About The Song
Motown 1098 may not sound like a particularly significant catalog number, but the track it denoted remains one of the defining moments of the company’s collective brilliance. The classic in question is the Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” released on August 18, 1966. It was a US pop No.1 on October 15, and repeated the feat two weeks later in the UK.
Written by Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier and produced by Brian and Lamont, the song came to the Four Tops during something of a lull after their breakthrough of the 1964-65 season. They had were continuing to enjoy support from their R&B constituency, but even there, the quartet’s previous single, Stevie Wonder’s song “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever,” only made No.12, and fizzled at just No.45 pop. It was their lowest rating since their Hot 100 debut with “Baby I Need Your Loving.”
“Reach Out I’ll Be There” changed all that, its passionate sentiment perfectly matched to the group’s dramatic delivery and the peerlessly plaintive lead vocals of Levi Stubbs. Then there was the unprecedented daring for a Motown single of the choice of instrumentation. Flutes and almost galloping percussion detailed the melancholy introduction, before the unforgettable vocal liftoff that sent Levi’s narrative into orbit.
“Reach Out” was on the charts in no time, and made No.1 pop when it took over at the Hot 100 summit from The Association’s “Cherish.” As its two-week reign ended there, it started another on the R&B register, and a three-week run at the UK summit.
Video
Lyric
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
Now if you feel that you can’t go on
Because all of your hope is gone
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion
And your world around is crumblin’ down
Darling, reach out, come on girl, reach on out for me
Reach out, reach out for me
I’ll be there, with a love that will shelter you
I’ll be there, with a love that will see you through
When you feel lost and about to give up
‘Cause your best just ain’t good enough
And you feel the world has grown cold
And you’re drifting out all on your own
And you need a hand to hold
Darling, reach out, come on girl, reach out for me
Reach out, reach out for me
I’ll be there, to love and comfort you
And I’ll be there, to cherish and care for you
I’ll be there, with a love that will see you through
I’ll be there to love and comfort you
I can tell the way you hang your head
You’re without love and now you’re afraid
And through your tears you look around
But there’s no peace of mind to be found
I know what you’re thinkin’
You’re alone now, no love of your own
But darling, reach out, come on girl, reach out for me
Reach out
Just look over your shoulder
I’ll be there, to give you all the love you need
And I’ll be there, you can always depend on me
I’ll be there, to give you all the love you need
I’ll be there, you can always depend on me
I’ll be there