The Temptations & The Four Tops

As a young teen, my mom's then BF knew a box office guy at golf mill in the round in niles. So, we'd get to watch the entire show during sound checks and dress rehearsals on Tuesdays of each week. The bands that performed there in the 70s were mostly motown originals other mostly black talent aside from the music. So, my mom's BF would pick my brother and I up from school and whisk us away to the long gone theater in the round that rotated giving the entire audience a chance to see the artist on stage full on and back again. So, long story short, we got to see most of motown originals perform from the Jackson Five who introduced 9 yo Janet Jackson, Bill Cosby, Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, the Stapleton Singers, The Temptations, The O'Jays etc. It was a great time to be alive in the 70s. True musicians. To get to last night's venue, I drove the scenic route along Lake Michigan to get to the Horseshoe Casino. It was a long and winding road through downtrodden parts of Chicago and Indiana. I arrived at the venue, and I'd selected and paid for a 4th row, center seat. It was well worth the money. I got a close-up and personal view of all band members. It's shocking to see how young looking some of the original band members of those two groups; The Temptations and The Four Tops look. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The sound, lighting, and performances were all spot on. I'd see them again for sure. If you like motown and wish to walk down Hitsville, Motor City, Motown, and Detroit memory lane, then buy a ticket the next time, this way, they come.

Excellent concert. It was sold out and just what Detroit needed. Hope that they are featured again at the Fox Theatre!!!!

“Was it just my imagination or was it my first time seeing the Temptations, concert #666? I was thinking that number would fall inline with Motley Crue next Tuesday but considering it for a moment ‘temptations’ could suit the occasion as well. The Four Tops were on the flip side of the double bill, I had seen them only one time back in 2006. First thing I noticed was not the stage set up, but that the beer stand at Friday’s Brooks and Dunn show was switched out for a coffee stand! There were walkers and rollators, and plenty of q-tips shuffling through the concourse. I had read somewhere that it should have been billed ‘Temptation and Top’ due to the fact that each group only has one original member. However true, what a musical legacy considering the original members Temptation Otis Williams (baritone) is 80, and Top ‘Duke’ Fakir (tenor) is 86, and they possess a combined 131 years singing with the groups! My newly acquired Southern Gospel knowledge came in handy recognizing the roles in the groups which likely could be considered quartets. As the lights dimmed a 10 piece horn section (basically mini-orchestra with it’s own conductor) took the stage, ‘The Carolina Horns’. The sounds of a scrolling a.m. radio dial filled the auditorium stopping momentarily to sample a portion of some of the Temptations biggest hits. An announcement rang, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, its star time’ with a ‘Sounds like you got a party crowd, let’s get busy’ from the group and the show was on, opening a 17 song set of hits with ‘Get Ready’. The four were dressed in matching jade suits a front the stage working through their songs with trademark choreographed moves. A few songs in, Otis took the mic, ‘You all are spoiled. You’re so used to seeing us when we were in our 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, last October I turned 80 years old… and still doing it!’ Otis proceeded to give us a brief history lesson of ‘Motown’ which I found to be very interesting. A highlight on vocals was a brand new song written by Somkey (who incidentally, I’ll be seeing later this year), ‘Is It Gonna Be Yes Or No’, check it out. The set ended with ‘My Girl’ as folks were allowed to walk up the isles on the floor and shake hands with band members, they shook every hand! Next was the Four Tops with a 16 song set. Each group played a one hour set with a brief intermission between. I had heard said that the order of groups should have been reversed. I can’t help myself from commenting that it really would only made a difference based on one’s musical style and taste, both displayed equal talent. The Tops were basically a little more upbeat and were able to get the half full arena off their feet and moving around. Another comment was that the vocals weren’t loud enough and at times there was some degree of validity to that. Duke took the lead from the start, ‘If you feel like tapping your feet (he taps), tap them bad boys. If you feel like clapping your hands (he claps), you could do that. You youngins, you wanna shake that thang, yeah go right ahead (he shakes once). I ain’t got but one shake in there! I remember I could do this standing on my head, now I can’t do it standing on two feet.’ There was a marriage proposal announced prior to ‘I Believe In You And Me’. Everybody stood for “I Can’t Help Myself’! Ronnie danced with an audience member on ‘What’s Going On’, and like the Temptations afore, the show ended with ‘Catfish’ as group members shook hands with audience members. I have a feeling that we may not see the groups much longer carrying on with the current lineups of Otis and Duke so I felt like it was one not to be missed and well worth my money!” by DAve (Concerts 666, 667)

Gentlemen brought back lots of great memories with these everlasting songs. Motown music was a great time in my past.