"Still Water (Love)" is a 1970 hit single written by Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson (who also produced the track) for the Motown singing group Four Tops. The B-side was "Still Water (Peace)"[3] and both songs appear on the 1970 album Still Waters Run Deep.
Background
The socially conscious single was a departure from the group's past recordings and produced a smoother sound than the raucous Norman Whitfield productions that belayed on The Temptations. The single features Miracles member Marv Tarplin on guitar and The Andantes adding in additional background vocals shouting out "Still water!". Singers Brenda Joyce Evans and Billie Rae Calvin, brought to Motown by Bobby Taylor (and soon to be part of Norman Whitfield's group The Undisputed Truth), also add backing vocals. This song was noted for its repeated chord structure, beginning with E-Flat Major, shifting to C Minor, then to B-Flat Major over F, before starting again at E-Flat Major, over and over again, without any changes or alterations to the song's fade.[citation needed]
Chart performance
"Still Water (Love)" went to #4 on the Hot Soul Singles chart,[4] and to #11 in the US Pop Chart.[5] Outside the US, the song peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart.[6]
Cover versions
- 1979: Terry Callier, Turn to Love.
- In 1982, O'Bryan covered the song for his album, Doin' Alright.
References
- ^ https://www.45cat.com/record/m1170
- ^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ "Four Tops – Still Water (1970, Vinyl)". Discogs.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 212.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition: Complete Chart Information. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780307985125.
- ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
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