The Four Tops
4 For The Road
2 Shake Me, Wake Me (Wake Me When It's Over) (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
3 Baby I Need Your Lovin' (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
4 In The Still Of The Night (Carmichael)
5 Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got) (Lambert/Potter)
6 When She Was My Girl (Gottlieb, Blatte)
7 Ask The Lonely (Hunter, Stevenson)
8 I've Got You Under My Skin (Cole)
9 Bernadette (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
10 It's The Same Old Song (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
11 Walk Away Renee (Calili, Brown, Sansone)
12 Reach Out, I'll Be There (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
13 Standing In The Shadows Of Love (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
14 I Can't Help Myself (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
15 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards)
16 Jumpin' Jack Flash (Jagger/Richards)
Label: Sunset Blvd Records – CD-SBR-7940
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2019
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Soul, Motown
The album 4 For The Road by the Four Tops is a live concert recording featuring the original lineup performing a collection of their greatest hits and some popular covers. Released in 2019 by Sunset Blvd Records, it has been generally well-received by fans for showcasing the group's enduring vocal talent and stage presence, though it is not a traditional studio album from their prime Motown era.
Reviews and fan discussions indicate that the album is valued primarily as a memento of the Four Tops' live performances, with several key points emerging:
Critics and fans praise the superb vocal performances, with Levi Stubbs' powerful lead vocals and the group's sophisticated, tight harmonies being a consistent highlight.
The album is essentially a "greatest hits live" package, featuring many of their most iconic Motown singles like "Reach Out I'll Be There," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," and "Bernadette". It also includes covers such as "MacArthur Park," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," and "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
The album is noted for its clear, remastered audio quality, which enhances the listening experience of a live recording.
It is considered a must-have for serious fans of the Four Tops and Motown music, offering a different perspective on their classic tracks compared to the studio versions.
4 For The Road is a solid live album that successfully captures the energy and vocal prowess of the Four Tops in a concert setting. While it may not offer new studio material, it serves as an excellent showcase of the group's timeless appeal and their ability to perform their extensive catalog of hits masterfully for decades.
Meeting Of The Minds
Arranged By – Michael Omartian
Lead Vocals – Levi Stubbs
Written-By – D. Lambert / B. Potter 4:29
A2 Midnight Flower
Arranged By – Michael Omartian
Lead Vocals – Levi Stubbs
Written-By – M. Jackson, R. Dozier 4:03
A3 The Well Is Dry
Arranged By – Michael Omartian
Lead Vocals – Levi Stubbs
Written-By – D. Lambert / B. Potter 3:48
A4 Love Ain't Easy To Come By
Arranged By – Dennis Lambert, Don Hockett
Lead Vocals – Levi Stubbs
Written-By – D. Lambert / B. Potter 3:38
A5 No Sad Songs
Arranged By – Gil Askey
Lead Vocals – Lawrence Payton
Written-By – C. Leonard, L. Perry, R. Foster 5:14
B1 Right On Brother
Arranged By – Jimmie Haskell
Lead Vocals – Levi Stubbs
Written-By – D. Lambert / B. Potter 4:05
B2 Tell Me You Love Me (Love Sounds)
Arranged By – Gil Askey
Lead Vocals – Lawrence Payton
Vocals [Female Vocal] – Sylvia Smith
Written-By – A. Cleveland, L. Payton 3:30
B3 All My Love
Arranged By – Gil Askey
Lead Vocals – Lawrence, Levi, Obie
Written-By – R. Benson, V. Benson 4:29
B4 I Found The Spirit
Arranged By – McKinley Jackson
Lead Vocals – Lawrence Payton
Written-By – R. Benson, V. Benson 3:54
B5 Meeting Of The Minds
Arranged By – Michael Omartian
Lead Vocals – Levi Stubbs
Written-By – D. Lambert / B. Potter 4:22
Label:
Probe – SPBA 6283, Probe – 0C 064 ? 95401
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Meeting of the Minds is the fourteenth studio album by American soul music vocal group the Four Tops, released in 1974 on the Dunhill label. It primarily features funk and soul styles, continuing their post-Motown sound established with Keeper of the Castle.
The album attempts to extend the pop/R&B sound the Four Tops were exploring at the time but was met with some criticism for having formulaic songs and listless production. Despite this, it features some standout tracks and is noted by some fans for a touch of an "acid experimental sound" that differs slightly from their earlier work. Unlike many previous Four Tops efforts, this album features other group members, such as Lawrence Payton and Renaldo Benson, singing lead vocals on certain songs, rather than solely Levi Stubbs.
Key Tracks and Themes:
"One Chain Don't Make No Prison": The opening track starts with a promising guitar riff but suffers from weak lyrics, testing Levi Stubbs' credibility according to one review.
"Midnight Flower": This song has a faint Oriental motif and features mature, gritty lyrics about having a hots for a prostitute.
"The Well Is Dry": Reminiscent of their dramatic work with Holland-Dozier-Holland, but with a perfunctory arrangement that makes it sound somewhat artificial.
"Tell Me You Love Me (Love Sounds)": Considered the best track by some, it features Lawrence Payton on lead vocals with a breezy L.A. pop/R&B arrangement.
"I Found the Spirit": Co-written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, this is one of several soul gems on the album, which also includes funky and slow jam tips.
The album was produced by Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter, and Steve Barri. The Four Tops members at the time were Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Lawrence Payton, and Levi Stubbs.
A decent album for Four Tops fans, but not a massive seller, considered by some as a continuation of the sound from Keeper of the Castle, but feeling a bit listless at times.
In summary, Meeting of the Minds captures The Four Tops evolving in the mid-70s, delivering solid soul with some strong moments but lacking the consistent magic of their earlier work.