On Broadway (Four Tops album)
On Broadway is the fourth studio album by American soul vocal group Four Tops, mostly covering Broadway show tunes and musical numbers.
Recording and release
Motown founder Berry Gordy had the idea for this album, encouraging his stable of artists to turn toward new audiences for their music, particularly higher class listeners. The band recorded On Broadway with musician Frank Wilson in Los Angeles, with the exception of their covers of "Make Someone Happy" and "Nice 'n' Easy".Reception
A brief review in Billboard suggests to retailers that this album will be a "sure-fire hit LP" with "smooth performances". Editors at AllMusic Guide scored this album 2.5 out of five stars, with critic Andrew Hamilton considering this album a failed experiment that Motown should have stopped, but calling the cover of "Make Someone Happy" "an endearing rendition". While many reviewers consider this a failed experiment, a 1995 review of pop stars covering musical show tunes notes that this was an innovative release.Track listing
- "Hello Broadway" – 3:50
- "Maria" – 2:50
- "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" – 2:50
- "Mame" – 2:38
- "I Want to Be with You" – 2:34
- "On the Street Where You Live" – 2:54
- "The Sound of Music" – 2:58
- "What Did I Have That I Don't Have" – 2:16
- "For Once in My Life" – 2:45
- "My Way" – 2:26
- "Make Someone Happy" – 4:26
- "Nice 'n' Easy" – 2:57
Personnel
Four Tops- Renaldo Benson – bass vocals
- Abdul Fakir – first tenor vocals
- Lawrence Payton – keyboards, second tenor vocals, vocal arrangement
- Levi Stubbs – baritone lead and baritone vocals
- Frank Dandridge – photography
- Jule Styne – liner notes
- H. Webber – design
- Frank Wilson – production