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Post by Emerald City on Apr 24, 2005 16:09:56 GMT -5
96) Martha and the Vandellas
By Fred Schneider
The Vandellas never got the press that The Supremes did. Diana Ross was posh and glamorous, but Martha had an edge -- she was more soulful. Whether she was singing "Dancing in the Street" or "My Baby Loves Me" or "You've Been In Love Too Long," the accent was on the emotion. Singing in a church as a little girl, she learned how to really belt it out. She had the most powerful voice I'd ever heard -- she really cut through me.
"Dancing in the Street" is my favorite single of all time -- it just knocked me out as a kid walking around New Jersey with a transistor radio glued to my ear. It starts with a pounding drumroll, then the trumpets and then Martha's voice -- which is like a horn. The lyrics invite everybody to get together for the best dance party going, and I didn't even pick up on the deeper meaning -- that it was also a plea to stop the fighting during a time of riots. Martha could have been singing about sandwiches for all I cared.
That song made me a vinyl junkie: Any time a new Martha and the Vandellas record came out, I made my mother drive me to the A&P supermarket to get it. I couldn't find "Heat Wave," but I finagled it from a friend for fifty cents.
Those songs turned me into Mr. Party. At teen dances, everyone wanted to play slow music, and I was ready to bounce off the walls to uptempo soul. The B-52's are all party people -- we started out at a party in Athens, Georgia, to entertain our friends.
I first met Martha when she was performing in Atlanta in the Seventies. She gave me an autographed photo and was such a doll. Years later, we became friends, and she asked me to induct the Vandellas into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Whenever we play Detroit, I give her a call, and she brings her son and daughter-in-law and they hang out backstage. She's a dedicated Detroiter, unlike most of the Motown groups who've moved out. I live in New York now, and she called me after 9/11 to make sure I was OK. It's nice when your idol becomes your friend.
(From RS 972, April 21, 2005)
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Post by Emerald City on Apr 24, 2005 16:11:37 GMT -5
I live in New York now, and she called me after 9/11 to make sure I was OK. It's nice when your idol becomes your friend. Just goes to show what a beautiful person she is :cheerstoyou:
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Post by Diamond Girl on Apr 26, 2005 14:40:07 GMT -5
Martha could sing circles around Diane :know:
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Post by Emerald City on Apr 26, 2005 14:53:50 GMT -5
Martha could sing circles around Diane :word: Any time, place or decade
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Post by Diamond Girl on Apr 26, 2005 14:59:05 GMT -5
Any time, place or decade :respect:
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Post by Motown Honey on Apr 28, 2005 20:06:17 GMT -5
Martha could sing circles around Diane You ain't said nothin but a word ((Jazzy)) :friends: Martha Reeves' lead was powerful :sunshine:
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Post by Diamond Girl on May 1, 2005 15:26:42 GMT -5
You ain't said nothin but a word ((Jazzy)) Martha Reeves' lead was powerful ((Mo)) She blew 'em away :wink:
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Post by Emerald City on May 1, 2005 15:50:30 GMT -5
((Mo)) She blew 'em away Still does :awww:
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Post by Motown Honey on May 1, 2005 19:07:45 GMT -5
Sure did @ ((Jazzy))
For real @ ((Hits))
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Post by timmy84 on Dec 10, 2005 0:57:24 GMT -5
I heard Martha and Diana had a musical battle between each other with the Supremes & the Vandellas during certain times at the Motown Revue tours. Guess who won the competition? YES! Ms. Reeves & the Vandellas took the Ms. "Cute" and the Supremes to school! LOL!
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Post by Diamond Girl on Dec 10, 2005 10:12:38 GMT -5
I heard Martha and Diana had a musical battle between each other with the Supremes & the Vandellas during certain times at the Motown Revue tours. Guess who won the competition? YES! Ms. Reeves & the Vandellas took the Ms. "Cute" and the Supremes to school! LOL! That's not hard to believe, Ms. Reeves could have sang anything and took Diane to school. I often wonder what would've been had all of the artists been as exposed and promoted as the Supremes
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Post by timmy84 on Dec 10, 2005 13:18:19 GMT -5
The Vandellas, the Velvelettes, the Marvelettes, the Pips and the like would've told Diane to go back to the slums of the Brewster Projects as they became worldwide phenomenons (like they should've been) while Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard went on to successful careers as solo artists. :lol:
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Post by timmy84 on May 4, 2006 9:39:03 GMT -5
I can see Martha and the Vandellas' influence on Fred's group, the B52's. Remember "Love Shack"? That definitely was inspired by "Motoring" musically and lyrically.
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Post by fantagurl on May 4, 2006 11:59:01 GMT -5
Martha was always a down-to-earth diva who never ever forgot where she came from.She is also devoted to her loyal fans.She derserves more then her just do. Martha gurl you are one of a kind!! :queendiva:
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