1966 song by the Four Tops
"
Reach Out I'll Be There
" (also formatted as "
Reach Out (I'll Be There)
") is a song recorded by American vocal
quartet
Four Tops
from their fourth studio album,
Reach Out
(1967). Written and produced by
Motown
's main production team,
Holland?Dozier?Holland
,
[2]
the song is one of the most widely-known Motown hits of the 1960s and is today considered the Four Tops' signature song.
It was the number one song on the
Rhythm & Blues chart
for two weeks
[3]
and on the
Billboard
Hot 100
for two weeks, in October 15?22, 1966. The track also reached number one in the
UK Singles Chart
, becoming Motown's second UK chart-topper after
The Supremes
' 1964 release "
Baby Love
".
[4]
It reached number one on October 27, 1966, and stayed there for three weeks.
[5]
Rolling Stone
later ranked “Reach Out” number 206 on its list of "
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
".
Billboard
ranked the record as the number four song for 1966.
[6]
In 2022, the single was selected by the
Library of Congress
for preservation in the
National Recording Registry
.
[7]
Writing and recording
[
edit
]
In 1966, Holland, Dozier and Holland were writing new songs for the Four Tops to record for an album. Lamont Dozier said that he wanted to write "a journey of emotions with sustained tension, like a
bolero
. To get this across, I alternated the keys, from a minor,
Russian
feel in the verse to a major,
gospel
feel in the chorus." He developed the lyrics with Eddie Holland, aiming for them to sound "as though they were being thrown down vocally." Dozier said that they were strongly influenced by
Bob Dylan
at the time, commenting: "We wanted Levi [Stubbs] to shout-sing the lyrics... as a shout-out to Dylan."
[8]
For the recording, the writers and producers intentionally put
Levi Stubbs
at the top of his vocal range, according to
Abdul Fakir
of the Four Tops, "to make sure he'd have that cry and hunger and wailing in his voice." Arranger
Paul Riser
overdubbed instruments including a
piccolo
and flute in the intro, and a drum pattern made by using
timpani
mallets on a
tambourine
head. After the recording was completed and on hearing the final version, the group begged
Berry Gordy
not to release it; according to Fakir, "for us, the song felt a little odd." However, Gordy insisted that it be issued as a single.
[8]
Style
[
edit
]
Lead singer Levi Stubbs delivers many of the lines in the song in a tone that some suggest straddles the line between singing and shouting,
[2]
as he did in the 1965 hit, "
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
".
AllMusic
critic Ed Hogan praises Stubbs' vocal as well as the song's "rock-solid
groove
" and "dramatic, semi-
operatic
tension and release."
[9]
Critic Martin Charles Strong calls the song "a soul symphony of epic proportions that remains [the Four Tops'] signature tune."
[10]
In 2014, interviewed by
The Guardian
, Four Tops singer
Duke Fakir
said:
Eddie
realized that when Levi hit the top of his vocal range, it sounded like someone hurting, so he made him sing right up there. Levi complained, but we knew he loved it. Every time they thought he was at the top, he would reach a little further until you could hear the tears in his voice. The line "Just look over your shoulder" was something he threw in spontaneously. Levi was creative like that; he could always add something from the heart.
[11]
Reception
[
edit
]
Cash Box
said that it is "a hard-driving, pulsating pop-r&b romancer about a very-much-in-love guy who claims that he'll always be at his gal's beck-and-call."
[12]
Charts
[
edit
]
Weekly charts
[
edit
]
1
Remix
2
Michael Bolton with the Four Tops
|
Year-end charts
[
edit
]
|
Certifications
[
edit
]
Legacy
[
edit
]
The version by the Four Tops was used by
Joe Biden
during his campaign in the
2020 United States presidential election
.
[38]
Many artists covered the song,
[39]
including the
Jaded Hearts Club
cover as recently as 2020.
[40]
In 1998, the 1966 recording by the
Four Tops
on
Motown Records
was inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame
.
[41]
Diana Ross version
[
edit
]
American singer
Diana Ross
covered "
Reach Out, I'll Be There
" in 1971.
[42]
Her version was released by
Motown
from her third album,
Surrender
(1971).
[43]
It was produced by
Ashford & Simpson
, and reached number 29 on the US
Billboard
Hot 100
and number 35 in Canada.
Charts
[
edit
]
Gloria Gaynor version
[
edit
]
"
Reach Out, I'll Be There
" was covered by American singer
Gloria Gaynor
in 1975. It was the third of three singles released by
MGM
from her debut album,
Never Can Say Goodbye
(1975). Gaynor's version became an international hit. It peaked at number 60 in the US and number 16 in Canada. In Europe, it reached number 14 in the UK and number five in West Germany.
Charts
[
edit
]
Weekly charts
[
edit
]
|
Year-end charts
[
edit
]
Chart (1975)
|
Rank
|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
[60]
|
30
|
Canada Top Singles (
RPM
)
[61]
|
138
|
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
[62]
|
58
|
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
[63]
|
70
|
US (
Joel Whitburn
's
Pop Annual
)
[64]
|
361
|
West Germany (Official German Charts)
[65]
|
25
|
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Rice, Jo (1982).
The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits
(1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 105.
ISBN
0-85112-250-7
.
- ^
a
b
Gilliland, John
(1969).
"Show 50 ? The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 6]"
(audio)
.
Pop Chronicles
.
University of North Texas Libraries
.
- ^
Whitburn, Joel
(2004).
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004
. Record Research. p. 212.
- ^
Roberts, David (2006).
British Hit Singles & Albums
(19th ed.). London:
Guinness World Records Limited
. p. 170.
ISBN
1-904994-10-5
.
- ^
"All The Number One Singles 1966"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved
March 18,
2014
.
- ^
a
b
"Top 100 Hits for 1966"
.
The Longbored Surfer
. Retrieved
July 15,
2014
.
- ^
"National Recording Registry Inducts Music from Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Journey and More in 2022"
.
Library of Congress
. 13 April 2022
. Retrieved
30 April
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Myers, Marc
(2016).
Anatomy of a Song
.
Grove Press
. pp. 67?71.
ISBN
978-1-61185-525-8
.
- ^
"Reach Out (I'll Be There) ? Song Review"
.
AllMusic
. Retrieved
July 14,
2014
.
- ^
Strong, Martin Charles
(2004).
The Great Rock Discography
. Canongate. p. 556.
ISBN
978-1-8419-5615-2
.
- ^
Simpson, Dave (April 7, 2014).
"The Four Tops: how we made Reach Out (I'll Be There)"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
December 16,
2014
.
- ^
"Record Reviews > Pick of the Week"
(PDF)
.
Cash Box
. Vol. XXVIII, no. 7. September 3, 1966. p. 18
. Retrieved
January 12,
2021
.
- ^
"Forum ? ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts ? CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989"
. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien
. Retrieved
July 15,
2014
.
- ^
"
The Four Tops ? Reach Out I'll Be There"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop 50
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"
Top RPM Singles: Issue 5729
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"
The Irish Charts ? Search Results ? Reach Out I'll Be There"
.
Irish Singles Chart
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"
Nederlandse Top 40 ? week 45, 1966
" (in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"
The Four Tops ? Reach Out I'll Be There"
(in Dutch).
Single Top 100
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"Search listener"
.
Flavour of New Zealand
. Retrieved
August 11,
2017
.
- ^
"Spain's Best Sellers"
(PDF)
.
Cash Box
. March 11, 1967. p. 69
. Retrieved
February 2,
2024
– via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
a
b
"The Four Tops ? Awards"
.
AllMusic
. Retrieved
July 15,
2014
.
- ^
"Cash Box Top 100 Singles ? Week ending October 15, 1966"
.
Cash Box
. Archived from
the original
on October 4, 2012.
- ^
"100 Top Pops"
(PDF)
.
Record World
. October 15, 1966. p. 19
. Retrieved
September 9,
2017
.
- ^
"
Offiziellecharts.de ? The Four Tops ? Reach Out I'll Be There"
(in German)
.
GfK Entertainment charts
. Retrieved February 28, 2019. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON The Four Tops"
- ^
"
The Irish Charts ? Search Results ? Reach Out"
.
Irish Singles Chart
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"
The Four Tops ? Reach Out I'll Be There %5B1988%5D"
.
Top 40 Singles
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"
Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1793
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^
"EHR Top 40"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 10, no. 14. April 3, 1993. p. 22
. Retrieved
April 7,
2024
.
- ^
"Top 50 Airplay Chart"
(PDF)
.
Music Week
. March 20, 1993. p. 14
. Retrieved
April 29,
2024
.
- ^
"Jaaroverzichten 1966"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop
. Hung Medien
. Retrieved
July 15,
2014
.
- ^
"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1966"
(in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40
. Retrieved
July 15,
2014
.
- ^
"The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1966"
.
Cash Box
. Archived from
the original
on October 4, 2012.
- ^
"The
RPM
Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993"
.
RPM
. Vol. 58, no. 23.
Library and Archives Canada
. December 18, 1993
. Retrieved
July 15,
2014
.
- ^
"British single certifications ? Four Tops ? Reach Out I'll Be There"
.
British Phonographic Industry
. Retrieved
April 1,
2022
.
- ^
"American single certifications ? The Four Tops ? Reach Out, I'll Be There"
.
Recording Industry Association of America
. Retrieved
March 1,
2019
.
- ^
Savage, Mark (October 24, 2020).
"US election 2020: What we can learn from Trump and Biden's musical choices"
.
BBC News
. Retrieved
October 31,
2020
.
- ^
"111 versions de Reach out i'll be there"
. Retrieved
2023-06-28
.
- ^
"Supergroup The Jaded Hearts Club release new video for 'Reach Out and I'll Be There'
"
. 2020-07-31.
- ^
https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#r
- ^
"Spotlight Singles"
.
Billboard
. April 24, 1971. p. 56.
ISSN
0006-2510
.
- ^
"www.allmusic.com"
.
allmusic.com
. Retrieved
February 8,
2023
.
- ^
"
Top RPM Singles: Issue 5390
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- ^
"Billboard Hot 100"
.
Billboard
. May 29, 1971. p. 68.
ISSN
0006-2510
.
- ^
"Best Selling Soul Singles"
.
Billboard
. May 22, 1971. p. 32.
ISSN
0006-2510
.
- ^
"Top 40 Easy Listening"
.
Billboard
. June 5, 1971. p. 32.
ISSN
0006-2510
.
- ^
"Cash Box Top 100 Singles: Week ending June 5, 1971"
.
Cash Box
. Archived from
the original
on September 18, 2012.
- ^
"Forum ? ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts ? CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2"
.
Australian-charts.com
. Retrieved
August 6,
2018
.
- ^
"
Gloria Gaynor ? Reach Out, I'll Be There"
(in German).
O3 Austria Top 40
. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^
"
Gloria Gaynor ? Reach Out, I'll Be There"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop 50
. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^
"
Top RPM Singles: Issue 3962a
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^
"
Nederlandse Top 40 ? week 16, 1975
" (in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40
. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^
"
Gloria Gaynor ? Reach Out, I'll Be There"
(in Dutch).
Single Top 100
. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^
"South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 ? 1989 Acts (G)"
.
Rock.co.za
. Retrieved
August 6,
2018
.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^
a
b
c
"Gloria Gaynor ? Awards"
.
AllMusic
. Archived from
the original
on March 2, 2016.
- ^
"Cash Box Top 100 Singles ? Week ending April 12, 1975"
.
Cash Box
. Archived from
the original
on October 3, 2012.
- ^
"
Offiziellecharts.de ? Gloria Gaynor ? Reach Out, I'll Be There"
(in German)
.
GfK Entertainment charts
. Retrieved 1 January 2018. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Gloria Gaynor"
- ^
"Jaaroverzichten 1975"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop
. Hung Medien
. Retrieved
August 6,
2018
.
- ^
"1975 Wrap Up"
.
RPM
. Vol. 24, no. 14. December 27, 1975
. Retrieved
August 6,
2018
.
- ^
"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1975"
(in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40
. Retrieved
August 6,
2018
.
- ^
"Jaaroverzichten ? Single 1975"
(in Dutch).
Single Top 100
. Hung Medien
. Retrieved
August 6,
2018
.
- ^
Whitburn, Joel (1999).
Pop Annual
. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc.
ISBN
0-89820-142-X
.
- ^
"Jahrescharts ? 1975"
.
Offiziellecharts.de
(in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from
the original
on May 9, 2015.
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Studio albums
| |
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Albums with
The Supremes
| |
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Compilations
and live albums
| |
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Singles
| |
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Related topics
| |
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|
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1960s
| |
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1970s
| |
---|
1980s
|
- 1981
- "
When She Was My Girl
"
- "Don't Walk Away"
- 1982
- "Let Me Set You Free"
- "Back to School Again"
- "Sad Hearts"
- "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over"
- 1983
- "
I Believe in You and Me
"
- "I Just Can't Walk Away"
- 1985
- "Sexy Ways"
- 1988
- "Reach Out I'll Be There"
(re-issue)
- "If Ever a Love There Was"
(with
Aretha Franklin
)
- "Indestructible"
- "
Loco in Acapulco
"
- 1989
- "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine"
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Studio albums
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Compilations
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Live releases
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Soundtrack albums
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Video albums
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Singles
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Featured singles
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Tours and concerts
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Related topics
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Studio albums
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Singles
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Related articles
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Performers
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1960s
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1970s
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1980s
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1990s
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2000s
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Songs
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1960s
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1970s
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1980s
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1990s
|
- "Sotto questo sole"
- "Quattro amici"
- "Mare mare"
- "Il battito animale"
- "Io muoio di te"
- "Tieni il tempo"
- "
Piu bella cosa
"
- "Che male c'e"
- "Io no"
- "Un raggio di sole"
|
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2000s
|
- "Qualcosa di grande"
- "Ti prendo e ti porto via"
- "Tutti vogliono viaggiare in prima"
- "
Un'emozione per sempre
"
- "Il grande Baboomba"
- "Lascia che io sia"
- "Happy Hour"
- "Parlami d'amore"
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