"When She Was My Girl" by The Four Tops

     Much thanks to you for tuning into the Dial tonight, friends! Our latest spotlighted tune is an unexpected comeback record from a legendary soul act that most pop radio listeners would never stake a major claim in the U.S. top 40 in the 1980s, but yet, they did just that. Ladies and gentlemen, the Dial is proud to bring you The Four Tops, and "When She Was My Girl".

"She used to be… everything to me. When she was my girl."

The lead single pulled from the group’s twenty-seventh album, 1981’s Tonight!, and featuring the unmistakable harmonica work of Stevie Wonder, "When She Was…" concerns a timeless lament of a love lost, which makes it a perfect companion piece to The O’Jays 1978 classic "Use Ta Be My Girl".

The tune is also the legendary R&B group’s first top 40 charter since 1973’s "Sweet Understanding Love", a US #33 hit, and it also marks the final top 40 appearance for the band as a headlining act, which does not count 1988’s "Indestructible", a #35 pop hit recorded as a duet with Smokey Robinson. "When She Was…" itself peaked at the "so close" #11 spot, not quite able to take up residence in the US Top 10, though it did reach #1 US R&B, #9 US Adult Contemporary, and #3 in the UK.

Successfully marrying the group’s classy soul sounds with modern (for the time) early 80’s style production, "When She Was…" features Levi Stubbs’ soothing yet powerful lead vocals, and magnificent harmonies by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and Lawrence Payton. These gentlemen are the original founding members of the group, having recorded together starting in 1953 as the Four Aims, then changing their name to the Four Tops in ’56. These icons of soul and pop remained together until 1997, due to Payton’s passing in that year. Currently, a group identified as The Four Tops continue to tour today, however Fakir is the only remaining original member. Still, they continue the legacy of the group and perform multiple shows yearly.

On a side note, it’s amazing how many phenomenal tunes these guys gave us … "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "It’s The Same Old Song", "Standing in the Shadows of Love", "Bernadette", "Still Water (Love)", "Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)"… the majority of which were recorded and released during the 1960s for Motown. If you have any interest in classic soul, and you somehow aren’t already a fan, I urge you to check these classics out.

"I… held her near… told her how much I cared. When she was my girl."

As the instrumentation of "When She Was…" sounded like a contemporary soul group, for years, I failed to pick up on the fact that this was the legendary Four Tops from my parents’ oldies stations until much later. After the song’s original chart run, and on the rare occasions that I would happen across "When She Was…" on a lite rock station, I always assumed it was somebody like The O’Jays, (again, likely due to the "Use Ta Be My Girl" similarities), the Commodores (post Lionel Richie of course), or Ray, Goodman, and Brown.

One minor complaint, is that there is a lyric at the end of the second chorus that seems a little out of place to me, given the song’s overall sweetness when Levi sings…

"She’s gone… the big legged girl is gone."

Other than once being called "foxy", there’s no other reference to her physical looks, and certainly, this "big legged" comment feels almost like a borderline insult, even though I assumed she’s just a thicker lady, and Levi likes ‘em larger. But, then the question is, is his "ex" pleased that she’s being referred to in this way in a song heard by millions? I’m so confused.

Of course, "Big legged woman" is actually an appreciative term that appeared in songs going all the way back to songs of the bluesmen of the 1930’s like Johnnie Temple, and Albert King. It’s the "OLD-old school" way of praising what Sir-Mix-A-Lot did in 1992’s "Baby Got Back", if you know what I mean.

Out of place lyric aside… "When She Was…" is a sweet, romantic soul classic sung by one of the true legendary groups of R&B music and led by one of the most genuine soul voices ever. A solid tune to mark the group’s final major hit single, and one they can be proud of.

"When we walk down the street… I would tell everyone we meet… this is my girl."

Interestingly, the Tonight! parent LP also contains covers of two songs released shortly before The Tops’ turned in their renditions, "Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong", a quiet storm slow jam co-written by Kenny Loggins, and originally appearing on Kenny’s 1979 album Keep The Fire, and Stevie Wonder’s "All I Do", a soft rock meets funk blend that Stevie originally released on his 1980 LP Hotter Than July. These two tracks remained album cuts, as had the originals by Kenny and Stevie. However, it would have been interesting if the Tops had chosen to cover recent hit singles by these two guys… maybe we would have gotten Levi and company singing renditions of "I’m Alright", or "Send One Your Love" instead.

So check out this last big hit from an act rightfully considered to be one of the architects of the Motown sound. How well do you think it compares to their legendary 1960’s output? Drop me a comment with your thoughts. And be sure to continue to tune into the Dial for more songs to kickstart that jukebox in your mind!

"When she was my girl… there was laughter and loving in my world… everyday."