Music Review: Temptations and Four Tops Celebrate 40th Anniversary

The Temptations’ and the Four Tops’ 40th anniversary tour performance was a blast from the past … and a really great time was had by all! Thank you, New Jersey Performance Art Center (NJPAC), for bringing those still incredible artists to Newark.

Motown was a force in the music industry from its beginning. In 1959, Berry Gordy opened Tamla Records, later on incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in 1960.

Motown and its labels were the most prominent producer and promoter of what became known as the “Motown sound,” soul music with a pop sound that became appealing to many listeners. In 1967, Motown moved to Los Angeles and expanded into film and television production. It was an independent company until MCA Records bought it in 1988. Nowadays, Motown is again independent.

Gordy initially began using the Tamla and Motown imprints to release songs that he wrote and produced. Smokey Robinson was the very first artist he signed, and the two remain best friends to this day. Since then, many beloved popular music artists have been associated with Motown.

“Shop Around,” the Miracles’ first R&B hit, became the first million-selling record the company produced. Many more followed. In the decade from 1961 to 1971, Motown had approximately 11 top 10 hits per year.

Artists on the Motown assorted labels during that period included Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes, the Miracles, the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, and many others.

I bring all this history up because I’m happy to report that after all these years, both the Temptations and the Four Tops are still as magical as ever, even to an audience that was of a certain age, including yours truly. They brought us to our feet, dancing to their familiar hits like teenagers!

Only one original member of the Temptations is still living, and he still performs with them. Otis Williams, 84 years old, founded the group and sings both tenor and baritone vocals. He has performed on every release by the band, including their most recent studio album, Temptations 60, released on January 28, 2022, which also included a collaboration with Smokey Robinson.

We danced to “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me),” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “American Pie,” and many others that still enthrall audiences around the world.

The theater was absolutely packed with an audience that ranged from 17 to 87 and perhaps even a few years more, of every color, shape, and creed.

To many who were teenagers in the late 1950s and early 1960s, these songs became milestones in our life’s journey. They also became the soundtrack of our everyday life. I was living in Greece when this music first came of age, but American and British popular music was what all of my friends listened and danced to. “Chantilly Lace” and girls with ponytails were what I lived for. This performance at NJPAC brought back fond memories.