Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Dancing In The Street

Originally released in 1964, Dancing in the Street actually reached number 4 in the UK charts in a 1969 version. It was co-written by Marvin Gaye and William Stevenson and presented to Martha Reeves when she came to Motown.

Martha was born in Alabama in 1941 and sprang from a gospel tradition. Whilst she performed in a number of local groups in Detroit (including the Del-Phis), it wasn’t until she was spotted by Motown’s Mickey Stevenson that her future career took off. In fact, her first job at the hit label was as unpaid secretary! She even acted as vocalist on a number of other artist’s sessions. Again, fate intervened and Stevenson invited the Del-Phis in at short notice to cut “You’ll Never Cherish A Love So True” and the trio of Martha, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Sterling (Beard) shortly became “The Vandellas.

Sample “Dancing In The Street” on Motown 50 here:

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Nowhere To Run To by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

“Nowhere to run” made number 5 in the US in 1965 for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. During their nine year run in the charts from 1963 to 1972, the group charted over twenty-six hits for Motown. Originally known simply as “The Vandellas”, their name was changed to feature Martha Reeves as lead vocalist as part of a marketing change at Motown which included other groups such as Diana Ross (and the Supremes). An early change also occurred when Annette Sterling left and was replaced by Betty Kelly from the Velvelettes.

Martha Reeves was actually very ill on the day that “Nowhere To Run” was cut – but it did not impact upon her rendition.

Sample “Nowhere To Run To” on Motown 50 here:

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Jimmy Mack sung by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

Martha Reeves had a dozen hit singles with Motown and “Jimmy Mack” was the final top 10 hit in the US in 1967. It had orignally been written back in 1964 but because of the potential connotations to the Vietnam War it was decided to shelve it at the time. It was the last contribution from the Holland-Dozier-Holland camp. A further change occurred in the lineup with Betty Kelley being replaced by Martha’s kid sister, Sandra.

Martha herself suffered from drugs abuse and was institutionalised in 1969. This led to the temporary disbanding of the group an upon reforming, Rosalind Ashford was replaced by Sandra Tilley. However, Martha’s association with Motown came to an end in 1972 and the group disbanded officially. Martha continued to perform as a solo artist and on occasion with previous members of both the Del-Phis and the Vandellas.

Sample “JimmyMack” on Motown 50 here:

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