The Four Tops Motown 1124 Apr 1968 "Wonderful Baby"

[Graham Jarvis]

19790

Great 'B' side on the back of "If I Were A Carpenter". However does anybody have a copy of the 45 with the B side Stk copy "What Else Is There To Do [[But Think Of You)" instead of "Wonderful Baby" [as printed on the 45 disc]. This spurious track is from the "Reach Out" album that was pressed instead of Wonderful Baby on a number of 45's.

Does anybody have one, if so it would have been a surprise.

[snakepit]

Either way , both tracks are brilliant

[snakepit]

Not connected Graham, but went to a Soul / Northern "do" recently.
Really happy that the DJ played "I'm in a different world", asked her to flip it over to play "Remember When", which she had never heard [[ in her possession, but never played it...the wonderful,strange world of NS!!!).
Anyway, she played it, loved it and....promised to play it in the future.
RESULT

[snakepit]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e2hjBHkSC6k

[TomatoTom123]

I don’t have a copy of this 45, but I do think that "Wonderful Baby" is, erm, wonderful. Took me a while to get into, but now I'm loving it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-VHZg7lXd7Q

[Graham Jarvis]

Glad you like "Wonderful Baby" I have every Motown 45 just let me know if you want any others to upload.

[snakepit]

There were 3 versions of Wonderful Baby on the Four Tops lost and found.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1txbcNxMxdQ


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h0hadpxOIA0

[rovereab]

I find it interesting that the alternate versions were recorded at Hitsville and the released version recorded in LA. I'd like to know how that came about.

[snakepit]

I hadn't spotted that.
The 2 alternates above are clearly run throughs/ Demos.
Smokey got it right..eventually.

[snakepit]

I find it interesting that the alternate versions were recorded at Hitsville and the released version recorded in LA. I'd like to know how that came about.
Roverab
According to DFTMC..all cuts were done at Hitsville

Wonderful Baby [[William Robinson) published Jobete 15-Apr-65

Four Tops; recorded Hitsville, completed 16-Dec-64 ; produced by Smokey Robinson ; [v1 1st odb]

25-May-05; CD [[S): Hip-O Select B0003626-02 Lost Without You: Motown Lost And Found [alt 2]

Four Tops; recorded Hitsville, completed 16-Dec-64 ; produced by Smokey Robinson ; [v1 2nd odb]

25-May-05; CD [[S): Hip-O Select B0003626-02 Lost Without You: Motown Lost And Found [alt 1]

Four Tops; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 28-Oct-66 ; produced by Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore ; [v2]

Jul-67; LP [[S): Motown S660 Reach Out
Jul-67; LP [[M): Motown M660 Reach Out
11-Apr-68; 45 [[M): Motown M 1124 B
16-Feb-93; CD [[M): Rhino R2 71183 Until You Love Someone
31-Dec-01; CD [[S): Motown 013 360 2 On Top / Reach Out [UK]
03-Oct-07; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0009708-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 8 1968
02-Apr-13; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0017484-02 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972

[rovereab]

Thanks for clarifying that Snakepit. I was told several years ago that the song was recorded in LA and because the drums sound "lightweight" in comparison with Hitsville recordings I believed it.

[nsoule]

I had been told before that the mispress was only on Southern Plastics pressings. I bought one today to see, and sure enough it plays "What Else Is There To Do [[But Think Of You)". No idea if they're all like that or if I got lucky.

It'd be great to know if anyone has a Southern Plastics pressing that actually plays "Wonderful Baby". Here's what the label looks like to help identify the pressing:
19795

[nsoule]

No idea if they're all like that or if I got lucky.

Turns out I just got lucky. Not all Southern Plastics pressings are the mispress.

[theboyfromxtown]

I had been told before that the mispress was only on Southern Plastics pressings. I bought one today to see, and sure enough it plays "What Else Is There To Do [[But Think Of You)". No idea if they're all like that or if I got lucky.

It'd be great to know if anyone has a Southern Plastics pressing that actually plays "Wonderful Baby". Here's what the label looks like to help identify the pressing:
19795

Can you enlarge the information on the label and also note down what it says in the run out groove.

[nsoule]

Can you enlarge the information on the label and also note down what it says in the run out groove.

Someone already added the label scans and included matrix info on 45cat: https://www.45cat.com/record/nc475546us

There's a tiny difference in the RCA custom numbers that helps to identify which pressing you have...

Mispress: W4KM-3596-1-A

Normal: W4KM-3596-2-B