Weekend Top Music

The Four Tops were one of the premier soul/ R & B groups who helped establish the Motown sound in the 1960s. June 6 would have been lead vocalist Levi Stubbs' 81st birthday, so we're going to take a couple of Tops tunes and play them for you in his honor. "Walk Away Renee" was a 1968 cover of the Left Banke's 1967 hit; Stubbs' voice, the subtle change in phrasing ("you won't see me follow you back home") and orchestration with brass give the song its beautiful, soulful Tops touch. 1981's "When She Was My Girl" also features Stubbs' emotive baritone and was recorded nearly a decade after leaving the Motown label. It was the last top 20 hit for the Tops and was nominated for a Grammy for Best R & B song. Hope you enjoy.