Four Tops singing background to Marvin Gaye?

[thomas96]

It really sounds to me like it's them singing background vocals on Lonely Lover by Marvin Gaye...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHZUUiDWco

Can anyone deny or confirm this?

[midnight johnny]

It really sounds to me like it's them singing background vocals on Lonely Lover by Marvin Gaye...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHZUUiDWco

Can anyone deny or confirm this?

Yes...the Tops did this song too...so it may be their backing track that Marvin's singing to.

[marv2]

Great song, but it is too difficult to tell. It could very well be the Originals. Everyone at Motown sang background at one time or another on each others records.

[marv2]

I just listened to it again and for one brief moment it did sound like Lawrence Peyton on the backgrounds.

[midnight johnny]

It wouldn't be the Originals since the Spinners were used at least through 1965.

[thomas96]

Yes...the Tops did this song too...so it may be their backing track that Marvin's singing to.

Was their version released? Never knew they did it... Actually just learned of the song by Marvin after seeing an acetate of it.

[midnight johnny]

Was their version released? Never knew they did it... Actually just learned of the song by Marvin after seeing an acetate of it.

check youtube ...............Yup!

[carole cucumber]

Not so sure about the backgrounds for Marvin's version-

Marvin Gaye 'The Master 1961-1984" contains the original [[before 1986 overdubs) MG version of "Lonely Lover" with notations :
Recorded Jan 15, 19 & 29, 1965

Four Tops "Lost & Found: Lost Without You 1963-1970" which contains the Four Tops' stereo version of "Lonely Lover" clarifies further:
Track recorded January 15, 1965, assigned to Marvin Gaye; strings added January 29, 1965; Four Tops recorded June 27, 1967; strings re-recorded July 7, 1967; lead recorded, September 7, 1967.

[mowest]

Just listened to both versions. Neither the backing tracks nor the background vocals sound the same to me.

[theboyfromxtown]

This is what the 4 Tops sound like when they are backing Marvin Gaye.

[robb_k]

It wouldn't be the Originals since the Spinners were used at least through 1965.

The Four Tops started off as background singers at Motown from 1963-early 1964. The Temptations also sang background from 1961-63. The Originals formed in late 1965. But all their members had been with Motown long before that. Freddie Gorman came in early 1961. All of The Voice Masters except Ty Hunter[[who went with Billy Davis to Chess Records) came to Motown in early 1962, when Check-Mate Records dissolved. David Ruffin was signed as a solo artist and songwriter, while Walter Gaines and C.P. Spencer were songwriters and background singers. Walter Gaines may have already been there as a background singer, as well.

But, it simply may be that Motown used a previous Four Tops backing track for Marvin, Just removing Levi's lead track. I doubt that The Four Tops were used as background singers to Marvin as late as late 1965 or early 1966.