The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were known for a churchier, more southern-styled soul than the Supremes, as typified in Motown hits such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready For Love", "My Baby Loves Me", "Nowhere to Run", and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street".
The group had its origins in Detroit, Michigan in 1957, and had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis. It originally was a quartet comprising childhood friends Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, and original lead singer Gloria Williams. Williams left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name to The Vells signing a deal with Motown's Mel-o-dy label, and singing background for established Motown performers such as Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye before signing a new deal with Motown's Gordy label on September 21, 1962, after which the group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas.
In 1964, the Vandellas' lineup changed with Betty Kelly replacing Annette Beard (now Beard-Sterling). In 1967, Kelly was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. It was right about this time that the group's name was officially changed to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, to conform with the company's recent changes of The Supremes' and The Miracles' names to reflect their featured lead singers. The lineup of the Reeves sisters and Tilley continued after Martha's return from an institution after suffering a nervous breakdown. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972.
The story of the group did not end completely with their split-up in 1972, however. While Tilley and Williams (both now deceased) eventually retired, the others continued with their individual career pursuits: Lois sang with the group Quiet Elegance and also sang background for Al Green; Reeves reunited with original Vandellas Ashford and Beard-Sterling for a 1978 benefit concert in Los Angeles; and in 1983, Reeves performed solo at Motown 25, which partly helped her and the Vandellas gain a new audience. In particular, Reeves herself is still known to sing with her sisters Lois and Delphine, often performing as a solo artist under the bill, "Martha Reeves of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas", and still performs all over the world.
Always Something There to Remind Me
Martha and The Vandellas Lyrics
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And every step I take recalls how much in love we used to be
Well how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
I was born to love you
You'll always be a part of me
When shadows fall, I pass a small cafe where we would dance at night
And I can't help recalling how it felt to kiss and hold you tight
Oh how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
I was born to love you
And I will never be free
You'll always be a part of me
If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share
Just come back to the places where we used to go and I'll be there
Oh how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
When there is always something there to remind me
I was born to love you
And I will never be free
When there is (when there is)
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
The lyrics to Martha and The Vandellas's song "Always Something There to Remind Me" tell the story of a person who is struggling to forget a past love. As they walk the city streets that they once walked with their lover, memories of their time together flood back. The person feels trapped in their love for their ex-partner, with every shadowy corner and café bringing back memories of the love they once shared. Despite their longing for freedom from this love, they concede that they will never truly be free from the memories and feelings that the relationship gave them.
The lyrics showcase the pain of unrequited love and the struggle to move on. The repetition of the phrase "always something there to remind me" emphasizes how difficult it is for the person to escape the memories of their past love. The line "I was born to love you and I will never be free" highlights how deeply ingrained their love for their ex-partner is.
Overall, the lyrics are a poignant tribute to lost love and the struggles that come with it. The song's catchy melody and the singer's emotive delivery skillfully captures the sense of longing and heartache that characterizes the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me
As I stroll through this familiar cityscape, memories of us walking hand in hand come flooding back.
And every step I take recalls how much in love we used to be
My heart aches as I realize just how deep our love once was and how much I miss it now.
Well how can I forget you?
It's impossible for me to erase you from my mind and heart.
When shadows fall, I pass a small cafe where we would dance at night
At night, when the world is cast in darkness, I pass by the cafe where we used to lose ourselves in each other's arms on the dance floor.
And I can't help recalling how it felt to kiss and hold you tight
My mind drifts back to the intoxicating feeling of our bodies pressed close and the warmth of your embrace.
I was born to love you
From the moment I came into this world, my destiny was to love you with everything I had.
And I will never be free
My love for you will always be a part of me, no matter how much time passes or how hard I try to move on.
If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share
In case you ever long for the affectionate and gentle love we once shared,
Just come back to the places where we used to go and I'll be there
all you need to do is revisit the haunts where we spent our happiest moments together, and I will be waiting for you there.
When there is (when there is)
No matter what is happening around me,
When there is always something there to remind me
there is always something around me that triggers thoughts of you and reminds me of what I lost.
Always something there to remind me
Those reminders are always there, lurking around every corner, waiting to catch me off guard and pull me back into my love for you once more.
Always something there to remind me
And no matter how much time passes, how much distance is between us, or how many new experiences I have, those reminders will always be there to haunt me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HAL DAVID, BURT BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NareshSinghOctagon
I almost missed this version because of the YouTube search system...I wonder how many more I did miss?...
@nicholas3855
I didn't.
Try also covers by: -
Viola Wills, Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles, Braid, Lou Christie, José Feliciano, Wayne Fontana, The Four Seasons, the Hippos, Jay and the Americans, La Lupe, Brenda Lee, Peggy Lee, Jim O'Rourke and Thurston Moore, Martha and the Vandellas, Johnny Mathis, Ted Neeley, Don Williams and Blue Swede, the Del-Rays, Sandie Shaw, Percy Faith, The Carpenters and many more.
@friendlyflow
You forgot the Zena TV version where Draco sings this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBI8zxXHopU