Post by timmy84 on Jun 4, 2006 19:17:48 GMT -5
Over the course of a month, I've fallen in love with the sounds of Martha Reeves, the Vandellas, and the other subsequent background singers that accompanied Martha's powerful Alabama-born, Detroit-reared vocals.
I've also fallen for a song in particular from the Vandellas' late-'60s period, their last '60s hit, "Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)". This song was truly a huge departure from the same group that had made rollicking hits like "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run" and also far from the group who first ushered in the Motown sound with "Heat Wave" and "Quicksand".
Also different because for most part after 1966, the Andantes had been featured on some of the group's work. In 1969, they came out with "Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)". While the song made a modest showing at #44 on the R&B charts, I love the song's funky downbeat soulful nature. Martha, who had been suffering for a while at this point going through dizzying spells of depression and doubt, still had the vocals to take a song to its dramatic epoch. The Vandellas' voice are somehow subbed (sp?) by the Andantes and Syreeta Wright though unlike their previous hit, "I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing" when Syreeta played a big part in singing the chorus to that hit single, she appears at the last minute for the most part. The Andantes' background chorus harmonies are spectacular while Martha belts it out.
Truly one of the best post-HDH/Mickey Stevenson tracks the group pulled out before finally exiting out in 1972 as a professional recording act, this song deserves a place in Motown's history as it does Martha Reeves and the Vandellas'.
LYRICS
Baby, my heart was sold on loving you
But lately, baby, I find my heart denying you
For starting that fire inside of me
Taking my love and leaving me
Breaking my heart, deceiving me
Even though you knew I loved you
And was building my future all around you
Baby
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love and leaving me
(Taking my love and leaving me)
That's what you're doing to me
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love, breaking my heart
(Breaking my heart, deceiving me)
Yes you are
Now darling, I find my world all black and blue
And lately, baby, I found my heart blaming you
For starting that fire inside of me
Taking my love and leaving me
Breaking my heart, deceiving me
Even though you knew I loved you, baby
And was building my future all around you
Baby
(Baby, baby, baby)
That's what you're doing to me
(Taking my love and leaving me)
Taking my love, breaking my heart
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love and leaving me, baby
(Breaking my heart, deceiving me)
All the things you've done to me
It's plain to see
You don't really, really love me, baby
Not anyway
I tried and tried in vain
I gave you everything
You showed how much you cared
By hurting me just the same
Baby
(Baby, baby, baby)
Look what you've done to me
(Taking my love and leaving me)
Taking my love, breaking my heart
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love and leaving me
(Breaking my heart, deceiving me)
Gave you every bit of my love
And my affections too
Then you turned around and did what I
Thought you never do
Baby
(Baaaaaby)
Baby
That's what you're doing to me
Taking my love and leaving me
(Baaaaabe)
:woahisme: :girlgroup:
(C)1969 Motown Record Company, LP
I've also fallen for a song in particular from the Vandellas' late-'60s period, their last '60s hit, "Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)". This song was truly a huge departure from the same group that had made rollicking hits like "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run" and also far from the group who first ushered in the Motown sound with "Heat Wave" and "Quicksand".
Also different because for most part after 1966, the Andantes had been featured on some of the group's work. In 1969, they came out with "Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)". While the song made a modest showing at #44 on the R&B charts, I love the song's funky downbeat soulful nature. Martha, who had been suffering for a while at this point going through dizzying spells of depression and doubt, still had the vocals to take a song to its dramatic epoch. The Vandellas' voice are somehow subbed (sp?) by the Andantes and Syreeta Wright though unlike their previous hit, "I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing" when Syreeta played a big part in singing the chorus to that hit single, she appears at the last minute for the most part. The Andantes' background chorus harmonies are spectacular while Martha belts it out.
Truly one of the best post-HDH/Mickey Stevenson tracks the group pulled out before finally exiting out in 1972 as a professional recording act, this song deserves a place in Motown's history as it does Martha Reeves and the Vandellas'.
LYRICS
Baby, my heart was sold on loving you
But lately, baby, I find my heart denying you
For starting that fire inside of me
Taking my love and leaving me
Breaking my heart, deceiving me
Even though you knew I loved you
And was building my future all around you
Baby
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love and leaving me
(Taking my love and leaving me)
That's what you're doing to me
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love, breaking my heart
(Breaking my heart, deceiving me)
Yes you are
Now darling, I find my world all black and blue
And lately, baby, I found my heart blaming you
For starting that fire inside of me
Taking my love and leaving me
Breaking my heart, deceiving me
Even though you knew I loved you, baby
And was building my future all around you
Baby
(Baby, baby, baby)
That's what you're doing to me
(Taking my love and leaving me)
Taking my love, breaking my heart
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love and leaving me, baby
(Breaking my heart, deceiving me)
All the things you've done to me
It's plain to see
You don't really, really love me, baby
Not anyway
I tried and tried in vain
I gave you everything
You showed how much you cared
By hurting me just the same
Baby
(Baby, baby, baby)
Look what you've done to me
(Taking my love and leaving me)
Taking my love, breaking my heart
(Baby, baby, baby)
Taking my love and leaving me
(Breaking my heart, deceiving me)
Gave you every bit of my love
And my affections too
Then you turned around and did what I
Thought you never do
Baby
(Baaaaaby)
Baby
That's what you're doing to me
Taking my love and leaving me
(Baaaaabe)
:woahisme: :girlgroup:
(C)1969 Motown Record Company, LP