad -- it's just that it presents the group's history through a slightly skewed prism, enough to prevent it from being thoroughly comprehensive. Still, it's an accurate history and a wholly engaging one, largely because the Four Tops had a fairly extensive pre-history before joining Motown, and they continued to have hits after leaving Motown, thereby giving the box a real narrative thrust -- especially because the late-'50s recordings that dominate the first half of the first disc are as gritty and powerful as their mid-'70s recordings were smooth, stylish, and sexy. Like many comprehensive four-disc box sets, it spends too much time in the post-hit era. Sure, the Four Tops continued to chart until the early '80s, but this extends into the early '90s, meaning that the record just sort of peters out to a less-than-satisfying conclusion. Nevertheless, that's a minor quibble, because the box does tell the story very effectively and is filled with great music, great sound, and solid liner notes, especially notable for its rare pictures. For the hardcore who have been waiting a long time for a Four Tops set, such loving presentation and abundance of alternate takes and mixes makes it worth the wait.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 4 disc(s) - 85 track(s)
- Total length: 04:45:59
- Main artists: Four Tops
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Hip-O (UC)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2001 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2001 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.