Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas
Song Lyrics / Chart History / Artist Information

• Written by William Stevenson & Marvin Gaye in 1964
• The song was first recorded by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, after another Motown singer, Kim Weston, passed on the song, (probably just a bit of regret going on there...she did eventually record the song)!
• It was released first as a single in 1964 and then on the album "Dance Party" in 1965
• Martha Reeves (born Martha Rose Reeves 7/18/41 in Alabama & raised in Detroit)
• In addition to The Vandellas (Betty Kelley & Rosalind Ashford), backup vocals on the original song were done by none other than Marvin Gaye and the composer William "Mickey" Stevenson
• The Martha Reeves & The Vandellas version of the song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1964
• After peaking at #28 in 1964 on the UK charts it was re-released in 1969, and made it to a respectable #4 on the UK Pop chart
• In 1995 Martha & The Vandellas were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2003 inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame
• Between the years 1963 to 1972 Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits.
• Ten of her songs reached the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones
• Twelve of the Vandellas' songs charted within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, with six songs charting within the Top Ten
• Martha Reeves was elected to the Detroit City Council in 2005, and faces a whirlwind of problems associated with the Mayor's legal troubles and with her own problems relating to her ownership of many run-down lots in the Detroit area
• A 1967 remake by The Mamas & the Papas failed to make the top 40 charts
• Yet another remake in 1982 by Van Halen, from the "Diver Down" album hit # 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and was #3 on the Mainstream Rock tracks chart
• Remade again in 1985 by Mick Jagger & David Bowie,  as part of the Live Aid charity event, the recording reached # 7 in the US on the Hot 100 chart, but in the UK it was a #1 song for four weeks
• Other artists to cover this song:
  • Dusty Springfield
  • Ramsey Lewis
• The Who
• The Grateful Dead
• Little Richard
• The Kinks
• The Carpenters
• Neil Diamond
• Cilla Black
• Myra
• Atomic Kitten
• Jimmy Barnes
• Girl Authority
• Mystique
• Jazz Jamaica
• Black Oak Arkansas
• Kim Weston
• Human Nature (with Martha Reeves)
• Tim Curry
• Rhonda Stisi
• Soul Incision
• Bruce Springsteen
• Nikki Webster

MP3 Downloads

Download the MP3 of Dancing In The Street from the artists listed below from Amazon.com for less than $1 each!  30 second previews are available for each version listed

Martha Reeves	Dancing In The Street (Original)
Martha Reeves	Dancing In The Street - Re-Recording
Mick Jagger / David Bowie	Dancing In The Street (Single Version)
Mick Jagger / David Bowie	Dancing In The Street E.P.
Van Halen	Dancing In The Street (Remastered Version)
Mamas & The Papas	Dancing In The Street
The Carpenters	Dancing In The Street
Kim Weston	Dancing In The Street
Little Richard	Dancing In The Street (Album Version)
Jazz Jamaica	Dancing In The Street
Alfredo Pardo	Dancing in the street
Rhonda Stisi	Dancing in the street
Ramsey Lewis	Dancing In The Street
Mystique	Dancing in the Streets
Soul Incision	Dancing in the Street
Jimmy Barnes	Dancing In The Streets
Petty Booka (Hawaiian)	Dancing in the Street
Kingfish	Dancing In The Streets
Black Oak Arkansas	Dancing In The Streets (2006 Remastered LP Version)

Song Lyrics - Song Title

Calling out around the world,
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancin' in the street
Dancin' in Chicago
(Dancin' in the street)
Down in New Orleans
(Dancin' in the street)
In New York City

All we need is music, sweet music,
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin' swayin',
And records playin',
Dancin' in the street

Oh it doesn't matter what you wear,
Just as long as you are there.
So come on every guy, grab a girl,
Everywhere, around the world

There'll be dancin',
They're dancin' in the street.
This is an invitation,
Across the nation,
A chance for folks to meet.

There'll be laughin' singin',
And music swingin'
Dancin' in the street

Philadelphia P.A.,
Baltimore and D.C now,
Can't forget the motor city

All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swingin' swayin',
And records playin,
Dancin' in the street

Oh it doesn't matter what you wear,
Just as long as you are there.
So come on every guy, grab a girl,
Everywhere, around the world

They're dancin', dancin' in the street
Way down in L.A.,
Every day they're dancin' in the street
Lets form a big strong line,
And get in time,
We're dancin' in the street.

Across the ocean blue,
Me and you
We're dancin n the street