On the Street Where You Live - The Four Tops, Lerner, Alan Jay
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You - The Four Tops, Razaf, Andy
Nice 'N' Easy - The Four Tops, Bergman, Marilyn
Maybe Today - The Four Tops, Anderson
Stranger on the Shore - The Four Tops, Bilk, Acker
Young and Foolish - The Four Tops, Hague, Albert
Discovered - The Four Tops, Allen
I Left My Heart in San Francisco - The Four Tops, Cory, George
Fascinating Rhythm - The Four Tops, Gershwin, George
The End of a Beautiful Friendship - The Four Tops, Kahn, Donald
If My Heart Could Sing - The Four Tops, Broadnax, Morris
Can't Get You Out of This Mood - The Four Tops, Loesser
When I'm Alone I Cry - The Four Tops, Broadnax, Morris
Until I Met You - The Four Tops, Green, Bud
I'm Falling for You - The Four Tops, Hubert, Joe Trafalg
Every Day I Have the Blues/Goin' to Chicago Blues - The Four Tops, Chatman, Peter
I Could Have Danced All Night - The Four Tops, Lerner, Alan Jay
I'm Falling for You [Live] - The Four Tops, Hubert, Joe Trafalg
The most surprising of Motown's first four Lost and Found CDs is this previously unreleased debut album by the Four Tops. Who'd have thought that one of the company's rawest and most emotionally devastating acts ever could... more » achieve such a glow on a song list full of the sort of standards that often embarrassed the likes of the Temptations and the Supremes? Breaking Through is both a thoroughly pleasant listen and a window on the Tops' expertise at sheer vocalization. Loose and vivacious in a way that their hits aren't, it's a different--not better, just different--Tops we hear here. And better late than never. --Rickey Wright« less
The most surprising of Motown's first four Lost and Found CDs is this previously unreleased debut album by the Four Tops. Who'd have thought that one of the company's rawest and most emotionally devastating acts ever could achieve such a glow on a song list full of the sort of standards that often embarrassed the likes of the Temptations and the Supremes? Breaking Through is both a thoroughly pleasant listen and a window on the Tops' expertise at sheer vocalization. Loose and vivacious in a way that their hits aren't, it's a different--not better, just different--Tops we hear here. And better late than never. --Rickey Wright
CD Reviews
To Those Who Wait
10/02/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All Four Tops devotees know about their unreleased first Motown album, "Breaking Through." The cover shot actually was used, redone as a painting, for "The Four Tops Second Album." "The Second Album" was packed with hits; "Breaking Through" was a jazz album, which is why it didn't break through. Finally, nearly 40 years after the fact we get everything recorded for the album and it is fascinating. All four Tops take leads, there's a lot of inventive harmony, some great driving big band arrangements and even a live duet with Billy Eckstine. Puts the Tops in a whole different spin and it's listenable over and over."
TOPS!!!!!!!!!
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | 11/03/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Breakin Through" is all that a Four Tops fan could hope for. With "young and strong voices" and a sophisicated smooth jazzy arrangement, "Breakin Through" showcases the Tops in a way never heard before!!!! "Maybe Today" is a beautiful beautiful jazz ballad. Gives greater insight into who the Tops are/were as you can actually "hear" all of them on this package. Manhattan Transfer, Take Six, Bobby McFerrin and New York Voices all owe a little to the Tops without even knowing it. Great Album!!!! I love it!!!"
A must have
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | usa | 02/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"just doing a song with Billy Eckstine is a must.the arrangements and vocals are great.Motown was so Hit driven at the early stages that gems like this get over looked.these artists of today would love to have one good album let alone one good song.this group is one of the all-time great vocal groups ever.this disc takes them to another Level and they were already pretty high."
Some Of The Best Tops Material I've Ever Heard
T.L. Harris | Grand Prairie, Texas United States | 05/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Four Tops formed in 1954 as: Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson as the Four Aims. Not wanting to be confused with the Ames Brothers their changed their name to the Four Tops. From 1954 to 1963 the Four Tops recorded for three labels: Rooftop, Chess, and Columbia before signing with Motown Records. During their pre Motown career, the Four Tops established themselves as one of the premie jazz vocal groups in Detroit, and the east coast. Breaking Through was to be their first outing with the label. The album was about to be released when marketing research showed that the jazz market was falling, and the album was shelved. Breaking Through may be the finest examples of the Four Tops harmony on record. The album starts with the Obie Benson lead "This Can't Be Love" and sets the tone for the whole record. Obie gives a great lead on the song. Other stand outs include: "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You, Nice and Easy, Stranger on the Shore, If My Heart Could Sing",and many others. The best track on the record is a unreleased live recording of Billy Eckstine and the Four Tops singing "I'm Falling For You", and it ends the record on a great note. Breaking Through is truly a tremendous record, and a must by for music fans.
"
Great Series!
S. Castellano | Scranton, PA United States | 06/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"BREAKING THROUGH proves the versatility of the Four Tops. Starting out as a jazz quartet, you can hear the tight harmonies in this group. Levi Stubb's voice still grabs at you on these jazz standards. The Tops even switched leads, with Obie Benson on "This Can't Be Love". I hope Motown comes out with lots more of this series!"
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1