Indestructible

Indestructible, released in 1988, represents the Four Tops' final significant chart presence and a notable sonic departure into late-80s contemporary R&B. After a brief return to Motown earlier in the decade, this Arista release saw the group fully embrace digital production. The album is most famous for its title track and the star-studded collaboration 'If Ever a Love There Was,' featuring Aretha Franklin and Kenny G. Sonically, the record is characterized by the heavy use of the Yamaha DX7 and Roland D-50 synthesizers, which provide a crystalline, shimmering backdrop to Levi Stubbs' raw, urgent baritone. While the production is firmly rooted in the 1980s, the group's vocal arrangements remain as sophisticated as their Holland-Dozier-Holland era. The inclusion of 'Are You With Me' highlights a shift toward explicit gospel and spiritual themes, a rarity for their secular pop catalog. Critically, the album was seen as a successful modernization of their sound, proving the group's 'indestructible' nature in a rapidly changing industry.