Martha and the Vandellas were one of the most successful groups in the Moto… Read Full Bio ↴Martha and the Vandellas were one of the most successful groups in the Motown roster during the 1960s and fully active from 1960 to 1972, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, rock and roll and soul.
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.
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.
Motoring
Martha and the Vandellas Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Motoring' by these artists:
We have lyrics for these tracks by Martha and the Vandellas:
(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave Whenever I'm with him Something inside Starts to burnin' And…
(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me {{ArtistHeader | wikipedia = Martha And The Vandellas | offi…
A Love Like Your's Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand Put…
Ain't That Peculiar Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about…
Always Something There to Remind Me I walk along the city streets you used to walk…
Bless You This mornin' when I woke up, sushine touched my heart…
Come And Get These Memories Lover you've gone from me and left behind So many memories …
Come See About Me I've been crying 'Cause I'm lonely (for you) Smiles have all…
Dancin in the Street Calling out around the world Are you ready for a brand…
Dancin' On The Street Calling out around the world, Are you ready for a brand…
Dancing in the Street Calling out around the world Are you ready for a brand…
Danke schoen Danke schoen, darling, Danke schoen, Thank you for all the j…
Do I Love You (Since you've been gone I've been cryin' all night long,…
Forget Me Not Now we kiss good-bye you'll be off to war, the battle's…
Get Ready Never met a girl could make me feel the way…
Heat Wave Whenever I'm with him (ooh), Something inside (inside) Stars…
Heatwave Heat wave Heat wave Whenever I'm with you Something inside…
Hitch Hike I'm goin' to Chicago; that's the last place my baby…
Honey Chile You're shiftless and you're lazy Just like the hound dog…
I Wild one, wild one Wild one, you're a rebel And they…
I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin' Babe, I wanna tell you what's exactly on my mind…
I Got the Blues I've really got to use my imagination To think of good…
I Heard It Through The Grapevine I bet you're wonderin' how I knew 'Bout your plans to…
I Promise To Wait My Love I promise to wait, my love, right here till you…
I Say A Little Prayer Come on let's twist again Like you did last summer…
I Want You Back When I had you to myself I didn't want you…
I'll Follow You I'll be seeing you In all the old familiar places That this…
I'll Have to Let Him Go I saw him kiss another & watched him hold her…
I'm Ready For Love As I stand alone on this moonful night for the…
I've Got To Use My Imagination I've really got to use my imagination To think of good…
If I Had A Hammer I could show the world how to smile I could be…
In And Out Of Love Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand Put…
In My Lonely Room Every single time you take me out with you You…
It's the Same Old Song Sweet as a honey bee but like a honey bee…
Jimmy Mack Jimmy Mack Jimmy Oh, Jimmy Mack when are you comin' back Jim…
Just One Look Just one look and I fell so hard In love with…
Keep It Up When I get out of here I'll probably have to…
Live Wire It's my birthday, and he forgot again Every time we…
Love Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand Put…
Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone LOVE BUG LEAVE MY HEART ALONE Martha and The Vandellas Oh y…
Many Rivers To Cross Many rivers to cross But I can't seem to find my…
Mickey's Monkey This cat named Mickey came from out of town, yea! He…
Mockingbird Everybody have you heard? He's gonna buy me a mockingbird An…
My Baby Love Me My baby loves me, oh yeah My baby needs me,…
My Boyfriend's Back My boyfriend's back and you're gonna be in trouble. (Hey, l…
My Man Shaking like a leaf on a tree That's coming loose from…
Nowhere to Run Nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide Got nowhere to…
number one N-U-M-B-E-R One N-U-M-B-E-R One I've found my way working t…
One Way Out Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls…
Power Of Love I'll protect you from the hooded claw Keep the vampires fro…
Quicksand You're like quicksand, quicksand, pulling me closer closer i…
Sweet Misery The very first time I saw your face I knew you…
Tears On My Pillow People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell…
There He Is There he is at my door I just can't let him…
Third Finger Lef Hand At last my dreams come true Today he said "I…
Third Finger Left Hand At last my dreams come true Today he said "I…
Tracks Of My Tears People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell…
Were You There I thought you were my friend But now I feel like…
What Am I Going to Do Without Your Love (Since you've been gone I've been cryin' all night long,…
Wild Night As you brush your shoes And stand before the mirror And you…
Wild One Wild one, wild one Wild one, you're a rebel And they…
You Girls, you've been in love too long (You're a fool…
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stage7
Thank You for posting this! I have wanted to hear it for the longest time! WhenEVER I think of Classic Martha and the Vandellas, I think of 'this' song! Martha, Annette, Roz, vocalizing!
LeimertDreamer
Martha, BETTY*, and Roz.
Wilburn Walker
This song just makes you want to get up and dance Martha and the Vandellas are the greatest
timmy841212
My favorite Martha and the Vandellas song BY FAR!
J
Fantastic song!
SouLoveReal _
In fact, one of the big charms of this song is how it "throws" me off beat and timing, the early "drop-kick cha-cha" rhythm sound, and those TOMBONES!!!
Hazel Walley
Those were the days when music was respectable and you could dance to it. This song is 57 years old and it is still being played.
Mr27Mod
great bass line. we are the mods! cheers from uruguay.
wylie richardson
for a great cover version of this song, check out "Twos Missing" by The Who.
barrythemod
Very nice! Also to be found on the new 4 disc A Complete Introduction To Tamla Motown.