- Rosalind Ashford -- vocals (1960-70)

- Betty Kelly -- vocals (replaced Annette Sterling Beard)

 (1964-68)

- Annette Sterling Beard -- vocals (1960-64)

- Lois Reeves -- vocals (replaced Betty Kelly) (1968-)

- Martha Reeves -- vocals (1960-)

- Sandra Tilley (RIP 1981) -- vocals (replaced Rosalind

  Ashford) (1970-)

- Gloria Williams -- vocals (1960-62)

- The Dell Fi's

- Martha Reeves (solo efforts)

- The Vels (Rosalind Ashford, Annette Sterling Beard, 

  Martha Reeves and Gloria Williams)

- The Velvelette (Sandra Tilley)

Genre: soul

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Martha and the Vandellas Greatest Hits

Company: Gordy

Catalog: GLP  917

Year: 1966

Country/States: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG

Comments: mono pressing; still in shrink wrap, though opened

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: SOLD

Price: SOLD

Cost: $1.00

Yeah, they never got the attention of Diana Ross and the Supremes, but for our money Martha and the Vandellas were every bit as good (if not better) than their Motown competitors.  Not only that, but they didn't carry all the personal baggage that went with The Supremes.

That said, this is the perfect place for casual fans or the curious to start.  Overlooking Gordy's exceptionally unattractive cover art, 1966's "Martha and the Vandellas Greatest Hits" pulls together 12 of the group's more commercial highlights.  It's certainly not the be all "best of" set since it focuses on material from their first three years and manages to leave off several vital tracks (where's the ballad "I'm Ready for Love"?).  Sure "Love Is Like a Heatwave", "Dancing In  the Street" and "Nowhere To Run" are their best known efforts, but exemplified by the rocking "Wild One" there are plenty of other gems to be found here (and on their studio sets).  Those criticisms aside, here's a great place to start!  Best of all, this is an original mono copy so you get the full impact of that thick Motown sound ...

"Martha ad the Vandellas Greatest Hits" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) My Baby Love Me   (Sylvia Moy - Smokey Robinson) - 3:08

2.) Come and Get These Memories   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:23

3.) Love Is Like a Heatwave   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:45

4.) Dancing In  the Street   (Smokey Robinson - Marvin Gaye) - 2:45

5.) Quicksand   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:36

6.) Live Wire   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:38

(side 2)
1.) You've Been In Love Too Long   (C. Paul - Smokey Robinson - Ivy Joe Hunter) - 3:00

2.) In My Lonely Room   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 3:31

3.) Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:54

4.) A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:29

5.) Nowhere To Run   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 2:51

6.) Wild One   (Smokey Robinson - Ivy Joe Hunter) - 2:44

Genre: soul

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Dance Party

Company: Gordy

Catalog: S- 915

Year: 1965

Country/States: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: stereo pressing

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 4639

Price: $30.00

Cost: $1.00

As far as Motown LPs go, 1965's "Dance Party" easily makes it into the top-10 list.  Musically the album offered up a mixture of new studio materials and several previously released singles:

- 1964's 'Dancing In the Streets' b/w 'There He Is (At My Door) (Gordy catalog number G 7033)

- 1965's 'Wild One' b/w 'Dancing Slow' (Gordy catalog number G 7036)

- 1965's 'Nowhere To Run' b/w 'Motoring' (Gordy catalog number G7039)

The performances are nothing short of sterling with the 'B' sides and even the 'throwaway' Motown standards exhibiting a degree of enthusiasm that you simply don't find very often.  Most group's would've killed for an opportunity to turn in performances half as good as 'There He Is (At My Door), 'Mobile 'lil Dancing Witch' or 'Hitch Hike'.  The latter's particularly impressive given The Vandellas provided the backing vocals on Marvin Gaye's original 1963 version of the song.  In my humble opinion this could be their finest collection and in terms of consistency and quality I'd put it up against anything in The Supremes' catalog.  Elsewhere I always loved the mod cover art (never could make out the artist's name).  Interesting sign of the times to note that all of the figures were of dancing white teenagers.

"Dance Party" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) Dancing In the Streets   (Marvin Gaye - Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson) - 

2.) Dancing Slow   (Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson - Weatherspoon) - 

3.) Wild One   (Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson) -

4.) Nowhere To Run  (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 

5.) Nobody'll Care   (Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson - Weatherspoon) - 

6.) There He Is (At My Door)   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 

(side 2)
1.) Mobile 'lil Dancing Witch   (Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson) -

2.) Dance Party   (Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson) -

3.) Motoring  (Ivy Joe Hunter - Jones - Stevenson) -

4.) The Jerk   (Ivy Joe Hunter - Stevenson) -

5.) Mickey's Monkey   (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 

6.) Hitch Hike  (Marvin Gaye - C. Paul - Stevenson) -