When She Was My Girl

"When She Was My Girl" is a 1981 single released by American vocal group the Four Tops. The song, their first release off Casablanca Records, helped to return the former signature Motown act to the American pop Top 40 charts, peaking at No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 10 on the Cashbox chart, and reaching No. 1 on the R&B charts.

Internationally, it reached No. 9 in Canada, No. 6 in New Zealand, and also became their first top 10 hit in the UK in nine years, reaching No. 3. Their top 40 showing made the group one of the few acts to have top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in three consecutive decades. Record World called it an "infectious dancer." "When She Was My Girl" was a Grammy nominee for best R&B song. Bruce Springsteen recorded the song for his 2022 studio album, Only the Strong Survive.

Credits

 * Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs and Renaldo "Obie" Benson
 * Background vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton