** This is just a short biographical summary – for the full story, check out this artist’s reviews! **

The origins of Martha (Reeves) and the Vandellas are a tangled mess, and no two stories exactly match. What can be said with some certainty is that local vocal group the Del-Phis were invited to Motown by sometime member and sometime Motown A&R secretary Martha Reeves, and that following an impromptu audition, the newly-christened Vandellas were signed to Motown and Martha became their lead singer. Whatever the backstory, the group quickly began landing big hits, becoming Motown’s biggest-selling group of 1963 and surviving several line-up changes to stay as one of Motown’s best-loved and most critically-acclaimed groups through to the end of the Seventies. Harder-edged and more “soulful” than the Supremes, the Vandellas offered the world a rather different Motown sound, exciting and mature.

The final Motown incarnation of the group eventually melted away in 1971, and Martha Reeves’ solo efforts were stymied by Motown’s leaving Detroit; she later went into local politics. Martha and several former Vandellas are still touring to this day (though not necessarily together).

Review Archive: MARTHA and the VANDELLAS (1962-66)

We have 24 reviews for Martha (Reeves) & the Vandellas currently available here on Motown Junkies – see our archive for more details, or click a link below:

1. Camel Walk (Saundra Mallett & the Vandellas)
2. It’s Gonna Be Hard Times (Saundra Mallett & the Vandellas)
3. I’ll Have To Let Him Go
4. My Baby Won’t Come Back
5. You’ll Never Cherish A Love So True (‘Til You Lose It) (as “The Vells”)
6. There He Is (At My Door) (as “The Vells”)
7. Heat Wave
8. A Love Like Yours (Don’t Come Knocking Everyday)
9. Quicksand
10. Darling, I Hum Our Song
11. Live Wire
12. Old Love (Let’s Try It Again)
13. In My Lonely Room
14. A Tear For The Girl
15. Dancing In The Street
16. There He Is (At My Door)
17. Wild One
18. Dancing Slow
19. Nowhere To Run
20. Motoring
21. You’ve Been In Love Too Long
22. Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)
23. My Baby Loves Me
24. Never Leave Your Baby’s Side

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