If you want a snapshot of why it might be a bad idea to focus on Motown’s albums, consider Reach Out, the Four Tops’ album from 1967. Like other albums of the era, a few monster hits share space with questionable cover versions and outright filler. But Reach Out is much more.
The incredible Holland-Dozier-Holland material on this album includes some of the best Motown stuff from the 1960s: “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” “7 Rooms Of Gloom” and “Bernadette.” Nobody, not even Phil Spector,
could match the ambition of these productions.
The filler – if you want to call it that – consists of cover version of hits by white boys … but in many cases the Four Tops versions top the originals. In fact, “Walk Away Renee” and “If I Were A Carpenter” were also hits. And the Tops blow away the Association on “Cherish,” admittedly not a difficult task. The Holland-Dozier-Holland team, which also produced most of this album, would leave Motown in 1967 after a money dispute with Berry Gordy.
Of course, the Tops wouldn’t be so great if not for the incredible vocals of Levi Stubbs (who died last year). I couldn’t imagine anyone else singing “Reach Out” or “Standing In The Shadows …” with more electric soul. And with the Funk Brothers providing a wicked backbeat, not much on this album can be realistically termed “filler.” Reach Out is a classic snapshot of Motown in the late 1960s.
MP3: “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”
30 Days Out 
