1985 Dancing in the Street Original Poster.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".
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