As a child of the 60s and 70s, I used to visually analyze the small numbers that were carved into the Motown 45s and lps.

I also wondered why the great majority of the groups had the word "The" in their names....The Temptations, The Supremes, The Contours, etc.; yet there were a very few that did not....Four Tops. Hmmm Surely, when they performed on stage, it was, "And ladies and gentlemen, here are the Four Tops." Not, "Here are Four Tops."

I have not gone through the entire Motown stable to see where "The" is not part of the name of a group; however, a few that come to mind are Jackson Five, Commodores and Mary Jane Girls.

Again, this is not an earth shattering observation; however, why do you suppose especially Four Tops and Jackson Five that they didn't include "The" as part of their official name.

Many of my friends would tell me, "John, just get a life. It ain't nothing but a chicken wang."