The Four Tops: Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Lawrence Payton.

Additional personnel: The Andantes (background vocals).

Producers: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, Michael Brown.

Compilation producer: Pat Lawrence.

Recorded between 1964 and 1982. Includes liner notes by Steven Ivory.

An all but impossible to beat single disc greatest hits set, this collection covers just about every crucial stage of the Tops' career. During Motown's 1960s glory days, the Tops were abetted by the brilliant writing/producing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. The timeless soul classics that sprung forth, including "Baby I Need Your Loving" and the epic "Reach Out I'll Be There," are indeed essential.

The group's post-HDH career is surprisingly rewarding, from soulful covers of Tim Hardin and the Left Banke, to their early 1970s successes at ABC/Paramount ("Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got"), and their disco era smash ("When She Was My Girl"). If you only have room for one Four Tops album, this is the one to grab.