I'm from Detroit and in my 70s. I recall that Marvin Gaye (a very great vocalist) once said on a local radio show in the 1960s, while chuckling to himself, that Levi Stubbs almost unintentionally scared the other artist at Motown, because he was such a powerful, natural singer. "It always just seems so easy for him."
Mighty Four Tops is correct! So many great hits, but Bernadette is one of their best. Soul music for my soul! Thanks Harri, I needed to hear that harmony today.
so Blessed to have grown up in the era and area of this great groups. They stayed in Detroit when Motown went to Cali and the group was 52+ years together until i;;ness and death pulled them apart
One of my favorite songs of all time. Levi Stubbs was one of the best male singers ever. Growing up at this time, we had so much great music to listen to. I almost feel sorry for people who where not there. They missed out on so much.
Such a fabulous song!! From 1967, The Four Tops delivered this pulsating, dancable, great tune delivered by Levi Stubb's passionate vocals. Pleading for his girl to stay with him, what more could a girl want? 🤷♀️🤷♀️ The wonderful backing vocals and The Funk Brothers adding the perfect instrumentation, drove this song to Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100's. The false ending, when the background vocals hold a chord, then Levi shouts " Bernadette "then the song resumes , the perfect ending. Great reaction Handsome Harri ❤❤ Fantastic choice Belena 👏👏 Cheers from Canada ❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦
One of my favorite all time Motown songs.....The funk brothers....Benny Benjamin on drums,James Jamerson on bass....I have the entire Motown collection....Amazing music...Influenced my drumming at a young age.....60+years ago....And still listening.
They were the very best of Motown. And you’re right Harri, Levi’s voice was special. And who had better harmonies than the Four Tops. They were a group that always delivered at their performances. In all the years they performed, there was never a scandal about them and they remained the same four guys. Thanks for a great reaction and thanks Belina for the request. 👏👏👏🥰
Great submission from one of the true greats of Motown, Levi Stubbs and The Four Tops. The Motown sound dominated the airwaves of the '60s. Levi's voice is unmistakable the second he begins to sing. If you wanted to play this record, you needed a 45 RPM turntable with the circular insert snapped into the center of the record to keep the record stable while spinning. Yes, people, I am old enough to remember this trivia. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-chosen submission and review.
One of many fantastic songs by The Four Tops! Levi Stubbs voice sounds ferocious on this track especially. Thanks for this stellar request, Belen! And thanks to Harri for your joyful reaction 🎉
Great tune. Now, back in the day there was a DJ on WABVC-AM out of NYC named Dan Ingram. He would drop a pun or set-up line for many songs. For this one, Dan would say, "What do you do when the mortgage is paid off?", and Levy would sing, "Burn A Debt"! Anyway, thanks for the tune and reaction!
Thanks Harri! I love so many of the Four Tops hits but this song and "Baby I Need Your Loving" are two of my favorites. Levi was great in the movie Little Shop of Horrors too..."Feed Me Seymour!" 😂
Such a fantastic, soulful song. You don't see the name Bernadette being given to girls much anymore, but I think it's a super cool name and needs to make a comeback! 🙂Thanks, Harri, for the reaction, and Belen for the request.
WIBG started playing the B-Side & on their March 20th survey I Got A Feeling was listed as the flip side. It would peak at #3 on April 17th with Bernadette peaking at #4 on The Billboard Hot 100. On the May 1st & May 8th WIBG surveys they listed I Got A Feeling as the A-Side. It was listed at #61 for the year on WIBG. The rest of the country missed out on this classic tune & shame on Detroit & CKLW for missing this one that was right in their backyard. For me this song is extra special. It has been one of my 3 all time favorite songs since I first heard it. The song was one of the last written by Holland-Dozier-Holland for Motown. A cover version was released later that year on Motown by Barbara Randolph but peaked at 116. Another cover by Lisa Stansfield in 1983 did not chart in the UK or the U.S.
Love all the great Motown artists. They had real class & beautiful harmonies. Love the matching choreography steps that these groups had. The Four Tops had lots of hits such as "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Reach Out I'll Be There", “I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", "Ask The Lonely", "It's The Same Old Song", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love", "Ain't No Woman", "Something About You", "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" etc. The Temptations had a similar style & also had lots of great songs.
Smokey Robinson once told of how Motown groups would perform at house parties in Detroit. They'd take up a collection and the group voted the best by the fans would win the money. The groups sometimes included the Temptations, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas and himself with the Miracles. Smokey stated it was mostly a tie until the Four Tops showed up. Levi Stubbs won every time.
02:02 Hah! Here in NZ we saw nothing, only radio brought us these gems. I liked all the Four Tops pop hits, but it wasn't until years later I found out they were black, err "African American", a non-existent term then. I Can't Help Myself It's The Same Old Song Standing In The Shadows Of Love Reach Out I'll Be There 7-Rooms Of Gloom Bernadette Walk Away Renee were all released so far South here in NZ, I liked them all.
This song is the gold standard for male R&B lead singers. Levi Stubbs is in a class by himself. His soulful wailing still makes the hair on my arms stand straight up. Especially right after that dramatic pause in the middle of the song. Harri, you owe it to yourself to watch the documentary film, "Standing In the Shadows of Motown." (The title is a play on the song title of another Four Tops hit, "Standing In the Shadows of Love." The movie is about the studio musicians at Motown Records. They played on virtually every single song recorded there. Which means they provided the backing tracks for all the great Motown stars -- Supremes, Four Tops,, Temptations, smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye -- all of them. In that capacity, they played on more #1 hits than the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley -- COMBINED! Go watch the movie. You'll thank me later.
Powerful song, powerful voices! An absolute Motown classic. I think the backup singers are the Andantes -- anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
If you really want to hear Levi's range listen to I BELIEVE IN YOU AND ME as the song was written specifically for Levi Stubbs and puts Whitney's cover version to shame
I'm from Detroit and in my 70s. I recall that Marvin Gaye (a very great vocalist) once said on a local radio show in the 1960s, while chuckling to himself, that Levi Stubbs almost unintentionally scared the other artist at Motown, because he was such a powerful, natural singer. "It always just seems so easy for him."
Levi Stubbs. I saw the 4 tops and Temps together in concert. Small hall maybe 5k seats. Very intimate. It was Fantastic.
One of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Every thing the Four Tops did was great. Best time of music with Motown sounds
This is my favorite 4 Tops song of all times. Thank You , Harri
YOung people today are so unfortunate not to have grown up with this music like I did.
This never gets old and I've been listening to it since the '60's.
Mighty Four Tops is correct! So many great hits, but Bernadette is one of their best. Soul music for my soul! Thanks Harri, I needed to hear that harmony today.
so Blessed to have grown up in the era and area of this great groups. They stayed in Detroit when Motown went to Cali and the group was 52+ years together until i;;ness and death pulled them apart
This is the first song I ever heard on a high quality stereo system when I was about 10 years old. I was blown away!
One of my favorite songs of all time. Levi Stubbs was one of the best male singers ever. Growing up at this time, we had so much great music to listen to. I almost feel sorry for people who where not there. They missed out on so much.
Such a fabulous song!!
From 1967, The Four Tops delivered this pulsating, dancable, great tune delivered by Levi Stubb's passionate vocals. Pleading for his girl to stay with him, what more could a girl want? 🤷♀️🤷♀️
The wonderful backing vocals and The Funk Brothers adding the perfect instrumentation, drove this song to Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100's.
The false ending, when the background vocals hold a chord, then Levi shouts " Bernadette "then the song resumes , the perfect ending.
Great reaction Handsome Harri ❤❤
Fantastic choice Belena 👏👏 Cheers from Canada ❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦
Love Levi Stubbs! I was fortunate enough to have seen them in 1975 at my Grad Nite! They were amazing!
This is one of my favorite songs from way back. Great request and reaction. Thanks Harri and Belena 🌸💐✌️
One of my favorite all time Motown songs.....The funk brothers....Benny Benjamin on drums,James Jamerson on bass....I have the entire Motown collection....Amazing music...Influenced my drumming at a young age.....60+years ago....And still listening.
Def one of my all time favorites.
So much soul, so much longing
They were the very best of Motown. And you’re right Harri, Levi’s voice was special. And who had better harmonies than the Four Tops. They were a group that always delivered at their performances. In all the years they performed, there was never a scandal about them and they remained the same four guys. Thanks for a great reaction and thanks Belina for the request. 👏👏👏🥰
My favorite Four Tops song!
Thanks Harri for playing a great from my youth. One of my favorite groups that had so so many songs that blared out of my van!
Great submission from one of the true greats of Motown, Levi Stubbs and The Four Tops. The Motown sound dominated the airwaves of the '60s. Levi's voice is unmistakable the second he begins to sing. If you wanted to play this record, you needed a 45 RPM turntable with the circular insert snapped into the center of the record to keep the record stable while spinning. Yes, people, I am old enough to remember this trivia. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-chosen submission and review.
Awesome song Belen. I love it and it has great memories. Thank you, Harri as well.
One of many fantastic songs by The Four Tops! Levi Stubbs voice sounds ferocious on this track especially. Thanks for this stellar request, Belen! And thanks to Harri for your joyful reaction 🎉
Great tune. Now, back in the day there was a DJ on WABVC-AM out of NYC named Dan Ingram. He would drop a pun or set-up line for many songs. For this one, Dan would say, "What do you do when the mortgage is paid off?", and Levy would sing, "Burn A Debt"! Anyway, thanks for the tune and reaction!
behold the master bass line of James Jamerson
I had that Purple LP, the 4pics of them on it ....🙏🙏🙏🙏💥💥💥💥
Thanks Harri! I love so many of the Four Tops hits but this song and "Baby I Need Your Loving" are two of my favorites. Levi was great in the movie Little Shop of Horrors too..."Feed Me Seymour!" 😂
Such a fantastic, soulful song. You don't see the name Bernadette being given to girls much anymore, but I think it's a super cool name and needs to make a comeback! 🙂Thanks, Harri, for the reaction, and Belen for the request.
WIBG started playing the B-Side & on their March 20th survey I Got A Feeling was listed as the flip side. It would peak at #3 on April 17th with Bernadette peaking at #4 on The Billboard Hot 100. On the May 1st & May 8th WIBG surveys they listed I Got A Feeling as the A-Side. It was listed at #61 for the year on WIBG.
The rest of the country missed out on this classic tune & shame on Detroit & CKLW for missing this one that was right in their backyard. For me this song is extra special. It has been one of my 3 all time favorite songs since I first heard it. The song was one of the last written by Holland-Dozier-Holland for Motown. A cover version was released later that year on Motown by Barbara Randolph but peaked at 116. Another cover by Lisa Stansfield in 1983 did not chart in the UK or the U.S.
Love all the great Motown artists. They had real class & beautiful harmonies. Love the matching choreography steps that these groups had. The Four Tops had lots of hits such as "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Reach Out I'll Be There", “I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", "Ask The Lonely", "It's The Same Old Song", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love", "Ain't No Woman", "Something About You", "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" etc. The Temptations had a similar style & also had lots of great songs.
I saw them live, no one had a voice like the wonderful Levi Stubbs. The voice of Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, unmistakably Mr. Stubbs.
This song always gave me chills….still does!
OMG, this song always sends me into another world. A much more beautiful one. "The only joy in life is to be loved."
One of my my favorite songs!
JUST................WOW! What memories come back home with the FOUR TOPS! Notice how nobody is able to come close to this....TODAY. Thanks Harri.
Shout out to The Funk Brothers for this awesome groove.
The Funk Brothers were the best!! Much respect. ❤👏👏
My favorite Four Tops song is Wake me Shake me.
Smokey Robinson once told of how Motown groups would perform at house parties in Detroit. They'd take up a collection and the group voted the best by the fans would win the money. The groups sometimes included the Temptations, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas and himself with the Miracles. Smokey stated it was mostly a tie until the Four Tops showed up. Levi Stubbs won every time.
Levi Stubbs on Lead and The Tops with Heavenly Harmonies. Drop The Mic!
soooooooo efffing good these guys...do you know "still water/love extended version?
These guys are the best!.✌
Excellent choice @Harri and Melina (sp?) ….. the best of Motown❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for your song reaction. Funny thing though, when I first heard this song I thought they were singing "burn the dead ".
02:02 Hah! Here in NZ we saw nothing, only radio brought us these gems. I liked all the Four Tops pop hits, but it wasn't until years later I found out they were black, err "African American", a non-existent term then.
I Can't Help Myself
It's The Same Old Song
Standing In The Shadows Of Love
Reach Out I'll Be There
7-Rooms Of Gloom
Bernadette
Walk Away Renee
were all released so far South here in NZ, I liked them all.
Another Holland-Dozier-Holland classic.
This song is the gold standard for male R&B lead singers. Levi Stubbs is in a class by himself. His soulful wailing still makes the hair on my arms stand straight up. Especially right after that dramatic pause in the middle of the song.
Harri, you owe it to yourself to watch the documentary film, "Standing In the Shadows of Motown." (The title is a play on the song title of another Four Tops hit, "Standing In the Shadows of Love." The movie is about the studio musicians at Motown Records. They played on virtually every single song recorded there. Which means they provided the backing tracks for all the great Motown stars -- Supremes, Four Tops,, Temptations, smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye -- all of them. In that capacity, they played on more #1 hits than the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley -- COMBINED! Go watch the movie. You'll thank me later.
The mighty four tops the voice Levi Stubbs group like no other RIEP Levi /Duke/ Lawrence/ Obie
Powerful song, powerful voices! An absolute Motown classic. I think the backup singers are the Andantes -- anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Harri. Another banger.
What's with the hankerchief?
Planning on robbing a bank?
Respect from Guyana 🇬🇾
I think it's a fashion statement. Respect to Guyana from America
Things are tight John.Its straight to a bank after the show! 😂🤣😂
@@HarriBestReactions love ya brother
Nobody will ever make music like this again.
If you really want to hear Levi's range listen to I BELIEVE IN YOU AND ME as the song was written specifically for Levi Stubbs and puts Whitney's cover version to shame