Tuesday November 23, 2021 “Dancing in the Streets” Martha and the Vandellas
As we dance ever so lightly to this happy tune let me remind you that a vandella is a dream invading demon or vampire, so keep your eye on Martha and her cohorts while you're dancing.
Martha along with the Supremes helped to define the female side of Motown in the 60s with a string of hits that included “Dancin’ in the Streets’ which would also be recorded twenty years later as a duet by Mick Jagger and David Bowie.
Martha and her demons can also be heard singing background vocals on Marvin Gaye’s hit “Stubborn Kind of Fella” and Gaye returned the favor by co-writing “Dancin’ in the Streets” which would be revised slightly by the legendary Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland to fit Martha’s style and deliver her first top ten hit.
No one hitter, Martha would have successful singles with “Heat Wave”, “Nowhere to Run”, “Quicksand”, “I'm Ready for Love” and “Jimmy Mack”.
Stay safe and well...and Martha continues to tour with a variety of different Vandellas, I guess demons don’t last forever.
Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancin' in the streets
They're dancin' in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City
All we need is music (sweet music)
Sweet music (sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'
And dancin' in the streets
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy (come on) grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
There'll be dancing
They're dancing in the street
This is an invitation
Across the nation
A chance for the folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin', and music swingin'
And dancin' in the streets
Philadelphia, P.A. (Philadelphia, P.A.)
Baltimore and DC now (Baltimore and DC now)
Yeah, don't forget the Motor City
(Can't forget the Motor City)
All we need is music (sweet music)
Sweet music (sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
There'll be swingin', swayin' and records playin'
And dancin' in the street, yeah
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy (come on, come on) grasp a girl
Everywhere around the world
There'll be dan-, fun
They dancin' in the streets
Philadelphia, P.A. (Philadelphia, P.A.)
Baltimore and DC now (Baltimore and DC now)
Can't we forget that Motor City
(Can't forget the Motor City)
Way down in L.A., California
(Way down in L.A., California)
Not to mention Halifax, Nova Scotia (not to mention, indeed)
Or Long Barn, they do that Riverdale, cream you know (yes, I know)
Manchester (and, oh, Amherst, Amherst)
Alexandria (Virginia, Virginia)
Falls Church (where's that?)Oh, Boyle Heights (Boyle Heights, never heard of it)