REVIEW: THE FOUR TOPS & THE TEMPTATIONS

BOURNEMOUTH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

In the 1960s, I was playing in a Birmingham soul band doing covers of Temptations songs. In the 70s, we toured American bases covering Four Tops numbers.

Now, in 2016, while my guitar gathers dust, The Temptations and The Four Tops are still entertaining the world.

Playing a short UK tour including Birmingham, Manchester and London, this entertaining soul spectacular wowed a sold-out BIC.

These two soul bands have been successful for over 50 years, they’re still packing out theatres world-wide, and they both feature one original band-member.

The Temptations have Otis Williams, still doing the business at 74 years funky, while The Tops have Abdul “Duke” Fakir, still dominating the stage.

The packed BIC audience gave The Temptations a standing ovation before they’d even launched into their signature song Get Ready.

In their matching suits, tight choreography, and rich vocal harmonies, The Temps powered through their hooky hits: Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, Just My Imagination, Treat Her Like A Lady and the contagious Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.

The Temptations’ finale is their anthem – the timelessly beautiful My Girl.

Each band features superb 15-piece American orchestras, driving The Tops through their hooky hits: Baby I Need Your Lovin’, Bernadette, and the compulsive Same Old Song.

The BIC shook with the Tops’ finale of I’ll Be There, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, and the poppy sing-along Sugar Pie Honey Bunch.

Brendan McCusker