Both a euphoric floor-filler and a call to arms, Martha And The Vandellas’ ‘Dancing In The Street’ remains a prime example of Motown’s 60s pop perfection.
The pair had already written hits for Stevie and others when he oversaw her first album for Motown's MoWest label.
The one-time Motown secretary and backing vocalist became one of the company's A-list vocalists.
'Heat Wave' sizzled as the second R&B hit for Martha & the Vandellas and their pop breakthrough.
'What Am I Going To Do Without Your Love' was a minor US pop chart entry, but missed the soul chart altogether.
'Tear It On Down' was the final single to carry the name of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas.
Girl groups go all the way back to the birth of pop, and their long and honourable dedication to delighting the ears deserves far more recognition than it gets.
The propulsive, tension-filled number came flying off the pens of Holland, Dozier and Holland and into the Motown studio.
Grammy-winning US soul outfit Shalamar and chart-topping British R&B group Soul II Soul also feature prominently on the bill.
The Holland-Dozier-Holland magic started working again with the group's third smash in a row.
The song turned out to be the end of a US pop crossover story that had begun eight years earlier.
'Photograph' was co-written by Starr with George Harrison, as their close post-Beatles working relationship continued.
In 1963, the rapid emergence of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas travelled at 45 rpm with three smash hit singles, then at 33rpm with their second album.
Gordy made the announcement as he was feted with the Motown Legacy Award at the Hitsville Honours ceremony in Detroit.
Having helped birth soul music in the 60s, Motown helped it mature in the 70s, creating classic albums and asking some of the biggest questions of the era.
