THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

948-Martha Reeves & The Vandellas-Dancing in the Street.

1964-Number 28 single. When it was re-issued in 1969 it peaked at Number 4.

Best Bit-At 1.35. Ever tried doing a mobile disco outdoors in England. If it doesn’t rain, then it’s probably two windy, or both. If it’s not two cold, then ever so occasionally it could be far two hot. And as for the neighbours telling you to turn it down, best not go there.

Martha and the Vandellas were formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1957, by Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford, and Gloria Williams, (1942-2000) they were joined by Martha Reeves, who was a friend of Williams in 1960, originally calling themselves ‘The Del-Phis.’ After the failure of their first two singles, Martha Reeves left the group to pursue a solo career, where she was spotted singing in a Detroit club by ‘Motown Records’ songwriter and producer William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, who offered her an audition. Initially Reeves was hired to provide background vocals, which led to her getting back in touch with ‘The Del-Phis’ who had now become ‘The Vels,’ with some changes in members, and as a quartet they impressed Motown supremo Berry Gordy, who offered the quartet a contract, and changed their name to ‘The Vandellas.’ It was in 1967 that the group officially became ‘Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, and they remained active until 1972, in total there have been nine different members come and go, and since the turn of the Century there are two different groups of former members touring, and using the names ‘Martha Reeves & The Vandellas,’ and ‘The Original Vandellas.’

The discography of ‘Martha Reeves & The Vandellas’ includes eight studio Albums released between 1963-1972, and 29 singles that were issued between 1961-1973. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 12 of those singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Dancing in the Street,’ charting the highest at Number 2 in 1964, while in the UK, they have charted on seven occasions, with the 1969 re-issue of ‘Dancing in the Street’ being their most successful, when reaching Number 4.

‘Dancing in the Street’ is one of Tamla Motown’s best known and most successful songs. It was co-written by Marvin Gaye, (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723-183 and 114) who also played drums on the track, William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter (1940-2022.) The song later appeared on the debut studio Album ‘Dance Party’ by ‘Martha & The Vandellas’ in April 1965. Stevenson who was born in Detroit joined Tamla/Motown in 1959 the year it was founded, and was head of the A&R department during ‘the glory years.’ Other Motown classics he co-wrote include ‘Needle in a Haystack, a hit for ‘The Velvelettes,’ (see also best songs 346.) and ‘It Takes Two,’ for Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston. Ivy Jo Hunter was also born in Detroit, Michigan, and began working for Motown after being introduced to Stevenson in the early 1960’s by Hank Cosby (1928-2002) who was also a songwriter and producer at the label. Hunter wrote songs for many of Motown’s top acts including The Isley Brothers, ‘Behind a Painted Smile,’ (UK Number 5 in 1967) and for the Four Tops ‘Ask the Lonely’ (Billboard Number 24 in 1965.)

The idea for ‘Dancing in the Street’ came about while William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, and Marvin Gaye were driving through Detroit. During the summer the city would open up fire hydrants and let water out in to the streets so people could cool off, what Stevenson saw appeared to him to be people dancing in the water in the street. The song became surrounded in controversy, with the height of it’s success concurring with riots in inner-city America, with many young black demonstrators citing the song as a ‘Civil Rights Anthem’ for social change. Martha Reeves strongly refutes any connection between the song and the ‘Civil Rights Movement,’ and it is also well known that Berry Gordy was extremely wary about affiliating his business with any organisation that might negatively influence his company’s commercial success.

‘Dancing in the Street’ has many cover versions, with the most memorable being the 1985 collaboration between David Bowie, (1947-2016) and Mick Jagger, in order to raise money for the ‘Live Aid’ famine relief cause. The iconic music video was shown twice during the ‘Live Aid’ event, helping to significantly boost charitable donations. In the UK the song sold in excess of 660,000 copies, and spent four weeks at Number 1, while in America the song peaked at Number 7 on Billboard.

‘It’s an invitation across the nation a chance for folks to meet. There’ll be laughing, singing, and music swinging, dancing in the street. Philadelphia, P.A. Baltimore and DC now, can’t forget the Motor City.’