Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)
“Reach Out I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops stands as one of the most iconic and widely-known Motown hits of the 1960s, serving as the group’s signature song. Written and produced by Motown’s legendary production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, the track was released on August 18, 1966, and quickly became a massive commercial success. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 15, 1966, holding the top position for two weeks. It also dominated the UK Singles Chart, becoming Motown’s second British chart-topper after the Supremes’ “Baby Love,” where it spent three weeks at number one beginning October 27, 1966. Billboard ranked it as the number four song of 1966, and it later earned a place at number 206 on Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.
The creation of “Reach Out I’ll Be There” came at a crucial time for the Four Tops, who were experiencing a lull after their breakthrough in 1964-65. Lamont Dozier envisioned the song as “a journey of emotions with sustained tension, like a bolero,” alternating between a minor, Russian feel in the verses and a major, gospel feel in the chorus. The production team was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan’s vocal style at the time, wanting lead singer Levi Stubbs to “shout-sing” the lyrics with similar urgency and intensity. To achieve the desired emotional impact, Holland-Dozier-Holland intentionally pushed Stubbs to the top of his vocal range, ensuring his performance would have “that cry and hunger and wailing in his voice,” according to Four Tops member Abdul Fakir. The song’s distinctive sound was enhanced by arranger Paul Riser’s innovative instrumentation, including piccolo and flute in the introduction, and a unique drum pattern created by using timpani mallets on a tambourine head.
The song’s impact extended far beyond its initial chart success. It appeared on the Four Tops’ fifth studio album, also titled Reach Out, released in July 1967, which became the group’s biggest-selling studio album. The track helped establish the Four Tops as international stars, particularly in Britain, where they toured extensively in early 1967 under the promotion of the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. Over the decades, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” has been covered by numerous artists including Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Bolton, and many others, cementing its status as a timeless soul classic. In 2022, the U.S. Library of Congress added the song to the National Recording Registry, recognizing it as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The original Four Tops lineup performed together for 44 years until Lawrence Payton’s death in 1997, and throughout that remarkable career, they never had a bigger commercial hit than “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
Four Tops Reach Out (I'll Be There) 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