With the new year starting, I envisioned myself writing more. I have to stay focused to write and I think writing about all the music that I encounter on a daily basic will help! I’ve had a bunch of series but it’s time to implement a weekly profile of an influential historical artist or group that includes a song as some form of information that can be learned by all. By historical I do not mean early 90s! Yet, I will focus on artists from the 50s-70s that created what I consider “real music” and through their singing laid a foundation for others to follow.

I heard a song earlier today and it made me start singing oooooo oooooo ooo ooo oo and I couldn’t think what song it was for me to save my life. That didn’t last too long! I sang that melody about 6 more times to realize that was the beginning of Baby I Need Your Lovin’. In my mind, I reminisced about groups similar to the Four Tops that harmonized, incorporated synchronized dance moves, and wore matching suits = the perfect formula for a Motown act! I’ve always loved the Four Tops because of the group’s baritone voice as a lead and I will always have favorite songs performed by the group because their production include sounds from a real band instead of a keyboard that todays artists use. I love this song below, Reach Out (I’ll Be There) because of the powerful lyrics and its dark sound with the incorporation of the flute – hey! I played in highschool; but this is also the Four Tops biggest hit!

When I read that the Universal Music Group retained the rights to all of the Four Tops albums after 1963, I immediately knew that would be my one interesting fact. 45 years has passed and these group members do not own a single right to the music they created, except for the album Indestructible. This group’s contract made me realize the significance of ownership based upon the emphasis of time. As many hits as the Four Tops have had, I wonder what the fine print of Motown contracts consisted of. I would have loved to live in the Motor Town during this era!