Motown pioneers Martha Reeves & the Vandellas are coming to Bedford on April 7th ! You’ll be sure to know the girl groups hits, which include Dancing in the Streets, Heatwave, Nowhere to Run…
We had the opportunity to speak to Martha in Detroit, prior to the UK shows.
C: Anything you like about playing in England?
M: The wonderful fans! Many great memories of playing here…
C: Do you prefer recording or performing?
M: I’ve been singing since the age of 3, I’m just happy to perform in any situation, so I have no real preference…
C: Most interesting country you performed in?
M: There is no one place, it’s about the people, the audience, the music at that moment in time, so the place doesn’t matter – I’ve never played Switzerland, I’d love to perform there…
C: Any favourite people you’ve worked with?
M: Little Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, The Supremes, Edwin Starr, Freda Payne, Tony Bennett
C: Anyone you would still like to work with?
M: I’d be open to any collaboration, but would love to perform for the Royal Family one day
C: Favourite decade for music?
M: Well, I’m in my 5th decade of music well and enjoyed all the scenes that were around – my time was the Hippy era…
C: What do you enjoy outside of music?
M: Golf -I’ve won some trophies for longest tee off! It’s great to be outdoors, the menfolk are a great help on the green, made some good friendships out there. Also, I like sewing, altering and customising costumes. Plus visiting schools – conducting motivational talks and explaining that it’s hard work getting into music; dedication, is what you need.
C: Any new acts that excite you?
M: No, not a whole lot. There’s way too much profanity and the artists just aren’t distinguishable. There’s a lot of music about nowadays without musicianship. All machines, pro tools and voice enhancers doing it for them. Music needs to be learned – I take singing lessons every year, as my voice changes over the years, so I need to deal with how to use it.
C: How have you seen the industry change?
M: Well it’s changed a lot, like I said, with the technology, Hitsville, where the Motown records were recorded was open 24 hours a day! People coming in and out, recording including James Jameson (a previously uncredited session bassist) and The Funk Brothers (Motown’s superb session musicians) were always there…The competition was tough, with people like Stevie Wonder around! That’s one of the reasons for the high quality of the Motown sound. When I perform the songs now I get total recall, back to the time when the song came out.
C: What did you think of the David Bowie & Mick Jagger version of Dancing in the Street? (recorded for Live Aid in 1985)
M: Well, I was very flattered! I had one regret that I wasn’t in the video! That song’s been covered dozens of times by The Who, The Grateful Dead, Dusty Springfield & of course The Mamas & Papas. I was in the NBC studio when that was out and some kids were asking Mama Cass about the song, and she had to tell them it was by Martha Reeves!
C: I see you’re on Twitter, do you tweet (or does a Vandella do it for you?!)
M: No, I don’t twitter myself (laughs). Admin does that, but I do Facebook myself. It’s a good way of communicating with fans and friends.
We went on to talk about the Motown Museum in Detroit; the original Hitsville recording studio, which Martha recommended I go to.
If you’re in that neck of the woods, it’s at 2648 West Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208 USA
Or you can virtually check it out
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas play Bedford Corn Exchange on April 7th. Tickets available here
