Levi Stubbs Lead Singer of the 4 Tops Gone at 72

[Worf101]

I know the name is not familiar to many here but Levi Stubbs of the 4 Tops was/is one of the finest singers of the Motown/Top 40 Era. Although the Tops were always 4th behind The Temptations, The Supremes and perhaps Smokey and his Miracles, none of those groups possessed anyone with the sheer power and range of Stubb's. He is one of only 3 singers from the Top 40 era that could've easily sung Opera had he been classically trained. Don't believe me? Listen to the High C's on "Just Ask the Lonely"

A man of amazing power, grace and showmanship, we will not see his like again.

Da Worfster

[Worf101]

Levi had a "crying voice" as we used to say. He always, like Caruso, seemed as if he were on the verge of tears. So much so that Billy "Crash" Craddock wrote a country song entitled...

'Levi Stubbs Tears".

My Fave 4 Top Lyric

"While I live only to hold you.
Some other men they long to control you.
But how can they control you Bernadette?
When they cannot control themselves Bernadette?
From wanting you needing you, but you belong to me!!!!"

"Bernadette" By the 4 Tops.

[Mr MidFi]

A truly unique and soulful voice. And an odd bit of trivia... he supplied the distinctive voice for the giant, man-eating plant in the 1986 film, Little Shop of Horrors. "Feed me, Seymour!"

RIP, soul man.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Levi had a "crying voice" as we used to say. He always, like Caruso, seemed as if he were on the verge of tears. So much so that Billy "Crash" Craddock wrote a country song entitled...

'Levi Stubbs Tears".

Just a small correction - "Levi Stubbs Tears" was written by Billy Bragg appeared on his excellent 1986 album "Talking with the Taxman About Poetry". Billy Crash Craddock must have covered it, (unless were talking about two different songs).

[Swish]

I know the name is not familiar to many here but Levi Stubbs of the 4 Tops was/is one of the finest singers of the Motown/Top 40 Era. Although the Tops were always 4th behind The Temptations, The Supremes and perhaps Smokey and his Miracles, none of those groups possessed anyone with the sheer power and range of Stubb's. He is one of only 3 singers from the Top 40 era that could've easily sung Opera had he been classically trained. Don't believe me? Listen to the High C's on "Just Ask the Lonely"

A man of amazing power, grace and showmanship, we will not see his like again.

Da Worfster

...sad news. I grew up listening to Motown and California surf pop, especially the late 60s and early 70s stuff. He and his silky smooth voice will be missed.

Swish

[Worf101]

Just a small correction - "Levi Stubbs Tears" was written by Billy Bragg appeared on his excellent 1986 album "Talking with the Taxman About Poetry". Billy Crash Craddock must have covered it, (unless were talking about two different songs).

You're correct. My bad. Thanks for the correction.

Da Worfstrer

[RoadRunner6]

The Four Tops songs that reach the charts:



The following singles reached the top thirty of the singles charts.

Year Song title US Top US RnB US AC UK Top
1964: "Baby I Need Your Loving" 11 11 - -
1965: "Ask the Lonely" 24 9 - -
1965: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" 1 1 - 10
1965: "It's the Same Old Song" 5 2 - 34
1965: "Something About You" 19 9 - -
1966: "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" 18 5 - -
1966: "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" 45 12 - 21
1966: "Reach Out I'll Be There" 1 1 - 1
1966: "Standing in the Shadows of Love" 6 2 - 6
1967: "Bernadette" 4 3 - 8
1967: "7-Rooms of Gloom" 14 10 - 12
1967: "You Keep Running Away" 19 7 - 26
1967: "If I Were a Carpenter" 20 17 - 7
1968: "Walk Away Renée" 14 15 - 3
1968: "Yesterday's Dreams" 49 31 - 23
1968: "I'm In a Different World" 51 23 - 27
1969: "What is a Man" 53 - - 16
1969: "Do What You Gotta Do" - - - 11
1969: "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me" 45 25 - -
1970: "Still Water (Love)" 11 4 - 10
1970: "It's All In The Game" 24 6 39 5
1971: "River Deep - Mountain High"
(The Supremes & the Four Tops) 14 7 - 6
1971: "Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)" 40 9 - 36
1971: "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
(The Supremes & the Four Tops) 55 41 - 25
1971: "In These Changing Times" 70 28 - -
1971: "MacArthur Park (part 2)" 38 27 - -
1972: "A Simple Game" 90 34 - 3
1972: "It's the Way Nature Planned It" 53 8 - -
1972: "Keeper of the Castle" 10 7 - 18
1973: "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" 4 2 14 -
1973: "Are You Man Enough" 15 2 - -
1973: "Sweet Understanding Love" 33 10 41 29
1974: "I Just Can't Get You Out of My Mind" 62 18 - -
1974: "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" 41 3 - -
1974: "Midnight Flower" 55 5 - -
1975: "Seven Lonely Nights" 71 13 - -
1975: "We Gotta All Stick Together" 97 17 - -
1976: "Catfish" 71 7 - -
1977: "Feel Free" - 29 - -
1981: "When She Was My Girl" 11 1 9 3
1981: "Don't Walk Away" - - - 16
1983: "I Just Can't Walk Away" 71 36 18 -
1985: "Sexy Ways" - 21 - -
1988: "Loco In Acapulco" - - - 7
1988: "Indestructible" 35 57 20 30
1988: "If Ever a Love There Was"
(Aretha Franklin & the Four Tops) - 31 26 -

Sorry, the numbers got crunched. Go here for more info and the chart numbers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Tops

RR6