Tag Archives: Lawrence Payton

Stevie Wonder: Up-Tight

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On May 4, 1966, “Motown” label released “Up-Tight”, the fifth Stevie Wonder album. It was recorded 1962 – 1966, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Henry Cosby, Willam “Mickey” Stevenson, Clarence Paul, Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – lead and harmony vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
  • Clarence Paul – co-lead vocals
  • Levi Stubbs – co-lead vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Lawrence Payton, Renaldo “Obie” Benson – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Pat Lewis – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Temptations – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Love a Go Go – Beth Beatty, Ernie Shelby
  2. Hold Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  3. Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
  4. Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, William Stevenson
  5. Teach Me Tonight – Sammy Cahn, Gene De Paul
  6. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder (as Stevie Judkins), Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  7. Ain’t That Asking for Trouble – Sylvia Moy, Gene De Paul, Stevie Wonder
  8. I Want My Baby Back – Harvey Fuqua, Cornelius Grant, Eddie Kendricks, Norman Whitfield
  9. Pretty Little Angel – Gene De Paul, Mike Valvano, Stevie Wonder
  10. Music Talk – Ted Hull, Gene De Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. Contract on Love – Janie Bradford, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  12. With a Child’s Heart – Vicki Basemore, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy

Four Tops: Same

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On January 21, 1965, “Motown” label released self-titled, debut Four Tops studio album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Levi Stubbs – baritone, lead vocals and backing vocals
  • Abdul Fakir – first tenor, backing vocals
  • Renaldo Benson – bass, backing vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – second tenor, backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Baby I Need Your Loving – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  2. Without the One You Love (Life’s Not Worth While) – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  3. Where Did You Go? – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  4. Ask the Lonely – William “Mickey” Stevenson
  5. Your Love Is Amazing – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  6. Sad Souvenirs – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  7. Don’t Turn Away – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  8. Tea House in China Town – Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  9. Left With a Broken Heart – Marv Johnson
  10. Love Has Gone – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  11. Call on Me – Holland–Dozier–Holland

The Supremes & The Four Tops: Dynamite

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In December 1971, “Motown” label released “Dynamite”, the third and last album between Supremes (The) and Four Tops (The). It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Johnny Bristol, Joe Hinton, Bobby Taylor and Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • The Supremes – Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong – vocals 
  • The Four Tops – Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson, Lawrence Payton – vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • David Van DePitte, Gene Page, H.B. Barnum, Robert White – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Warren Linn – illustration
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphics

Track listing:

  1. It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
  2. The Bigger You Love (The Harder You Fall) – Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  3. Hello Stranger – Barbara Lewis
  4. Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
  5. Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. Melodie – Deke Richards, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  7. If – David Gates
  8. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  9. Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  10. Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey – Gladys Knight, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock

Four Tops: Four Tops Second Album

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On November 13, 1965, “Motown” label released “Four Tops Second Album”, the second Four Tops studio album. It was recorded in 1965, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Levi Stubbs – lead (baritone) and backing vocals
  • Abdul Fakir – first tenor and backing vocals
  • Renaldo Benson – bass backing vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – second tenor backing vocals, lead vocals, keyboards
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Holland–Dozier–Holland (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland), except where noted.

  1. I Can’t Help Myself
  2. Love Feels Like Fire
  3. Is There Anything That I Can Do – Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  4. Something About You
  5. It’s the Same Old Song
  6. Helpless
  7. Just as Long as You Need Me
  8. Darling, I Hum Our Song
  9. I Like Everything About You
  10. Since You’ve Been Gone
  11. Stay in My Lonely Arms
  12. I’m Grateful – Eddie Holland, Cleo Drake, George Fowler

The Supremes And Four Tops: The Return Of The Magnificient Seven

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On July 13, 1971, “Motown” label released “The Return of the Magnificent Seven”, the second Supremes (The) and Four Tops collaborative album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Jean Terrell – vocals
  • Mary Wilson – vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong – vocals
  • Levi Stubbs – vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir – vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – vocals
  • Renaldo “Obie” Benson – vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • David Van DePitte, Henry Cosby, Paul Riser, Tom Baird – arrangements
  • Frank Wilson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  2. I Wonder Where We’re Going – Tom Baird
  3. Call Me – Tony Hatch
  4. One More Bridge to Cross – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  5. If You Could See Me Now – Janie Bradford, Joe Hinton, Henry Cosby
  6. I’ll Try Not to Cry – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  7. I’m Glad About It – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  8. Let’s Make Love Now – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  9. I Can’t Believe You Love Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  10. Where Would I Be Without You Baby – Clarence McMurray, Martin Coleman
  11. What Do You Have to Do (To Stay on the Right Side of Love) – Pam Sawyer, Leon Ware

The Four Tops: Meeting of the Minds

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In April 1974, “ABC / Dunhill Records” label released “Meeting of the Minds”, the 21st Four Tops (The) album. It was recorded in 1973 – 1974, at “ABC Recording Studios, Inc. Studio A”, and was produced by Steve Barri, Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter.

Personnel:

  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir – vocal
  • Levi Stubbs – vocal
  • Renaldo “Obie” Benson – vocal
  • Lawrence Payton – vocal
  • Sylvia Smith – vocal
  • Ben Benaym Dean Parks, Ray Parker, Larry Carlton – guitar
  • Dennis Lambert – keyboards, arrangements
  • Michael Omartian – keyboards, arrangements
  • Scott Edwards, Wilton Felder – bass
  • Paul Humphrey, Ed Greene – drums
  • Brian Potter, Steve Barri, Gary Coleman, King Errisson – percussion
  • Don Hockett – arrangements
  • Gil Askey – arrangements
  • Jimmie Haskell – arrangements
  • McKinley Jackson – arrangements
  • Sid Sharp – concertmaster
  • Barney Perkins, Howard Gale, Phil Kaye – engineer
  • Vic Zaslav – mastering
  • Peter Palombi – illustration
  • Ron Slenzak – photography

Track listing:

  1. One Chain Don’t Make No Prison – Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter
  2. Midnight Flower – McKinley Jackson, Reginald Dozier
  3. The Well Is Dry – Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert
  4. Love Ain’t Easy to Come By – Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert
  5. No Sad Songs – Glenn Leonard, Len Perry, Rachel Foster
  6. Right on Brother – Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert
  7. Tell Me You Love Me – Al Cleveland, Lawrence Payton
  8. All My Love – Renaldo Benson, Val Benson
  9. I Found the Spirit – Renaldo Benson, Val Benson
  10. Meeting of the Minds – Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert

Four Tops: Reach Out

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In July 1967, “Motown” label released “Reach Out”, the sixth Four Tops album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967 at “Hitsville Studio A”, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Smokey Robinson and Clarence Paul.

Personnel:

  • Levi Stubbs – lead vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Lawrence Payton, The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Reach Out I’ll Be There – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  2. Walk Away Renée – Bob Calilli, Michael Brown, Tony Sansone
  3. 7-Rooms of Gloom – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  4. If I Were a Carpenter – Tim Hardin
  5. Last Train to Clarksville – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
  6. I’ll Turn to Stone – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland,  Dean Taylor
  7. I’m a Believer – Neil Diamond
  8. Standing in the Shadows of Love – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  9. Bernadette – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  10. Cherish – Terry Kirkman
  11. Wonderful Baby – Smokey Robinson
  12. What Else Is There to Do (But Think About You) – Stevie Wonder, Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax

 

Four Tops: On Top

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On July 2, 1966, “Motown” label released “On Top”, the third Four Tops studio  album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Brian Holland, Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Renaldo Benson– vocals
  • Abdul Fakir– vocals
  • Lawrence Payton– vocals, keyboards
  • Levi Stubbs– vocals
  • The Andantes- vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Got a Feeling – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  2. Brenda – Edward Holland Jr.
  3. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  4. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  5. Until You Love Someone – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  6. There’s No Love Left – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  7. Matchmaker, Matchmaker – Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick
  8. Michelle – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  9. In the Still of the Night – Cole Porter
  10. Bluesette – Norman Gimbel, Toots Thielemans
  11. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees
  12. Then – Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers