MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS - DANCING IN THE STREETS

DANCING IN THE STREETS

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS

SONGWRITERS: MARVIN GAYE; IVY JO HUNTER & WILLIAM “MICKEY” STEVENSON

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: DANCE PARTY

LABEL: GORDY RECORDS

GENRE: R & B

YEAR: 1965

 

           Martha and the Vandellas(known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown.

      An act founded by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams, the group eventually included Martha Reeves, who moved up in ranks as lead vocalist of the group after Williams' departure in 1962. The group signed with and eventually recorded all of their singles for Motown's Gordy imprint.

          The group's string of hits included "Come and Get These Memories", "Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Nowhere to Run", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready for Love", "Bless You" and "Dancing in the Street", the latter song becoming their signature single.

          During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and roll and soul. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones, and six Top Ten Pop Hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Selected members of the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.

          Dance Party is a 1965 studio album released by American Motown and soul girl group Martha and the Vandellas on the Gordy (Motown) label. The album was the group's third and, much like The Miracles' Mickey's Monkey album, mainly consisted of dance tunes. The singles featured on the album were their 1964 landmark single, "Dancing in the Street", their follow-up smash, "Wild One", and the hit "Nowhere to Run" and its b-side, "Motoring". The album was mostly produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson with several nods from Holland–Dozier–Holland.

Callin' out around the world

Are you ready for a brand new beat

Summer's here and the time is right

For dancing in the street

 

They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)

Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)

In New York City (dancing in the street)

All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere

 

There'll be swingin' and swayin' and records playing

Dancing in the street

 

Oh it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl

Everywhere around the world

 

There'll be dancing (dancing in the street)

They're dancing in the street

Dancing in the street

 

It's just an invitation across the nation

A chance for folks to meet

There'll be laughing, singing and music swinging

Dancing in the street

 

Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)

Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)

Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)

 

All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere

There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playing

And dancing in the street

 

Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on, every guy grab a girl

Everywhere around the world

 

They're dancing

They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)

Way down in L.A., every day, they're dancing in the street

Let's get our big strong long, get on time (they're dancing in the street)

Across the ocean blue, me and you (we're dancing in the street).