Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Streets (REACTION)

[@stuBdoc]

Written in part by Marvin Gaye. I was part of that all-White audience and I loved this song then and still do. Been covered by everybody over the years - Stones, Kinks, Van Halen, Bowie, etc, etc. A greatly written song never dies. But this version will always be my favorite.

[@324cmac]

This year 2024, Martha received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.

[@pilesovinyl]

And very well deserved. Jimmy Mack was my favorite groove of theirs.

[@danmayberry1185]

All these bangers came out of one speaker - kitchen, car, transistor radio - perfect, impossibly good sounding songs.

[@johnthegreek5836]

You can never go wrong with any Motown music

[@retiredfirelt586]

All we need is music, sweet music. One of life's truths. 😎

[@AirplayBeats]

Facts!!

[@324cmac]

Yes!!! Love Martha and the girls. Pure fun and joy!

[@deborahcornell171]

I was 11, just learning how to dance & this was my favorite song to dance to. We white suburban kids of that era grew up on Motown & The British Invasion! We were buying the singles & were glued to the radio. You'd hear this group, then The Beatles, then The Temptations, followed by The Stones...it was musical Heaven! Thanks, guys. Great memories. 🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵✨️🩵

[@mikecaetano]

Nice! Martha and the Vandellas were one of the major artists signed to Motown. Six top ten hits on the pop charts in the 1960's. They were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Also check out "Heat Wave" (1963), "Nowhere to Run" (1965), and "Jimmy Mack" (1967).

[@Wordsmyth8]

One of my favorite Motown tunes. Just happy music. They definitely had more hits - Heatwave, Jimmy Mack and another big favorite, Nowhere to Run (Nowhere to Hide). I’m a sucker for those minor key songs.

[@dianel222]

Also loved the cover by David Bowie & Mick Jagger. 💜💜💜

[@olly8]

😂 "and they dance just like mom"...me too! ❤❤💃✌🏽

[@saxworthmusic]

I played in the horn section for her show about 6 years ago. She sounded great and brought an excellent Detroit rhythm section with her.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

These Motown songs are just woven into American culture. On the radio, in movies, tv, commercials etc, we've heard these songs for decades & they're just part of us now. Thanks, La & Che, another great reaction!

[@vickisticks267]

I saw Martha Reeves & The Vandellas in concert about 20 years ago. It was such a great show and so fun to be a part of.

[@brianmcdonald1776]

Released in 1964.....I was 12 and listened to it on the Jukebox in my grandmother's cafe (in Ireland).....we got all the hits as they were released in those days.....fantastic memories.......thanks guys !!!!!

[@tjrivers]

This is so classic…still sounds new! ❤ We all danced and clapped!

[@324cmac]

Berry gets no credit for Martha. She did it herself. She was rejected as a singer and they made her a secretary. They needed a singer in an emergency; Martha saw her chance; and then they realized she could sing. Additional hits: Heatwave, Jimmy Mack, Nowhere to Run, and more. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

[@freespyrit]

Yes la and che are wrong about ross wiping everyone else out/

[@Linda-y9h]

Love Motown Monday's...thanks guys! 😂❤

[@mariaportengen2959]

I saw a documentery last week on TV about Motown. With Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson telling. It was fantastisch. So much great music. 🎶🎶👍 Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@TeresaMount-t9o]

Memories of my teenage years! Thank you both

[@rippog1]

We here in England back in the 1960’s grew up on this stuff.

[@winslow551]

Huge hit on all radio stations. Motown was the music we all loved. Loved this song back then and still find the groove today.

[@MicheleJane]

Great memories hearing this come on the radio back then. You really felt like dancing in the street too.

[@johnfrank3177]

Hey Fellas. Happy New Year! All these years later and this music still makes me happy. So glad you like it too. Motown was incredible. Peace.

[@jdw5678]

Not just "across the nation" but throughout the world. The '60s cultural impact of the Motown sound all over the U.S. and in Canada, the U.K., Europe, and even behind the Iron Curtain cannot be overestimated.

[@mamared56]

Loved this song as a kid....still do!!!

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

Martha Reeves had great voice!!!!💋💋💋💋💋

[@alanlantz8663]

I'm a 60 year old white guy who had the honor of having two parents that loved Motown.Thanks for the memories

[@An_Cat_Dubh]

Great to see a Martha Reeves reaction. Well done.

[@neilcarr9340]

Thank you for a year of thoughtful and engaging analysis - I've enjoyed it all. Excellent!

[@JimiB2112]

Martha was the receptionist at Motown before she recorded this song. Part of the job was to sing lyrics into a tape machine for the artists to learn the songs. One fine day 😊 Martha was in the studio watching Marvin Gaye record this track. He was singing it like a love song and it just wasn't coming through. So Marvin suggested that Martha give it a shot. She said she would have a go but she couldn't do it like Marvin and had to do it her way. The story goes that she absolutely crushed it on the first take. While everyone was congratulating themselves the engineer in charge of hitting the record button spoke up and informed everyone that he didn't press record. What you hear on the original record is the second take. Which she again nailed. Tioraidh an-drasta 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

I'm white, born in Detroit...MOTOWN BORN, ROCK N ROLL RAISED.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@lpluva1]

It will never not blow my mind that all these artist and all those hit came from one band, The Funk Brothers. But the "Motown Sound" when it comes down to it was James Jamerson on the bass, they had a few guitar players, two piano players, a couple of drummers, but only one bass player, he's the glue to every song for thirteen years. He's the bop and the groove on all these tracks.

[@davidtoledo7828]

Dig it ! The groove is laid down and you just start moving. Another Motown classic.

[@KennyCamaro2364]

Music,sweet sweet music! That says it all!

[@AirplayBeats]

I love this song!!

[@KennyCamaro2364]

@ it makes me emotional every time. Every. Dam. Time.

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

An all time favorite!

[@josepheastman1719]

Always liked her voice, myself. Heatwave is an all time favorite.....top 20 all timer.

[@324cmac]

In 1989, Martha Reeves sued Berry Gordy for royalties not paid since 1972. In 1991, she received a settlement for an undisclosed amount.

[@janetf23]

Another perfect song from the 60s, bringing back my youth💖 One of these Motown Mondays I'd love to watch you hit 1964's 'My Guy' by Mary Wells, which of course was written and produced by Smokey Robinson as kind of a companion piece to 'My Girl'✨

[@Mickraut-xe5im]

You are right, fellas. It is the music of the Funk Brothers that makes all of these songs. Yeah, Diana Ross was the lead in the Supremes but everyone knew her voice was nothing compared to that of Flo Ballard.

[@angelado3]

yessssss my time being young- great memories

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

YAY!! MOTOWN❤❤❤❤❤

[@KennyCamaro2364]

Laa and Chee! Motown Monday. I love it. I was born in Detroit, and always loved all the Motown stuff since I was 6 years old. I Dee Jared for ten years, if the floor was lagging, through some Motown on the turn table and it was full in 30 seconds! Rock on guys!

[@waynemoon5359]

Love these ladies. My fav is listening to Martha singing "Jimmy Mack".Side comment. Martha was a receptionist and backup singer at Motown and BG gave her a shot with her own group. The Vandellas were a name she made up after a street in Detroit called Van Dyke Blvd.

[@rippog1]

My favourite motown song is Freda Payne, band of gold.

[@danmayberry1185]

Same. Still can't concentrate when it comes on.

[@pilesovinyl]

I like it too, but you were born too late...so much gold in the mid 60s.

[@AjaxCaper]

Wonderful song!!

[@forwardpeace]

"Heat Wave," "Nowhere to Run," "Come & Get These Memories," "Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things. . ." all great M& V hits.

[@pilesovinyl]

Don't forget my favorite Jimmy Mack.

[@rayd635]

I also liked "I'm Ready For Love" , "Honey Chile" and "Quicksand"

[@sheilathailand1903]

Great tune! Always loved this song ❤

[@diamondlil9807]

Saw Martha Reeves perform at a Motown Revue in the late 80s. As soon as the music started for Dancing in the Street everybody was up and dancing in the aisles. It was a partay!!

[@BensSoZen]

2nd Mowtown in a row i knew form Mamas and the Papas covering it. I liked this one so much, i learned on guitar and sing it with different shoutouts i to cities i know, like Austin, New Orleans, San Diego

[@charlestcool]

Fabulous music! 🎶 Outstanding!

[@melissaford717]

I'm here dancing in the streets here in Philadelphia, PA!! GO Joel Embid and GO BIRDS 💚🦅🏈

[@Mickraut-xe5im]

I remember my teenaged sister showing me how to dance to this. I was seven. Thanks for the memory !

[@danclark745]

Martha had some killer tunes...the pumping rhythm and nice bright snare, Motown Magic

[@LindaAtchison-qi2fm]

Martha and the Vandellas were my favorite girl group

[@mrnobody9104]

Cool part of growing up in Southern Ontario is being just down the road from Detroit. Motown tunes always playing over the airwaves

[@rhwinner]

Timeless song....

[@waltw4537]

Class act! Thanks! See, back in that day, the idea was for Everyone to gather and have a good time. Happy Almost New Year!

[@scottchapin2323]

When I was a kid, I grew up in South Jersey, near Philadelphia. We listened to AM radio. W.F.I.L. they played all types of music, pop, rock, R&B (not the crap they call R&B these day's), even a little country. You got exposed to all kinds of bands and artist. I think that is what made radio back then so special.

[@vetstadiumastroturf5756]

Awesome. Now do a Grateful Dead live cover version if you've got the time to spare.

[@DarkStars445]

5/8/77

[@lucky4724]

Back when our women produced hits without being naked!! Straight outta MOTOWN aka "The SNAKE PIT" 🎶🎵🎼 #PROPER🔥🔥🔥🔥P.S. The secret weapon ➡️"The Funk Brothers" 🎶🎵🎼🔥🔥🔥

[@pilesovinyl]

Nowhere To Run, Jimmy Mack, Heatwave, Quicksand, I'm Ready For Love, Honey Chile, My Baby Loves Me, Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone, 27 charted singles on the Hot 100, yeah, they were a major group second only to the Supremes in the Motown "stable".

[@roadkill7314]

Ain't never gonna be anything like Motown again!

[@KennyCamaro2364]

The best pop music ever! Motown brother! Funk Brothers had over 100 top hits!

[@Zopf-international]

Beautiful Beautifull women. 🥰

[@Lakeshore14]

Love Motown Mondays. Thanks for that. Martha and the Vandellas had several hits. Jimmie Mack, Nowhere To Run, Heatwave, Ready for Love are just a few. You’re right, the Motown sound was different. I think a lot of their success was due to the outstanding songwriters they had and primarily to the fabulous Funk Brothers. Thanks for keeping this great music going. 👏👏❤️🥰

[@AbeMayaTV]

Today some rapper has a hit and hes a star. 2 hits and he's a beast . So by todays standards The Temps & Stevie Wonder, the Beatles and The Stones would be GODS.

[@AP-gb3eh]

Im old I don’t think there has been a summer of my life where this song wasn’t played

[@michaelgoldberg7127]

Try I'm Ready for Love, Jimmy Mack, Third Finger, Left Hand, (Love Is Like A) Heatwave, Nowhere To Run, Come Get These Memories. I'm Ready For Love is my favorite. They did not have as many hits as the Supremes, but had the same high quality. What is a Vandella? I wondered for years until I found out that "Vandella" is the name of a street in Detroit where kids used to hang out. Martha named the group as the girls were basically all from that neighborhood.😀😀😀😀

[@MKeller4033]

Check out "Nowhere to Run," "Honey Chile," and "Jimmy Mack," just to name a few other awesome Martha & Vandellas' hits.

[@davidwolf4677]

Some have claimed that this song was an indirect protest against racial discrimination, at the height of the American Civil Rights era.

[@hisokamorow3756]

My brothers, that band ? That's The Funk Brothers, just about every bit. There's a great documentary on them. Check it out,rayray ✌️✊🤘🤙

[@davidvanhuylenbrouck640]

Martha went on to the Detroit City Council!!!!!

[@annbeguity5932]

Oh man. This one? Two words: My YOUF!

[@ML-un1oi]

The Funk Brothers were all former jazz musicians!! Ben Harper said in Standing in The Shadows of Motown, "that you could Deputy Dog singing and it have been a hit". Martha also did Heat Wave. Just a side note, Motowns first hit was Money (that's what I want). By Barrett Strong in 1959. Written by Barry Gordy and Janie Bradford. Excellent reaction, fellas!!!!

[@laurencaulton103]

This song still rocks, from the first beats. Martha, baby. And, of course, the Funk Brothers. You young people need to get up and move. You need to learn about Motown. It's our history.

[@davidburton9136]

Some radio stations banned this, if I remember right. It came out during a really upended society, and some geniuses decided that "Dancing in the Street" was a call to action! Stupid. This couldn't be a more innocent and joyful song.

[@steveasher5849]

Fun fact (sort of): Mick Jagger and David Bowie did a hit cover of this song in the 80s.

[@AjaxCaper]

It was simple, but I loved it when the video came on MTV

[@827dusty]

Mick Jagger and David Bowie did a version of this in the 80s I think. It's a video as well.

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

CHECK OUT THE "SHANGRI-LAS" SONGS--- LEADER OF THE PACK 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 WALKING IN THE SAND 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 OUT IN THE STREETS HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS THE TRAIN FROM KANSAS CITY

[@davidwilkins5932]

Great stuff. You guys really should react to the video of Bowie and Mick Jagger covering this back in the 80s. It’s an occasion where the video actually adds to the music.

[@randyallaben9900]

Grateful Dead did a great cover of this song. Actually hundreds of covers, because The Dead never played the same song the same way twice.

[@annbeguity5932]

That looks like it might have been from a British tv show called “Ready Steady Go”

[@annbeguity5932]

… which could explain all the white kids clapping on the “1” 😂

[@timbaker6540]

Great reactions Check out VanHaLen cover of this sing

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

David Bowie and Mick Jagger covered this song. There's a video!!

[@pennynolan7597]

Don't forget Gladys Knight. Her voice was every bit as good !

[@danmayberry1185]

Rhythm section? Writer Marvin Gaye on drums; James Jamerson on bass. Goodnight.

[@doriwiljt]

The Grateful Dead do a great live version of this great classic.

[@Doogs5150]

I loved Van Halen’s version of this song.

[@starfire6122]

Why not make Mondays...Doo Wop Monday! So much good music from the 60's like Walking In the Sand by The Shangri-las or Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler please✌️💞

[@VincentAgostino-gy6hr]

I a,ways preferred Martha Reeves over Diana Ross… She had great songs.. and the perfect voice for them . And the Four Tops.. hands down… Feed Me Seymour 😉

[@324cmac]

Berry ignored other acts because of his obsession with Diana Ross.

[@freespyrit]

i think you're forgetting about The Ronettes.

[@Michael-Philip]

Van Halen 🔥

[@AbeMayaTV]

Musicians in Motown kicked ass, the writers kicked ass, and the TALENT kicked ass. Unfortunately instruments got switched for electronic b.s. machines, great songs and singers got replaced by cursing thugs and lyrics from hell. 60's Soul, Rock,Funk aint never coming back . Cherish it.

[@quentenjones3626]

Not every performer excelled at Motown. It was less of a plug and play and more of a sculpting a sound to the particular artist or group. The Funk Brothers had a particular sound, but they mixed it up enough to let the performer shine. That, my friends, is called talent. Barry Gordy was sharp enough to see it and hear it when it came along. On YT there is a video of Martha Reeves doing a version of "Ain't That Peculiar" which is very good, and she and the Vandellas sang back-up on Marvin Gaye's original recording. Good music just soothes the soul.

[@algrap1954]

Grateful dead covered this

[@spawn4582]

I like the cover by Mick Jagger and David Bowie kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpLWkoSsfaipatksi=Eqh0fJYjvb3gFbRK

[@LesSmith45]

The Rolling Stones covers this.