Dancing in the Street (Live Aid concert) (1985) - Live Aid concert / Mick Jagger, David Bowie - original movie poste- r one sheet folded - size: 27x41 inches - good condition

EMI AMERICA

HAD BEEN FOLDED

DISTRIBUTED BY MUSIC MOTION INC.



"Dancing in the Street" is a 1964 song first recorded by

Martha and the Vandellas. It is one of Motown's signature

songs and is the group's premier signature song.



Martha and the Vandellas original

Produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson and written by

Stevenson and Marvin Gaye, the song highlighted the

concept of having a good time in whatever city the

listener lived. The song was conceived by Stevenson who

was showing a rough draft of the lyrics to Gaye disguised

as a ballad. When Gaye read the original lyrics, however,

he said the song sounded more danceable. With Gaye and

Stevenson collaborating, the duo composed the single with

Kim Weston in mind to record the song. Weston passed on

the song and when Martha Reeves came to Motown's Hitsville

USA studios, the duo presented the song to Reeves. Hearing

Gaye's demo of it, Reeves asked if she could arrange her

own vocals to fit the song's message.

Gaye and Stevenson agreed and including new Motown

songwriter Ivy Jo Hunter adding in musical composition,

the song was recorded in two takes. The interesting loud

beat of the drums in its instrumentation can be attributed

to Hunter, who banged on a crowbar to add to the drum

beat led by Benny Benjamin.

While produced as an innocent dance single (it became the

precursor to the disco movement of the 1970s), the song

took on a different meaning when riots in inner-city

America led to many young black demonstrators citing the

song as a civil rights anthem to social change which also

led to some radio stations taking the song off its play

list because certain black advocates such as H. Rap Brown

began playing the song while organizing demonstrations.

"Dancing in the Street" peaked at number two on the U.S.

Billboard Pop Singles chart when it was originally

released as the group's third album Dance Party's first

single in 1964 (see 1964 in music), with "There He Is (at

My Door)" included as a B-side. The song also reached the

top 5 on the UK pop charts peaking at #4 in a 1969 release

after initially peaking at #28 on the chart and helped to

revive the Vandellas' success in England.

On April 12, 2006, it was announced that Martha and the

Vandellas' version of "Dancing in the Street" would be one

of 50 sound recordings preserved by the Library of

Congress to the National Recording Registry. Lead singer

Martha Reeves said she was thrilled about the song's

perseverance, saying "It's a song that just makes you want

to get up and dance".