Tempts or Tops?

I like to provide helpful service to the public as much as I can. It just occurred to me that there are many who say they can't tell the difference between The Four Tops and The Temptations. Lord knows I used to have this problem, but I'm pretty sure I've figured out how to tell which is which.

First of all, if the song in question is from the late '60s or after, it's probably The Temptations, as it seems that The Four Tops' most popular tunes were from the mid '60s.

Second of all, if you can pick out distinct voices, it's most likely The Temptations. But with The Four Tops, it was pretty much Levi Stubbs and three background singers. If you listen to, say, "My Girl" -- a number-one hit for The Temptations -- obviously you hear David Ruffin singing lead, and in many places you can plainly hear Melvin Franklin's deep bass voice in the background. "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "I Can't Get Next To You" actually have different Temptations singing lead on different parts.

Third and perhaps easiest of all is how the lead vocal is delivered. It's The Four Tops if the lead vocal seems to be shouted out (not to belittle Levi Stubbs' excellent voice, mind you) and lyrics seem almost improvised (in other words, if it sounds parallel to, say, Barry White's "You're My First, My Last, My Everything"). If there's a very distinct melody, it's The Temptations. It probably has to do with who wrote the songs: Four Tops hits were mainly (if not exclusively) Holland-Dozier-Holland compositions, while The Tempts' earlier songs were often written by Smokey Robinson and later songs by Norman Whitfield.

Hopefully my observations will help you the next time you hear a Tempts or Tops song on the radio or an in-store music system. Be sure to help others who can't tell t be able to make the distinction!