Post by tempfan on Apr 18, 2006 18:58:48 GMT -5
REVIEW - FROM THE HEART: FOUR TOPS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
ED STEVENS
MUSICIAL MAGICAL MEMORIES
Fifty Years after coming together at a graduation party. Motown Greats The Four Tops celebrated their 50th Anniversary together with this concert recorded at the famed Detroit Opera House. As this disc shows the group still packs a powerful punch in concert. Add to the mix a superstar lineup that includes The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Former Temptation Dennis Edwards, The Supremes Mary Wilson, Ashford & Simpson and Queen's current lead singer Paul Rodgers and what you get is a disc of fabulous tunes.
From the first song "Baby I Need Your Loving" to the ending "Medley" of some of their greatest hits the Tops with original members Obie Benson (who has since passed on) and Duke Fakir coupled with Ronnie McNeir and the strong lead vocals of former Temptation Theo Peoples take you on a journey packed with memories of those Motown days gone by.
Highlights include the groups rendition of the lovers jam "Always and Forever" which Peoples turns into a new Tops classic with his stirring vocals. Meanwhile the Tops battle of the groups with Dennis Edwards Temptations Review on "Indestructible" makes one dream of how incredible Motowns other Legendary group The Temptations would still be if they had ex-members Edwards and Peoples trading off vocals today.
Rodgers meanwhile shines on a Tops hidden gem "Love Music" and then joins the guys on a soothing version of "Loving you is Sweeter than Ever". Finally Aretha Franklin comes on board for the show stopping part of the concert a great duet with Peoples on "I Wanna Make It Up To You" followed by the dramatic and emotional return to the stage of the most underrated voice of our time The Legendary Levi Stubbs who joins the Tops and Franklin on a breath taking version of "I Believe In You And Me".
For the CD all the introductions from the broadcast of the show are edited out making this 60 minutes of straight Musical Magic!. Of course all your Four Top favorites are included to dance to and with a top notch orchestra featuring guests like James Carter and Dennis Coffey coupled with The Four Tops Band, A Super Horn Section and a great group of backing vocalists including the Late Four Tops Lawrence Payton's son Roquel and you can hear the appreciation throughout from those in the audience.
This CD shows how music was made to be sung and sound something in very short supply these days in the era of modern music. I highly recommend this disc to Music Lovers of The Motown Sound or to young people who want to hear why we brag those days of old.