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.

Wild Night
Martha and the Vandellas Lyrics

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As you brush your shoes
And stand before the mirror
And you comb your hair
And grab your coat and hat
And you walk, wet streets
Tryin' to remember
All the wild breezes
In your mem'ry ever

And ev'rything looks so complete
When you're walkin' out on the street
And the wind catches your feet
And sends you flyin', cryin'
Ooh-wee!
The wild night is calling

And all the girls walk by
Dressed up for each other
And the boys do the boogie-woogie
On the corner of the street
And the people passin' by
Just stare in wild wonder
And the inside juke-box
Roars out just like thunder

And ev'rything looks so complete
When you're walkin' out on the street
And the wind will catch your feet
And sends you flyin', cryin'
Ooh-wee!
The wild night is calling

Ooh-wee
The wild night is calling
Come on out and dance yeah
Come on out and make romance
Come on out and dance
Come on out and make romance
The wild night is calling
The wild wild night is calling
Come on out and dance
Come on out and make romance yeah

Come on out and dance
Come on out and make romance

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Wild Night" by Martha and The Vandellas describe the excitement and energy of a wild night out on the town. The singer is getting ready, putting on their coat and hat, and heading out into the wet streets, trying to remember all the amazing experiences they've had in the past. As they walk, they see all sorts of sights - girls dressed up for each other, boys doing the boogie-woogie on the corner, people staring in wild wonder - and they can feel the energy of the night building inside them. Eventually they give in to that energy, and head out to embrace the wild night. The final verses encourage others to come out and join them in dancing and making romance, promising that the wild night is calling.

The song is full of imagery and sensory details that help convey the feeling of being out in the world, surrounded by other people who are looking for a good time. The repetition of the phrase "And everything looks so complete / When you're walking out on the street" reinforces the idea that the world outside is vibrant, alive, and exciting. The final verse, with its repeated entreaties to "come on out and dance" and "come on out and make romance," gives the impression of a community of people coming together to have a good time and forget their worries for a little while.

Overall, "Wild Night" is a song that celebrates the joy of being alive and experiencing the world around us. By painting a vivid picture of a night out on the town, Martha and The Vandellas capture the sense of excitement and possibility that comes with stepping out of our own heads and into the world of music, romance, and good company.

Line by Line Meaning

As you brush your shoes
As you prepare yourself to go out

And stand before the mirror
And check yourself in the mirror

And you comb your hair
And make sure your hair looks good

And grab your coat and hat
And get ready by putting on your coat and hat

And you walk, wet streets
And brave the rain-soaked streets

Tryin' to remember
Trying to recall

All the wild breezes
All the exciting moments

In your mem'ry ever
In your memory forever

And ev'rything looks so complete
And everything seems perfect

When you're walkin' out on the street
When you step out onto the sidewalk

And the wind catches your feet
And the wind lifts your feet off the ground