Dancing in the Street – Just a party song…but so much more. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #MarthaandtheVandellas #TheMamasandthePapas #GratefulDead #VanHalen #DavidBowie #MickJagger

I always love the songs that have a story behind the writing that goes deeper than the lyrics. Today’s song is ‘Dancing in the Street’ and it is one such example. The original version of this classic was written by William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter and the great Marvin Gaye. It was conceived by Stevenson who was watching people having a good time on the streets in his native Detroit, dancing in the surging water from opened fire hydrants. His idea evolved into the concept of people having a good time in the streets no matter where they lived. The version that was brought to Marvin Gaye was more of a ballad and Gaye suggested that they turn it into something danceable. They collaborated on the song with a plan to give it to Kim Weston, but she passed on it. This twist of fate became Martha Reeve’s big break. She had recently arrived in Motown and welcomed the opportunity, provided she could arrange her own vocals, because she wanted to reduce the repetition. This is where Ivy Jo Hunter came in, and adjusted the composition. The one thing that everyone agreed upon immediately is that Detroit needed to be mentioned in the lyrics. As a result, everyone knows the reminder “don’t forget the Motor City” is very prominent in the popular song.

Sometimes a song ends up with a much deeper meaning due to societal circumstances surrounding its’ release. As much as the song was an ode to a positive Detroit street scene, it was also linked to riots and civil dissent in inner cities throughout America. Young African American demonstrators began to associate it with the civil rights movement and it became a bit of an anthem at the time. This became a matter of some consternation with Martha Reeves because she was frequently asked if she was a militant leader, and if the song was a call to civil disobedience. Reeves would reply;

My Lord! It was a party song.”

Martha Reeves

This association was also troubling for Motown Record’s executive Berry Gordy Jr. who was often concerned about his songs being associated with anything political. He was tentative because of the potential that this perception would impact the labels’ commercial success. The following quote captures the essence of Motown’s role in the civil rights movement and what Motown meant to African Americans.

Motown records had a distinct role to play in the city’s black community, and that community – as diverse as it as – articulated and promoted it’s own social, cultural and political agendas. These local agendas, which reflected the unique concerns of African Americans living in the urban north, both responded to and configured the national civil rights campaign.

Suzanne E. Smith

Essentially, the song and the social environment that it emerged from were intertwined. The explosion of popularity and meaning that was implied could not have existed without each other. For the civil rights movement ‘Dancing in the Street’ became a rally cry to reject peace in favour of united civil unrest, so that equality and fairness for suppressed minorities across the U.S could be achieved.

Ultimately ‘Dancing in the Street’ went to #2 on the U.S Billboard Top 100. Its’ social significance has been recognized through its’ preservation by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry. This recognition occurred in 2006, and at the time Martha Reeves, true to her word stated;

It’s just a song that makes you want to get up and dance.”

Martha Reeves

Whether it is because of its’ social implications or the positive vibe, ‘Dancing in the Street’ has often been covered over the past 52 years. I suspect it is the latter. Some notable covers include the Mamas and the Papas, the Grateful Dead, who turned it into a showcase jam session as far back as 1966, featuring their keyboard player Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan on vocals. After Pigpen died Bob Weir took on the vocals, and the Dead released it as ‘Dancing in the Streets’ on their 1977 Terrapin Station album. Other notable covers came from The Everly Brothers, Black Oak Arkansas, The Kinks and naturally, because The Kinks did it, so did Van Halen. Actually Van Halen did a pretty good job, and when the song was lampooned by critics for being ‘just like the original’, Eddie Van Halen who spent a ton of time working out the guitar/synthesizer arrangement defended the recording by saying:

…forget the critics! These are good songs. Why shouldn’t we redo them for the new generation of people.”

Eddie Van Halen

And therein lies the reason why I am fascinated by the time honoured tradition of phenomenal artists paying homage to the creativity of those who came before. I hope this tradition never ends. It is magnificent.

Grateful Dead

The Mamas and the Papas

Van Halen

Now, on to today’s final cover which went to #1 on this day in 1985. When you consider that this version of ‘Dancing in the Street’ featured two of the greatest singers of all time, it was a can’t miss. The idea of the duet was conceived as an effort to support the ‘Live Aid’ Ethiopian famine relief effort. The legendary pair was slated to perform by satellite; Bowie at Wembley, in London and Jagger at RFK, in Philadelphia, but they were derailed by the fact that there would be a half second delay which made the cross Atlantic duet impossible unless one of the performers lip synced their contribution. No dice! The studio version had already been recorded in June in a whirlwind recording session at Abbey Road Studios, and the subsequent video was shot and played twice during the Live Aid event to mass acclaim. All of the profits went to charity. Looking back the video has not aged well. It almost seems like a parody, but at the time it was a huge deal.

The two music icons did get to perform the song live together at the 1986 Prince’s Trust concert. Here is the video. Mick Jagger looks like a throwback to 1975 who invaded his new wave brothers’ (Bowie) frat party. What is special about this is the array of musical talent on stage is immense. Check out Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Elton John and Bryan Adams among others.