The Temptations, Four Tops In Concert.

The Temptations have been playing music for 61 years. Last night at the Morristown Performing Arts Center the band was extraordinary. Playing under the Mo Town label, like many of the great artists back in the 60's, The Temptations played feel good song amongst the nations most turbulent times. As the Vietnam war raged and protests were almost a daily occurrence, bands like The Temptations and the Four Tops would put forth music that wasn't so much political (some songs were), but songs about love, going about everyday life and the good things that life had to offer.

Mo Town in the 60's were a brand with many artists from the Detroit area. Not only did the bands under the label sing well, they could also dance and visually entertain their audience as well as play music and sing. The Temptations were no exception and last night was proof that this band can still perform!

As they took the stage last evening, the band would be the evenings second and last act. Showing gratitude to the sold out venue, the band belted out seven songs in a row at rapid speed. I don't know of a band that have such versatile voice; from deep baritone to high soprano and everything in between. As they opened with "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" you could hear this versatility right from the jump.

Where The Temptations succeed is that the many different songs that they produced over the years: "Just My Imagination", "My Girl", "Get Ready", "Lady Soul", "Shakey Ground", their rendition of "The Band Played On" are just a few that this wonderful band has played over the years.

After the mid 70's the band did not record an awful lot of songs; they would cut some more songs in the 80's such as: "Treat Her Like a Lady", "Lady Soul", "Soul to Soul", " Standing on the Top" and even "Stay" in the late 90's. Having released an album in the mid 2000's under the production of Smokey Robinson, the band would have it's final album.

Having completed so many great songs with much notoriety, The Temptations didn't so much lose their way, but, it was more that the Mo Town sound faded away, overtaken by hard rock and disco. Like all music genres Mo Town was becoming a memory of the 60's and lost its appeal to listeners. It would be the Funk scene that would ultimately seal the fate of Mo Town's top artists. Funk had the dancing as well as some great songs that would take the mostly black listeners into another direction.

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The Four Tops.

The Four Tops are also a Mo Town sound and they too have many great songs and are also a talented song and dance band. With such great songs as "Can't Help Myself", "Reach Out", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Ain't No Woman", "When She Was My Girl" and "Shake Me Wake Me", this great band was backed by an orchestra last evening and for over 90 minutes the band was pure gold. Like The Temptations, The Four Tops sung feel good songs about love and the reality of falling in love. Grateful too for their accomplishments, the band would reminisce throughout their time on stage how lucky they are to still be playing and how music has taken them to their dreams in life.

Listening to these two groups makes a person realize just how many talented musicians have come our way from the 1960's and beyond. It is amazing just how many great acts came out of Mo Town alone. Listening to these two bands tonight makes you remember just how many songs both groups produced. I am very happy that I got to get the chance to see such talent all in one special night!

Temptations. The Four Tops, Mo Town, Detroit, Michigan, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll, Disco, Soul, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, AC/DC.