The Four Tops – Baby I Need Your Loving

The single “Baby I Need Your Loving” is a 1964 hit recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Motown’s leading production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland is responsible for producing “Baby I Need Your Loving.” This song was the group’s first Motown single. Also, “Baby I Need Your Loving” was the group’s first pop Top 20 hit, which became number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was number four in Canada during the fall season of 1964. “Baby I Need Your Loving” was the Four Tops’ first million-selling hit single.

Cash Box described “Baby I Need Your Loving” as having a fascinating rock-a-cha-cha beat and a melody that can get stuck in anyone’s head! Rolling Stone ranked the Four Tops’ original version at no. 400 on the list of 500 Greatest Songs of All.

There is more to learn about “Baby I Need Your Loving”, and the information below will be helpful:

Interesting Facts about “Baby I Need Your Loving”

• The Four Tops version of “Baby I Need Your Loving” was played by the Motown studio band, The Funk Brothers.
• The Four Tops was a Motown singing group that became America’s most prosperous act in the 1960s.
• The legacy and success of the Four Tops earned them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
• The Four Tops have 24 top 40 hits for their name.
• Four Tops vocal group was created in 1953, but it did not get a Motown contract until 1962.
• Four Tops is famous for lead singer Levi Stubb’s baritone voice.
• Most of this era’s songs were written for tenors; therefore, Levi was forced to push his voice higher and higher.
• Levi gained a sense of urgency, pleading, and imploring while singing “Baby I Need Your Loving.”
• Levi’s bold and dramatic readings of some of Holland-Dozier-Holland’s choicest material set the expectations for the contemporary soul in the mid-60s.

Lyrics

Baby, I need your lovin’

Baby, I need your lovin’

Although you’re never near

Your voice I often hear

Another day, ‘nother night

I long to hold you tight

‘Cause I’m so lonely

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all your lovin’

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all you lovin’

Some say it’s a sign of weakness

For a man to beg

Then weak I’d rather be

If it means having you to keep

‘Cause lately I’ve been losing sleep

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all your lovin’

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all you lovin’

Empty nights echo your name

Whoa, sometimes I wonder

Will I ever be the same?

Oh yeah!

When you see me smiling, you know

Things have gotten worse

Any smile you might see

Has all been rehearsed

Darling, I can’t go on without you

This emptiness won’t let me live without you

This loneliness inside, darling

Makes me feel half alive

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all your lovin’

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all your lovin’

Baby, I need your lovin’

Got to have all your lovin’