Sunday, February 06, 2022

The Four Tops, “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”

 

“Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” was released in 1973 and peaked at #4 on the pop charts in April of that year, and earned a gold record. 

An appearance on Soul Train — with epic intro by the legendary Don Cornelius and his fine threads.



Great vocals of course — it is the Four Tops, after all — and they are having a great time with their dance steps. 

Each singer gets a turn at lead, in order: regular lead vocalist Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Abdul "Duke" Fakir.

But listen to the band too — the fills between each line especially. Guitar, percussion and how they interact. Beautiful playing. 

The vocals carry the tune as always with Soul and R&B, but I like to listen “under the surface” for what the instruments are doing and how they push the tune along. When done right, it makes for a stronger, more cohesive song, compared to just great singing and lower quality production and arrangement.

Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, the record label’s (ABC/Dunhill) songwriting team who also wrote hits for a variety of artists like “Don’t Pull Your Love” for Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Country Boy” for Glen Campbell, “Baby Come Back” for Player, and several more. They also produced “Rock and Roll Heaven” by the Righteous Brothers.