October 15, 1966
Motown Records legendary R&B vocal group The Four Tops reached out to grab the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on this date.
After pushing aside the love ballad Cherish by The Association, they’d be there for a couple of weeks – giving way to the garage-band from Saginaw, Michigan, ? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians with 96 Tears. (On This Day… October 27, 1966)
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As aptly described by Joel Whitburn in his Billboard chart data publication Top Pop Singles/1955-2012 (14th Edition) –
“The Four Tops, along with The Supremes, The Temptations and The Miracles were the ‘big 4’ of the Motown ‘group sound.'”
The quartet, who’s history as a group goes back to 1956 when they recorded for Chicago’s Chess Records label, was comprised of (clockwise from bottom left) lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul ”Duke” Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson
This chart-topper was one of dozens of huge hits written for Motown by the label’s venerable songwriting trio of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Collectively, they wrote 25 number one singles for Berry Gordy Jr.‘s record company – a dozen of them belonging to Diana Ross & The Supremes, and 10 of those were penned by H-D-H.
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[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
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REACH OUT I’LL BE THERE
The Four Tops
[1966]
Produced by Brian Holland and Dozier, Reach Out I’ll Be There became “The Tops” biggest hit record, their first of two to sell a million copies, and second #1 song. Other big Top 10 hits included their first #1, I Can’t Help Myself (1965), It’s The Same Old Song (1965 • #5), Standing In The Shadows Of Love (1966 • #6), Bernadette (1967 • #4) and the other million-seller, Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) (1973 • #4).
https://youtu.be/alnt8qp3Sok
The Four Tops were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Group members Peyton, Benson and Stubbs have all passed away since.
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Fellow Motown artist Diana Ross charted a cover version of ‘Reach Out’ in 1971 (#29), but another interesting cover was recorded by Gloria Gaynor, who rose to fame as a disco diva in 1975 with her cover of another Motown original, Never Can Say Goodbye by The Jackson 5. It became the first record to top Billboards’ Dance Chart that year.
Gloria’s version of ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’, although fairing poorly in America, hit #14 on the UK Singles Chart.
REACH OUT, I’LL BE THERE
Gloria Gaynor
[1975]
https://youtu.be/rKe9QX5GA_M
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
