Motown fans have something special to look forward to this summer as UMe and Elemental Music prepare to release a newly remixed and expanded 60th Anniversary Edition of Four Tops Live! on July 24, 2026. Available on deluxe vinyl and digital platforms, the reissue breathes new life into one of Motown’s most celebrated live recordings while offering fans a deeper look into the legendary group's electrifying stage presence.
Originally recorded during two performances at Detroit’s iconic Roostertail nightclub in August and September 1966, Four Tops Live! captured the quartet at the height of their popularity. The expanded edition transforms the original album into a four-sided vinyl collection, adding ten previously unreleased tracks from the concerts. Alongside timeless Four Tops classics such as “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Ask the Lonely,” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” listeners will hear the group’s interpretations of contemporary favorites including “Michelle,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” The collection also includes a spirited performance of The Supremes’ chart-topping hit “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
The project was produced by Motown archivist and UMe Vice President of A&R Harry Weinger, with extensive restoration work handled by Drew Schultz, former drummer and music director for the Four Tops and current curator at Detroit’s Motown Museum. Working from the original master tapes, Schultz remixed and remastered the recordings, removing the overdubbed applause that appeared on the original release and restoring the authentic audience reactions from inside the Roostertail. The expanded edition also reinstates stage banter from lead singer Levi Stubbs and introductions from legendary Detroit radio personality Scott Regen, who served as emcee during the performances.
The deluxe gatefold package includes Regen’s original liner notes, newly written commentary, and producer notes that provide additional historical context. As an added bonus, the set closes with “You Name It,” a previously unreleased instrumental performance featuring Earl Van Dyke and the musicians who would later become known worldwide as The Funk Brothers.
The release also serves as a reminder of Motown’s remarkable impact beyond the recording studio. During the 1960s, live albums became a milestone for the label’s biggest stars, with artists including The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, and The Supremes all receiving concert releases. Four Tops Live! stands apart, however, thanks to its connection to “Motown Monday,” a popular live concert series broadcast from the Roostertail and promoted by WKNR radio. The Four Tops were the inaugural headliners for the series, making the album an important document of both Motown and Detroit music history.
Equally remarkable is the group's longevity. Founding members Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton first came together in 1953, years before Motown Records was established. The lineup remained unchanged for more than four decades, a rarity in popular music. Their consistency helped build one of the most enduring catalogs in soul music history and cemented their place among Motown’s greatest acts.
In a fitting tribute to the album’s legacy, the current incarnation of the Four Tops will celebrate the release with a July 24 performance at the Roostertail, the very venue where these historic recordings were made sixty years ago. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the expanded edition of Four Tops Live! offers an unforgettable snapshot of a group whose energy, talent, and timeless songs continue to resonate across generations.
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