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 companyā€™s collective brilliance. The classic in question isĀ the Four Topsā€™ ā€œReach Out Iā€™ll Be There,ā€ 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 quartetā€™s previous single,Ā Stevie Wonderā€™s song ā€œLoving You Is Sweeter Than Ever,ā€ only made No.12, and fizzled at just No.45 pop. It was their lowest rating since their Hot 100 debut with ā€œBaby I Need Your Loving.ā€

ā€œReach Out Iā€™ll Be Thereā€ changed all that, its passionate sentiment perfectly matched to the groupā€™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 Leviā€™s narrative into orbit.

ā€œReach Outā€ was on the charts in no time, and made No.1 pop when it took over at the Hot 100 summit from The Associationā€™s ā€œCherish.ā€ 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

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Now if you feel that you canā€™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 crumblinā€™ down
Darling, reach out, come on girl, reach on out for me
Reach out, reach out for me
Iā€™ll be there, with a love that will shelter you
Iā€™ll be there, with a love that will see you through
When you feel lost and about to give up
ā€˜Cause your best just ainā€™t good enough
And you feel the world has grown cold
And youā€™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
Iā€™ll be there, to love and comfort you
And Iā€™ll be there, to cherish and care for you
Iā€™ll be there, with a love that will see you through
Iā€™ll be there to love and comfort you
I can tell the way you hang your head
Youā€™re without love and now youā€™re afraid
And through your tears you look around
But thereā€™s no peace of mind to be found
I know what youā€™re thinkinā€™
Youā€™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
Iā€™ll be there, to give you all the love you need
And Iā€™ll be there, you can always depend on me
Iā€™ll be there, to give you all the love you need
Iā€™ll be there, you can always depend on me
Iā€™ll be there