The Temptations and the Four Tops will perform Wednesday night at the Palace Theater in Stamford.
There should probably be quotation marks around the groups' names, though, since they are both down to just one individual member - Otis Williams for the Temptations and Abdul "Duke" Fakir for the Four Tops.
The Tempts and the Tops were of course two of Motown's hottest properties, providing several of the greatest singles from the label's heyday.
In 1965 "My Girl", cowritten and coproduced by Smokey Robinson went to Number One for the Temptations. It is regarded by many as their all-time classic, but lesser known hits like "Since I Lost My Baby" and "I Wish It Would Rain" rival for melodic beauty
Beginning in 1968 the Temptations' music adopted a harder edged, funkier sound, exemplified by songs like "Cloud Nine" and "Ball of Confusion." As the title to one of their compilations put it, it was Psychedelic Soul.
The Four Tops formed in Detroit sixty years ago, ten years before they signed to Motown. With the dramatic Levi Stubbs singing lead, the groups' mid-Sixties recordings "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Standing In the Shadows of Love" and "Bernadette" had an ominous undercurrent that added to their power.
In the early Seventies the Tops recorded for ABC Dunhill Records and hit with songs like "Keeper of the Castle" and "Are You Man Enough."
The show begans at 8:00 and ticket prices range from $50 to $75.
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