If only I could SING! I'd do it like this......LOL! This was probably my favorite post 1980 record by Levi and the Tops.... From the Summer of 1985 and the streets of Detroit! "Sexy Ways" y'all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcSf43FrCzY
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If only I could SING! I'd do it like this......LOL! This was probably my favorite post 1980 record by Levi and the Tops.... From the Summer of 1985 and the streets of Detroit! "Sexy Ways" y'all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcSf43FrCzY
I dont think there has ever been a group who did remakes that were as good or better than the originals. I can remember thinking before I heard Light My Fire and Reflections there is no way these guys are going to pull this off and they did. My favorite on Light My Fire is not Levis lead but the backgrounds! Another thing I liked about their productions with the Supremes is that its not the Je an Terrell show ALL of them can be heard. Most of the albums have Mary and Cindy having a line and their backgrounds along with the Tops are strong. Even though the Magnificent 7 albums were not HUGE sellers the chemistry is obvious and the album version of River Deep is much better than the single.
I never though Levi would make a great solo and I think he knew it too. He didnt have that ego thing that Ross and Ruffin and Phillipe Wynn had. I think he felt better in a group setting.
Stephanie, that is exactly what I was thinking in regards to "Light My Fire". The backgrounds are what sold the song to me! There is a black and white clip of them singing it from the Showtime speciasl they did on the Tops and the Tempts back in the 80's. That "sizzle, sizzle, sizzle me baby" was just too cool! LOL!
My one regret is that we do not have any video of the Supremes and Four Tops performances together. Why that is the case is a mystery.
One of Levi's greatest vocals, IMHO.
Along with the unreleased version of I Believe In You And Me, where Levi "goes to church" at the end.
Here's The Masquerade Is Over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6QsHqOurRw
Oh Stranger56, you sure picked a GOOD one! Thanks.
LOL...Glad you liked it, Marv!
Levi sounds hot on this one Stranger thanks! Marv I SO SO wish there were clips of the Supremes and the Tops together. One reason I liked listening to Levi and Jean was because it didnt sound like they were trying to oversing each other and the backgrounds were audible.
One thing about the Magnificent 7 albums is that if you play them loud [[say a song like Melodie) the productions were awesome! When watching the Tops although Levi was the lead you never got the feeling that it was Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops if you know what I mean. If anyone asked me hands down who was the best singer at Motown I would have to say Levi Stubbs. Not only were the Tops talented they were likeable and there was no outside drama with the public like it was with the Supremes and the Temptations.
Here's a little known gem by the boys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JhH2reFTo
Nobody could sing with that tinge of sadness like levi[shake me-wake me]and no group,not even the classic temps could out harmonize the four tops.
Here's an unreleased version of I Believe in You and Me, with a different arrangement. Listen to the end, where Levi "goes to church"!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/...15414&comments
My favorite Four Tops song of all time. It always upset me that Motown never released a version of Levi singing it live in concert cause that's where he really took it to another level. I believe Motown have a concert version recorded since they have at least one Temps Tops concert from the 80's in the vault. The one they got tonight I'm gonna love you all over for the box set from. Don't have facebook so I can't hear this one but am wondering is this the version that was suppose to be on the Hot Nights album?
Yes it is. I didn't realize you had to be on Facebook to hear this one. Sorry about that. I'll upload it to youtube in a few minutes.
More of the Four Tops unreleased material needs to be made available.
Can you imagine meeting and talking to your all time favorite singer. That's what I got to do in June of 1974 when The Four Tops, The Four Season's and Tommy James all performed together at Pine Knob.
Levi and Frankie were just standing talking near the concession stand and me and my buddy got the nerve up to introduce our selves to the great man. Although we did not intentionally ignore Frankie Vali, it was Levi Stubbs that we wanted to meet. He spent 10 minutes with us and also introduced us to Frankie Vali -who must have been in shock seeing two white guys go absolutely nuts over Levi Stubbs.
Not only was he the greatest singer who ever lived, but also one heck of a nice guy.
So many classics, but he never sounded better than on Ask the Lonely, and Reach Out is the all time greatest song ever made- hands down.
Thanks for posting stranger!!! As soon as I'm done here I'll have to give it a listen.
I know there's no hope for something like this but just in case Motown/Hip-O is out there here's a suggestion. How about a 2CD set called Four Tops: Return To Motown 1983-1986 including
Back Where I Belong Album 1983 [[Unreleased on CD)
Four Tops Live 1984 [[Unreleased Tops part of the TNT Concert recorded Dec of 84 in Santa Barbara)
Magic Album 1985 [[Unreleased on CD)
Hot Nights Album 1986 [[Unreleased Period)
Bonus Track: Battle Song 1983 [[with the Temps from their Back to Basics album Unreleased on CD)
This set would appeal to the hardcore Four Tops fan by giving us Two Albums for the first time on CD and the unreleased "Lost" Hot Nights Album. In addition by including an unreleased live set it would give us a concert from the same time period and make it so the package would also contain their greatest hits [[Can't Help Myself, Reach Out, Ain't No Woman, When She Was My Girl etc.) which would give it a chance to appeal to non hardcore buyers who would only consider buying a Four Tops set if it contains these songs. Well anyway one can dream!!!
A nice dream Tracie, don't ever stop.........thanks for your contribution to this thread.
Tracie, that is an excellent idea! I have especially wanted to hear the "Hot Nights" album for more than 20 years now. Including the other latter day Motown albums would just be icing on the cake. I have all of them, but "Magic" is a personal favorite of mine. Each song was special.