Ask the Lonely

"Ask the Lonely"
Single by Four Tops
from the album Four Tops
B-side	"Where Did You Go"
Released	1964
Format	7" single
Recorded	Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A); 1964
Genre	Soul/pop
Label	Motown
Writer(s)	Ivy Jo Hunter, William "Mickey" Stevenson
Four Tops singles chronology
"Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)" (1964) "Ask the Lonely" (1965) "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" (1965)

"Ask the Lonely" is a soul/pop ballad recorded by Motown singing group the Four Tops. Released as the group's third single, the single became the group's second successful single ever since signing to Motown in 1963. Released in 1965, the song rose to number 24 pop and number 9 R&B. It's notable for it being co-written by longtime Motown staffer Mickey Stevenson as most of the group's hits on Motown were written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. It's also notable for lead singer Levi Stubbs' emotional lead and The Andantes helping the other Tops (Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul "Duke" Fakir) in the background.

There is also a Journey song by the same name.

Credits

• Lead vocal by Levi Stubbs
• Background vocals by the Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra