"Reach Out I'll Be There" (also written as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)") is a song by the American group of four singers called Four Tops. It is from their fourth studio album, Reach Out, which was released in 1967. The song was written and produced by Motown's main team, Holland–Dozier–Holland. It is considered one of the most important Motown songs from the 1960s.
The song reached number one on the Rhythm & Blues chart for two weeks and on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks during the week of October 15–22, 1966. It also became number one on the UK Singles Chart, making it Motown's second UK chart-topper after the Supremes' 1964 song "Baby Love." The UK chart-top ranking began on October 27, 1966, and lasted for three weeks.
Later, Rolling Stone listed "Reach Out" as number 206 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Billboard named it the number four song for 1966. In 2022, the song was chosen by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Recording Registry.
Writing and recording
In 1966, Holland, Dozier, and Holland were writing new songs for the Four Tops to record for an album. Lamont Dozier explained that he wanted to create "a journey of emotions with sustained tension, like a bolero." To show this, he changed the musical keys, using a minor key with a Russian sound in the verses and a major key with a gospel sound in the chorus. He worked with Eddie Holland to write lyrics that sounded "as though they were being thrown down vocally." Dozier mentioned that Bob Dylan's music strongly influenced them, and they wanted Levi Stubbs to shout the lyrics, inspired by Dylan's style.
For the recording, the writers and producers intentionally placed Levi Stubbs at the highest part of his vocal range, according to Abdul Fakir of the Four Tops, "to make sure he'd have that cry and hunger and wailing in his voice." Arranger Paul Riser added instruments like a piccolo and flute in the intro, and used timpani mallets on a tambourine head to create a drum pattern. After the recording was finished and they heard the final version, the group asked Berry Gordy not to release it, as Fakir explained, "for us, the song felt a little odd." However, Gordy insisted it be released as a single.
Style
Lead singer Levi Stubbs sings many parts of the song in a style that mixes singing and shouting, similar to his performance in the 1965 hit, "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)." AllMusic critic Ed Hogan praises Stubbs' voice and describes the song's "strong and steady rhythm" and "dramatic and powerful changes in intensity." Critic Martin Charles Strong refers to the song as "a grand and powerful soul song that remains [the Four Tops'] most famous work."
In 2014, Four Tops singer Duke Fakir told The Guardian:
Reception
Cash Box described the song as a "fast-paced, rhythmic pop-R&B love song about a man who is deeply in love and promises to always be ready to do anything his girlfriend asks."
In 1988, Jon Wilde from Melody Maker wrote that it was "the third best number 1 single ever." He noted that the sound at the beginning, which resembles a horse galloping, is very hard to beat. He also said that when Levi begins singing, it is "one of the finest sights in the solar system."
Legacy
The version by the Four Tops was used by Joe Biden during his 2020 U.S. presidential campaign. Many artists have covered the song, such as the Jaded Hearts Club in 2020.
In 1998, the 1966 recording by the Four Tops on Motown Records was placed in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The Four Tops' version was used in the main trailer for the second season of the Apple TV+ series Severance.
Diana Ross version
In 1971, American singer Diana Ross performed the song "Reach Out, I'll Be There." Motown released her version of the song from her third album, Surrender (1971). The song was produced by Ashford & Simpson. It reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 35 in Canada.
Gloria Gaynor version
"Reach Out, I'll Be There" was performed by American singer Gloria Gaynor in 1975. It was the third single released from her first album, Never Can Say Goodbye (1975), by MGM Records. Gaynor's version became popular around the world. In the United States, it reached number 60 on the charts. In Canada, it reached number 16. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 14, and in West Germany, it reached number 5.