"Bernadette"is a 1967 hit song recorded by theFour Topsfor theMotownlabel. The song was written and composed byHolland–Dozier–Holland,Motown's main songwriting team, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.
| "Bernadette" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyFour Tops | ||||
| from the albumReach Out | ||||
| B-side | "Something About You"or"I Got a Feeling" | |||
| Released | February 16, 1967 | |||
| Recorded | Hitsville U.S.A.(Studio A); January 25, 1967 | |||
| Genre | Soul,pop | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
| Producer(s) | Brian Holland Lamont Dozier | |||
| Four Topssingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Billboarddescribed the song as a "hard-driving rocker" with an "outstanding performance by the group."[1]Cash Boxcalled the single a "pulsating Detroit lid underscored by that steady, danceable rhythm."[2]The song reached #4 on theBillboardHot 100,#8 on theCash Box Top 100.[3]On the R&B chart, "Bernadette" went to #3..[4]It also reached #8 in the UK and was a hit again in 1972, reaching #23.[5]
The song is notable for its false ending, where the instruments drop out and the background singers hold a chord. Lead singerLevi Stubbsthen shouts "Bernadette!" and the song resumes, ending in a fade-out. CriticMaury Deandescribed the effectiveness of Stubb's shout of "Bernadette!" as being the key ingredient in getting listeners to buy the record, even if Bernadette herself may not have heard him.[6]
AllMusiccritic John Bush calls it "dramatic" and "impassioned."[7]
Personnel
edit- Lead vocals byLevi Stubbs
- Background vocals byAbdul "Duke" Fakir,Renaldo "Obie" Benson,Lawrence Payton,andThe Andantes:Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
- Instrumentation by TheFunk Brothers
- Written and composed byBrian Holland,Lamont Dozier,andEdward Holland, Jr.
- Produced byBrian HollandandLamont Dozier
Notes and references
edit- ^"Spotlight Singles"(PDF).Billboard.March 4, 1967. p. 14.Retrieved2021-03-01.
- ^"CashBox Record Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box.March 4, 1967. p. 14.Retrieved2022-01-12.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(2014).Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996.Record Research. p. 148.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(2004).Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004.Record Research. p. 212.
- ^"Four Tops charts".officialcharts.com.Retrieved2014-03-16.
- ^Dean, M.(2003).Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush.Algora. p.164.ISBN0875862071.
- ^Bush, J."Reach Out".AllMusic.Retrieved2014-03-15.
External links
edit- List of cover versions of "Bernadette"at SecondHandSongs.com