Four Tops, “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 136^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” by Four Tops.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 136^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”, performed by 🎙 Four Tops.

Eight words: 🎵 “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”.  Enough said, honestly. 🎙 Four Tops are one of the truly great, soul collectives hands down.  Sadly, Four Tops are among many acts that have NEVER been awarded a 🏆 Grammy – a travesty (they were nominated for just one)! The group has plenty of hits on the R&B and pop charts, with “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” being one of their biggest. “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got)” was written by 🎼 ✍ Brian Potter and Dennis Lambert.  Interestingly, it was originally recorded by 🎙 Hamilton, Joe Frank  & Reynolds – are you shook? Of course, it was Four Tops that made it a hit.  It appears on the quartet’s 1972 album, 💿 Keeper Of The Castle.  It peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 – impressive to say the least.

“Every day the sun comes up around her

She can make the birds sing harmony.”

So, what makes this record a surefire classic?  It starts with the music honestly – that gorgeous introduction sets the tone.  Overall, the instrumental backdrop can be described as chill, lush, and smooth (Potter and Lambert produce alongside 🎛 Steve Barri).  This gives 🎙 Levi Stubbs and company fuel for the fire, though, the collective always seemed to be on autopilot, didn’t they? Four Tops deliver celestial vocal harmonies, while Stubbs serves up commanding, soulful lead vocals.  The verses shine, as the excerpted lyrics suggest, but it is the chorus – among soul music’s catchiest – that solidifies the hit status of “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”.  The core of the chorus is the eight-letter title, along with stellar ad-libs by 🎙 Lawrence Payton, 🎙 Obie Benson, and 🎙 Duke Fakir.  All told, 🎵 “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” is the cat’s meow!

🎙 Four Tops • 💿 Keeper Of The Castle • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 1972

Four Tops, “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 136 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Geffen, John Alan Sperry, PIRO, The Musical Hype, Pixabay]