Yesterday's Dreams
Released: August 1968
Well after the titanic success of Reach Out the Four Tops found themselves somewhat aimless like the Supremes when Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown. This album had one HDH leftover and is chock full of crap and fluff as Motown scrambled to find material.
The first three songs are really the only ones worth listening to. Naturally one is the HDH tune while, another comes from Ivy Jo Hunter, and the third is from Ashford & Simpson.
“Yesterday Dreams” is a melancholy ballad. Works as a fine summation of the Four Tops trying to make their way without HDH. “Can't Seem to Get You out of My Mind” is the contribution from Ashford & Simpson. It’s a splendid little dance track.
The best song here is HDH’s “I’m In A Different World”, which is another ballad. Whereas the title track was full of sadness, this ballad instead serves to uplift. The narrator begins sad, but some good love from his lady brings him to… you guessed it… a different world. A world that’s warm, a world that’s sweet. At least that’s what the song’s lyrics say.
It’s one of those 1960s songs that would have been enhanced by letting the musicians stretch out turning three-minute pop song into a five- or six-minute slice of heaven on earth. In any case, James Jamerson tears it up on bass again, FYI.
And since I’m a charts nerd, this album began a precipitous decline in the Four Tops’ commercial performance. The singles were the worst charters since the group broke out four years earlier with “Baby I Need Your Loving”.
The title track reach #31 R&B and #49 pop while “I’m In A Different World” hit #23 R&B and #51 pop. The album topped off at #7 R&B, no doubt residuals from Reach Out which reached #3 R&B and #11 pop on the album charts. The pop audience was not so suckered. Yesterday’s Dreams was a disappointing #91 there.
ALBUM GRADE: D
Yes, the rest of the songs are that underwhelming this album gets a D.
SONG SCORES
Yesterday's Dreams: 8/10
Can't Seem to Get You out of My Mind: 7.5/10
I'm In A Different World: 8.5/10
FOUR TOPS NOW
Released: July 1969
Well after the disaster that was Yesterday’s Dreams, the Four Tops were able to get back some respectability with Four Tops Now. It’s still not a good album by any means. It’s not even average. It’s mediocre.
But at least there are four decent songs here. Unfortunately, none are anywhere near as good as the three standout songs from Yesterday’s Dreams, though.
“The Key” is the most classically Motown of these songs. I like it, especially that shaking tambourine. “What Is a Man” (#53 pop) is a weird combination of baroque pop, psychedelia, and soul.
“My Past Just Crossed My Future” drops the baroque for funk while keeping the psychedelia and soul. “Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me” (#25 R&B, #45 pop) sounds like a test run for the Jackson 5’s early 70s hits. Doesn’t quite fit the Four Tops’ vocal style.
Despite their differences, I give all four of those songs a 6.5/10. There’s also a cover of “MacArthur Park” (#27 R&B, #38 pop), if you want a novelty song. It’s a 5/10.
Although it’s mildly better than Yesterday’s Dreams the album was the worst performing yet for the Four Tops (#18 R&B and #74 pop). With the singles not catching fire either, the group continued their commercial and artistic slump.
ALBUM GRADE: C-
The four best songs all come right at the beginning of the album, so that’s a big plus.