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The Ultimate Collection | 
 enlarge | Artist: The Four Tops
Label: Motown
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $10.03
You Save: $3.95 (28%)
New (8) Used (11) from $8.44
Rating:  41 reviews
Sales Rank: 22516
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 530825
UPC: 731453082526
EAN: 0731453082526
ASIN: B000001ANV
Release Date: October 7, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Tracks:
| • | Reach Out (I'll Be There) | | • | Standing in the Shadows of Love | | • | Bernadette | | • | Ask the Lonely - The Four Tops, Stevenson, William | | • | Baby I Need Your Loving | | • | Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile) | | • | It's the Same Old Song - The Four Tops, Dozier, Lamont | | • | Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever - The Four Tops, Hunter, Ivy | | • | I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) | | • | Something About You | | • | I Got a Feeling | | • | I'm in a Different World | | • | Walk Away Renee - The Four Tops, Brown, Michael [Key | | • | What Is a Man? - The Four Tops, Bristol, Johnny | | • | A Simple Game - The Four Tops, Pinder, Michael | | • | Still Water (Love) - The Four Tops, Wilson, Frank [5] | | • | (It's the Way) Nature Planned It - The Four Tops, Wilson, Frank [5] | | • | It's All in the Game - The Four Tops, Dawes, Charles Gate | | • | You Keep Running Away | | • | If You Don't Want My Love | | • | 7-Rooms of Gloom | | • | I'll Turn to Stone | | • | Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) | | • | Sad Souvenirs - The Four Tops, Stevenson, William | | • | Yesterday's Dreams - The Four Tops, Hunter, Ivy |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Cramming 25 songs onto a single CD, this set captures the Tops during their peak 1960s years, when they rode the pens of Holland, Dozier, and Holland to the top of the charts. Combining the writers' pop melodies, a gentle Motown groove, and Levi Stubbs' earthy lead vocals, the group landed 11 Top 40 singles by 1967, all of which are included on this compilation. Unfortunately, The Ultimate Collection omits later gems such as "Keeper of the Castle," "Ain't No Woman," and "When She Was My Girl," but that leaves room to delve into the unique partnership between the Tops and their songwriting triumvirate. --Marc Greilsamer
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| Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 MOTOWN DOES IT AGAIN November 22, 2008
I ESPECIALLY LIKED THIS ONE AFTER THE DEATH OF LEVI STUBBS. I REALIZED I DIDN'T HAVE A CD OF THEM ALONE. I STILL HAVE THE LP. THANK YOU
Farewell to One of Music's Monumental Voices October 18, 2008
Introducing a collection of George MacDonald's religious writings, fellow Christian intellectual/author CS Lewis described MacDonald's "Christlike union of tenderness and severity. Nowhere else outside the New Testament have I found terror and comfort so intertwined."
Lewis died a continent away from Detroit's "Hitsville USA" studio, less than six months before the Four Tops recorded their first hit songs joining devotional love's strength and soul with the terror and fear of losing it.
Levi Stubbs, who passed away today, led these soul classics. His powerful voice, atop Motown's legendary Funk Brothers and Holland-Dozier-Holland's songs, created some of the most emotionally wrenching, thrilling music of any area. The songs on this brief collection for many still template Motown's "Sound of Young America."
Motown founder Berry Gordy ordered his songwriters to write in the present tense of a relationship. You wonder if he imagined the frantic energy he got dropping Stubbs and the Tops into that maelstrom. With the other sympathizing backup (only one, "Duke" Fakir, now survives). Stubbs soul shouts his assurance and helplessness ("You know that I love you/I can't help myself") with authority making you believe he was bragging on his weakness all along. Stubbs' voice darts around the tight, roling melody of "It's The Same Old Song." outsinging and outrocking the more famous "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch."
The Tops' 1966-67 series of hits ("Reach Out I'll Be There," "Standing In The Shadows of Love," "Seven Rooms of Gloom" the magisterial "Berndadette") stand outside time. Each frightens and reassures, Stubbs vocally describing a desolate life before shouting, "Just look over your shoulder!" then joining his mates in "I'll be there/to cherish and care for you." Another hit describes his shock in seeing his loyalty wasn't enough ("Didn't I treat you right now baby, didn't I? When you needed me I was always there now wasn't I?") Stubbs voice was commanding, immediate; you felt you were overhearing one side of a telephone argument (with Motown's symphonic soul behind).
"Bernadette"'s climax finds Stubbs pleading the title character to stay with "the peace of mind the world is searching for," then shouting her name over what sounds like an angelic choir and soul orchestra. Soul/pop music rarely came closer not only to opera's grand drama, but Bernard Herrmann's suspenseful mini-symphonies for Alfred Hitchcock.
The Tops never equalled those songs, nor had to. They hit with ornate but classy pop-folk covers ("If I Were a Carpenter," "Walk Away Renee") then slid into several 70s psychedelic, disco, and blaxploitation styles before joining burnished "Big Chill" oldies reviews (with Stubbs' comical role in "Little Shop of Horrors"). A group of Tops performs to this day, occasionally with fellow Motown legends the Temptations.
In Billy Bragg's heartfelt tribute, "Levi Stubbs' Tears," he sings, "When the world falls apart some things stay in place/She takes off the Four Tops tape and puts it back in its case." Many did when seeking the suspense, comfort, and above all, command the Four Tops and Levi Stubbs brought popular music. Stubbs will be missed; his music means too much to too many to have the chance. These songs, whatever form you get them, are as essential as 20th century music gets.
 Too Much October 3, 2008
I love the Four Tops, and while this CD has the hits, I felt I had to pay for a lot of stuff I really didn't want. But, I loaded it onto my MP3 and deleted about a third of the songs.
Great oldies July 2, 2008
Love this cd! Great songs of the 60s; alot of my favorites. I listen to this cd while on my treadmill each morning. Can't beat the 60s music. This cd is well worth the money and would recommend it highly.
It Motown and One of the Best Groups December 7, 2007
I love great hits LPs. Save you the time looking for all the group great songs. Tis how you buy it. The Tops were one of the top three performamce on Motown.
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