Eddie Holland, who with his brother Brian and Lamont Dozier were the songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, celebrates his 82nd birthday today. Their most celebrated work is with The Supremes, for whom they wrote 10 of their 12 greatest hits, and The Four Tops, for whom they wrote a number of hits, including their best-known song "Reach Out I’ll Be There," which reached #1 on the Hot 100 and the R&B charts in the US and #1 in the UK. This is a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 16, 1966.
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
I like the song, but it’s forever tinged with sadness for me, thanks to the Movie “Cooley High”. That movie’s super-sad ending, including this song, haunts me to this day.
LikeLike
That was the one with Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, wsn’t it? My mother’s best friend’s husband was the principal at Cooley, though I can’t remember if he was when they made the movie…
LikeLike
Yep, that’s the one.
LikeLike
Great song. The Temps and Four Tops are still touring! They were at the Mountain Winery this year.
LikeLike
Those old bands are still going, often with only one original member, sometimes none. You gotta hand it to them…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Motown didn’t much appeal to me back in the day, but for this song, I made an exception. I think it was the flat ninth added to the seventh chord in the high voice, reach out —-, reach ouuuuuuUUT , that did it.
LikeLike
I regret that I never worked on ear training when I was playing guitar, but I know what you’re saying. The 7 flat 9 is basically a diminished chord, if I remember correctly…
LikeLike
You can’t beat the Four Tops…I saw them with the Temptations in the 80s…snuck in the Opry House at Opryland and it was great.
LikeLike
That was their “Temps and Tops” tour, wasn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may have been… I forgot what year… he was an employee there and couldn’t afford tickets so he guided me through the employee parts. I’m not proud of it but I’m glad I got to see them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my all-time favorites!
LikeLike
It’s a great one, for certain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Has to be on my Mount Rushmore of Motown singles.
LikeLike
Out of curisity, what else would be there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow I hadn’t actually made a Mount Rushmore but I do love this one so much– how about – What’s Going On- Marvin / The Tracks Of My Tears- Smokey and The Miracles / Superstition- Stevie.. so many great ones from that era.
LikeLike
The late ’60’s and ’70’s were a great time for soul. I’d probably go with something by The Supremes and one by The Temptations, but I’d need a dozen Mt. Rushmores, I think. Plus you have the non-Motown bands…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another one which comes to mind- “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’– yes kind of hard to take just a few.
LikeLike