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Lead singer Levi Stubbs delivers many of the lines in the song in a tone that straddles the line between singing and shouting,<ref name=pc50/> like he did in 1965's "[[I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)]]". [[Allmusic]] critic Ed Hogan praises Stubb's vocal, as well as the song's "rock-solid [[groove (music)|groove]]" and "dramatic, semi-[[opera|operatic]] tension and release."<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=Reach Out I'll Be There|author=Hogan, E.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/reach-out-ill-be-there-mt0010884565|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2014-03-15}}</ref>
Lead singer Levi Stubbs delivers many of the lines in the song in a tone that straddles the line between singing and shouting,<ref name=pc50/> like he did in 1965's "[[I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)]]". [[Allmusic]] critic Ed Hogan praises Stubb's vocal, as well as the song's "rock-solid [[groove (music)|groove]]" and "dramatic, semi-[[opera|operatic]] tension and release."<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=Reach Out I'll Be There|author=Hogan, E.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/reach-out-ill-be-there-mt0010884565|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2014-03-15}}</ref> Critic Martin Charles Strong calls the song "a soul symphany of epic proportions that remains [[the Four Tops'] signature tune."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Rock Discography|author=Strong, M.C.|page=556|year=2004|publisher=Canongate|isbn= 9781841956152}}</ref>


This song differs markedly from the Four Tops' earlier efforts, due to the highly-contrasting shifts between minor and major, and also major and augmented chords.{{cn|date=June 2013}} These contrasting tonal shades form the [[Hook (music)|hook]] for which the song is so well known. The Four Tops would rely on this formula for several subsequent releases.
This song differs markedly from the Four Tops' earlier efforts, due to the highly-contrasting shifts between minor and major, and also major and augmented chords.{{cn|date=June 2013}} These contrasting tonal shades form the [[Hook (music)|hook]] for which the song is so well known. The Four Tops would rely on this formula for several subsequent releases.

Revision as of 02:41, 16 March 2014

"Reach Out I'll Be There"
Song
B-side"Until You Love Someone"

"Reach Out I'll Be There" (also formatted as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)") is a 1966 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland,[1] the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s and is today considered The Tops' signature song. It was the number one song on the R&B charts for two weeks,[2] and on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, from September 24, 1966 to October 15. It replaced "Cherish" by The Association, and was itself replaced by "96 Tears" by Question Mark & the Mysterians. Rolling Stone later ranked this version #206 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. This version is also currently ranked as the 45th best song of all time, as well as the #3 song of 1966, in an aggregation of critics' lists at acclaimedmusic.net.[3]

The track also reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming Motown's second UK chart-topper after The Supremes hit #1 with "Baby Love" in late 1964.[4]

Lead singer Levi Stubbs delivers many of the lines in the song in a tone that straddles the line between singing and shouting,[1] like he did in 1965's "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)". Allmusic critic Ed Hogan praises Stubb's vocal, as well as the song's "rock-solid groove" and "dramatic, semi-operatic tension and release."[5] Critic Martin Charles Strong calls the song "a soul symphany of epic proportions that remains [[the Four Tops'] signature tune."[6]

This song differs markedly from the Four Tops' earlier efforts, due to the highly-contrasting shifts between minor and major, and also major and augmented chords.[citation needed] These contrasting tonal shades form the hook for which the song is so well known. The Four Tops would rely on this formula for several subsequent releases.

The song was included in the soundtrack to the 1975 movie Cooley High.[5] Allmusic critic Ed Hogan claims it was a very effective song for the closing scenes.[5]

Personnel

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Show 50 - The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 6] : UNT Digital Library
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 212.
  3. ^ "Acclaimed Music Top 3000 songs". 27 May 2009.
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 170. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ a b c Hogan, E. "Reach Out I'll Be There". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  6. ^ Strong, M.C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate. p. 556. ISBN 9781841956152.
Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number one single (The Four Tops version)
October 15, 1966 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot R&B Singles number-one single (The Four Tops version)
October 29, 1966 – November 5, 1966 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK number one single
27 October 1966
(three weeks) 		Succeeded by
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