Martha and the Vandellas - "Canadian Sunset"

[reese]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G9-SlbbEWI

[Roger Polhill]

Thanks reese. They also performed My Baby Loves Me" and "Heat Wave"

[reese]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ4MsXcAA9s

[blackguy69]

Nice it’s the first time we get to hear Roz and Betty sing a line

[calvin]

Great clip. Can someone please identify the musicians behind them?

[reese]

Great clip. Can someone please identify the musicians behind them?

I'm not sure. But I think they had the band The Kinfolks backing them at this point. If so, Martha identified them in her book as David T. Walker [guitar], Tracey Wright [bass], Richard Waters [drums], and Buzz Cooper.

[robb_k]

I'm not sure. But I think they had the band The Kinfolks backing them at this point. If so, Martha identified them in her book as David T. Walker [guitar], Tracey Wright [bass], Richard Waters [drums], and Buzz Cooper.
19154
They were an L.A. band. David T. Walker was just about the best session guitarist on The West Coast. I also like The Vibrations' version of "Canadian Sunset".

I don't recognise that TV show host. Can anyone tell me what show that is, and from which city?

[calvin]

Thanks for the info. I do think it's David T. Walker on guitar, judging by a couple of photos I found online of him. Here's one taken just a few years later [dated 3 October 1970], he's still young but the clothing and hair styles have changed. Looks like he was still using the same guitar as in the videos above.

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/photo-of-david-t-walker-david-t-walker-performing-on-stage-news-photo/85340349

[robb_k]

Thanks for the info. I do think it's David T. Walker on guitar, judging by a couple of photos I found online of him. Here's one taken just a few years later [dated 3 October 1970], he's still young but the clothing and hair styles have changed. Looks like he was still using the same guitar as in the videos above.

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/photo-of-david-t-walker-david-t-walker-performing-on-stage-news-photo/85340349

Yes, the one nearest the piano.

[thommg]

19154I don't recognise that TV show host. Can anyone tell me what show that is, and from which city?

The host is Mike Douglas. He had an afternoon talk show out of Philadelphia, PA. His show was a bit different than most because he usually had a co-host, a performer that stayed with him for the full week. His guests also usually did more than just one song. They sang, then talked, then sang again. Martha and the Vandellas appeared twice in 1968 and once in 1969 [[according to IMDB). I'm guessing this would have been from 1968.

[SatansBlues]

The host is Mike Douglas. He had an afternoon talk show out of Philadelphia, PA. His show was a bit different than most because he usually had a co-host, a performer that stayed with him for the full week. His guests also usually did more than just one song. They sang, then talked, then sang again. Martha and the Vandellas appeared twice in 1968 and once in 1969 [[according to IMDB). I'm guessing this would have been from 1968.
Isn't that Betty Kelly in the middle? Betty left the group in mid-67'.

[calvin]

The poster on youtube says it aired on October 5, 1966 - and I see that some other sources state that Martha and The Vandellas were guests on that show.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8380408/?ref_=ttep_ep23

[motony]

I'm pretty sure it was '66 since "My Baby Loves Me" was a hit that year. Thanks for posting..Mike Douglas Show came on in the afternoons so I missed it alot being at school.

[lyrie]

Which is the most exciting to me. Loved hearing them sing!

[lyrie]

I'm pretty sure it was '66 since "My Baby Loves Me" was a hit that year. Thanks for posting..Mike Douglas Show came on in the afternoons so I missed it alot being at school.

Yes totally! 1966 is the year. October 5th I believe.

[Roger Polhill]

The Mike Douglas Show was a great showcase for Motown artists as around 20 of them appeared during the classic years.

[detmotownguy]

Thanks for posting this gem.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I used to watch the Mike Douglas show a lot after arriving home from school back in the '60s. Over the years, I remember seeing The Supremes singing "I Hear A Symphony", Edwin Starr singing "25 Miles", and Martha & The Vandellas singing "Lovebug Leave My Heart Alone".

Here's a clip from 1969 in which Martha, Lois, & Sandy [[the final version of Martha Reeves & The Vandellas) were promoting their new "Sugar & Spice" album for which they lip-synched "Taking My Love [[And Leaving Me)" and "Soul Appeal". [[The picture and sound quality aren't the best, but for historical purposes, they're indispensable):

https://youtu.be/VM3pOr1eQgE

[Philles/Motown Gary]

And here's a 1968 performance from Martha, Lois, & Sandy on the Mike Douglas Show. Motown had glammed up The Vandellas BIG TIME. Martha looks and sounds fantastic -- especially on her solo version of "Didn't We".

https://youtu.be/JJ_9Lfo_sjQ

[PeaceNHarmony]

The Mike Douglas Show was a great showcase for Motown artists as around 20 of them appeared during the classic years.Yes, and others as well. I recall a great Three Degrees segment; Douglas also frequently had groups sit for an interview, a relative rarity in those times.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

And, if memory serves correctly, Mike Douglas was on every day -- Monday through Friday. There was often-times something to look forward to Motown-wise.

[reese]

And, if memory serves correctly, Mike Douglas was on every day -- Monday through Friday. There was often-times something to look forward to Motown-wise.

I spent many a day watching Mike in the afternoon. He stayed on until the 1980 season, I believe, when he lost his slot to John Davidson. He tried continuing his show on another network but it didn't last long.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I spent many a day watching Mike in the afternoon. He stayed on until the 1980 season, I believe, when he lost his slot to John Davidson. He tried continuing his show on another network but it didn't last long.

And that was a shame, Reese. It just goes to show you -- they should never mess with a winning formula. Sure as shoot, the magic will be gone.

[Spreadinglove21]

Glad to see this footage of this line up singing live. I admit the vocal blend [[so to speak) sounds sharp to my ears. An alto was needed.

[benross]

Someone at Motown must have loved Canadian Sunset. Beyond using it as the "inspiration" for My Guy's instrumental introduction, having Diana Ross record it and most likely suggesting it for Martha Reeves & The Vandellas' appearance here, did Motown have any of its other performers include it in concert or on television?

Having never heard The Vandellas featured to the extent they were here, I thought that they did better than expected, but Martha seemed to be under-rehearsed and under-amplified, relative to the other two. Perhaps the group included this arrangement in their concerts for a time, to allow Martha to rest her voice a bit between the more demanding songs they performed, but her contributions, at least in this version, seemed too impromptu and insincere.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Martha was WAY under-mic'd. The sound man should have caught and corrected that during sound check.

[thommg]

It kept thinking, "Martha take a step towards the mic! Just a step! One Step! Please!

[lakedistrictlad1]

It maybe wishful thinking but I'll bet there's a studio recording of this by Martha & the Vandellas buried in the vaults.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

It kept thinking, "Martha take a step towards the mic! Just a step! One Step! Please!

Yeah, Thom, me, too! When Martha finally stepped forward, it did help considerably. But her mic still needed to be turned up a tad.

[Roger Polhill]

P/M Gary do you recall which date "Lovebug Leave My Heart Alone" appeared. Was it Aug. 12. 1968 or Oct. 15. 1968?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

P/M Gary do you recall which date "Lovebug Leave My Heart Alone" appeared. Was it Aug. 12. 1968 or Oct. 15. 1968?

Gee, Roger, I really don't remember. That detail is a blur to me. Motown released Martha & The Vandellas' "Lovebug Leave My Heart Alone" 45 on August 3, 1967. In fact, I remember taking the new 45 along with me to our aunt & uncle's cottage on the lake so that I could play it for my cousin. But when they performed it on Mike Douglas is beyond me. You would think they would have appeared on Mike's show to promote it in late summer to coincide with the release date, but it wasn't always that cut and dry.
There were times when groups would appear on Mike Douglas-type shows [[i.e., Merv Griffin) and perform songs that were a year or more older . Martha & The Vandellas might very well have performed "Lovebug...." the following year in August or October of 1968. Or, there's a chance that they may have performed it on Merv Griffin, not Mike Douglas. But I'm still leaning heavily toward the Mike Douglas show, as I didn't watch Merv that often. I much preferred Mike and his guests.

[Roger Polhill]

Many thanks P/M Gary, you are so lucky to have been around when all of those shows were playing.I`m trying to collect compile a list of all Motown Artists performances on TV and the movies. Martha did appear on the Merv Griffin Show around those times but I don`t know what she performed.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

You're very welcome, Roger. I'm sorry I couldn't help to fill in the remaining missing gaps. Yes, we've been very lucky here in the U.S. -- especially where Motown was concerned. Back in the day, our favorite artists were all over TV. Not only were they featured heavily on Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin, but also on the Ed Sullivan show every Sunday night where music-loving Americans were glued to our TVs week after week, waiting for our favorite artists to appear. Diana Ross & The Supremes alone were on Ed Sullivan at least 12 times [[or was it 14?). We also had weekly shows like Shindig and Hullabaloo which also featured various recording artists every week. And we can't forget Dick Clark's American Banstand which was on for years and years. One thing is for sure -- we've loved our music here in America and we always will.

[motony]

I remember Martha, Roz & Lois doing "Honey Chile" on the late night Joey Bishop Show. ""Canadian Sunset" was part of their 'supper club" act, I don't think they would have done it on a Rock/Soul concert.

[Roger Polhill]

Thank you motony that must have been 5th. December 1967. I had no idea of what they sang.Really appreciated.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

You know, Roger -- the more I think about it, it was Martha.& The Vandellas' "I Promise To Wait My Love" that they performed on Mike Douglas or Merv Griffin -- not "Lovebug Leave My Heart Alone". I remember being embarrassed because, at the time, I didn't like "IPTWML" at all. It was too raw and raucous-y, and didn't even sound Iike Motown to me. I would have mich preferred the girls promoting "Leave It In The Hands Of Love" which was pure HDH and, IMO, should have been released as a single instead of "IPTWML". Now, 54 years later, "IPTWML" has grown on me a lot, but I still think it was a poor choice as a single.

[Roger Polhill]

Thank`s M/P Gary for your appreciated input.I`ll adjust my records! Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin were very similar in looks in my view.The "Riding High" album has always been a favourite of mine. I`m looking forward to "This Love I`ve Got" on the forthcoming "Good Good Feeling"

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Many thanks P/M Gary, you are so lucky to have been around when all of those shows were playing.I`m trying to collect compile a list of all Motown Artists performances on TV and the movies. Martha did appear on the Merv Griffin Show around those times but I don`t know what she performed.

Roger, are you aware of the series of DVDs that Motown released back in 2011 -- all of which contained Motown artists' TV performances? Some were devoted to performances on the Ed Sullivan show, and some were not. Some DVD's were all of one artist, while some were Various Artists compilations. The picture and sound quality on all of the DVDs are excellent. Unfortunately, the Ed Sullivan DVDs do NOT contain a booklet listing the date of each performance, but the non-Sullivan-related DVDs DO have the informational booklets containing the name of the TV show and the date of the performance. I have all of the DVDs and I can provide you with that information, if you need it.

[Roger Polhill]

Many thanks P/ Gary For your help. Yes I have all the videos that have been released and many more that haven`t. I have downloaded everything on youtube as well. I`ve researched the Internet and have most of the shows and dates of artists appearances but haven`t had so much luck with the songs performed. Thanks again for your expertise.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Many thanks P/ Gary For your help. Yes I have all the videos that have been released and many more that haven`t. I have downloaded everything on youtube as well. I`ve researched the Internet and have most of the shows and dates of artists appearances but haven`t had so much luck with the songs performed. Thanks again for your expertise.

Sure thing, Roger. Any time!

[lyrie]

Isn't that Betty Kelly in the middle? Betty left the group in mid-67'.

Yes that's Betty Kelley. She would cut you for that spelling on Kelley...Lol *onlyteasing