I saw the Four Tops and The Temptations in the 80s. It was held at Opryland and I had a friend who worked there. He snuck us in the back way with me using his sister’s work ID badge they never checked. Both groups were super and it was a great concert. Those voices were pure gold. Hmmm…I hope the statute of limitations has run out!
The song was written by the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland (Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland). It was recorded at the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit, Michigan, which was the primary recording studio for Motown Records.
This song was their first Motown release which was in 1964. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard 100 and #4 in Canada. The song is one of those near-perfect pop songs. Johnny Rivers would later peak at #3 with this song in 1967. Altogether there are 62 cover versions of this song.
The Four Tops were formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1953. Initially, they performed under the name the Four Aims before changing it to the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers who were popular at the time.
Baby, I Need Your Loving
Baby, I need your lovin’Baby, I need your lovin’Although you’re never nearYour voice I often hearAnother day, ‘nother nightI long to hold you tight‘Cause I’m so lonely
Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all your lovin’Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all you lovin’
Some say it’s a sign of weaknessFor a man to begThen weak I’d rather beIf it means having you to keep‘Cause lately I’ve been losing sleep
Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all your lovin’Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all you lovin’
Empty nights echo your nameWhoa, sometimes I wonderWill I ever be the same?Oh yeah!
When you see me smiling, you knowThings have gotten worseAny smile you might seeHas all been rehearsedDarling, I can’t go on without youThis emptiness won’t let me live without youThis loneliness inside, darlingMakes me feel half alive
Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all your lovin’Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all your lovin’Baby, I need your lovin’Got to have all your lovin’
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A great song and one of Motown’s best overall from it’s early days. What great voices they had.
Beware any registered letters coming your way from Ticketmaster now!
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LOL..yea my friend promised me they would not check my “work” pass…and tney didn’t…I stayed 10 ft away and just flashed the badge.
They were a great group…and seeing both was really cool.
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Lol.
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The late great Levi Stubbs always looked up when he sang the verse to that song…one of my favorite 4 Tops songs.
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They were great….I need to look it up and see what original members were with them when I saw them in the 80s. Seeing the Temptations and The Four Tops in one day was great.
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Great voices and I wouldn’t worry about you getting into that concert for free as writing this post was a good way for you to pay off your debt.
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I guess that should square it up!
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One of my favourite Motown Bands. Sadly only one original member left.
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Yea I’m going to look it up for the fun of it to see how many original memebers were there when I saw them.
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Brings back childhood memories of the AM radio in Mom’s Volkswagen! How could anyone not love Motown music?? There is a purity, warmth and authenticity in it that transcends time.
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I’m with ya…no gimmicks just a well written song by some great voices and soul… they were really good live…them and the Temptations…just sit back and listen to hit after hit.
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Busted Max! How can you not like that song?
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A mug shot is coming! Yea man…it’s great…a great date song.
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I bust out all my greatest hits by various artists in the summer. I just listened to the 4 Tops and Johnny Rivers doing this cut. Pretty decent version.
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I like Johnny Rivers…he did quality covers.
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Yes he did. I have a soft spot for him.’Secret Agent Man’ is a keeper. ‘Taken away his name and given him a number” Double Knot spy Jethro Bodean.
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This is the perfect Motown song- contagiously danceable, simple but perfect lyrics, beautifully sung.
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Ah, the Temps and Tops… they were the best…
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It was a great show…and not just because it was free…I mean what a double bill!
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That would have been worth every penny if you had paid to get in. As it was, I’ll bet it ws quite impressive.
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We were willing but they were sold out…yet we found seats.
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Now how cool is that, to have the first Motown release ever. Nice find, Max. I remember their original and also Johnny Rivers’ cover. So Good.
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Thanks Lisa…it’s such a classic.
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You’re welcome.
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classic dramatic song, love it. I also saw the Four Tops and Temptations in the 80’s, pure Motown class. Levi Stubbs has one of the most heart-rending emotional voices in all of pop music. So powerful, you believe every word he sings.
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Oh it was wonderful…it was probably within within the same year we saw them…what a double bill!
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