Martha and Co at Ann Arbor

**Sharpmoves** · 06-07-2015, 09:03 AM

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MARTH...30642860300852

Nice video of MR&TVs at Ann Arbor, with Benny Reeves.

**theboyfromxtown** · 06-07-2015, 02:56 PM

Benny sounded great too.

**detmotownguy** · 06-07-2015, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by theboyfromxtown

Benny sounded great too.

Thanks for posting! Martha Reeves is one of the best! They sounded fantastic and I just love her control of the stage. I thrift they did a bang up job on "Love Don't Come Knocking".
Thanks again.

**Sharpmoves** · 06-07-2015, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by detmotownguy

Thanks for posting! Martha Reeves is one of the best! They sounded fantastic and I just love her control of the stage. I thrift they did a bang up job on "Love Don't Come Knocking".
Thanks again.

How right you are Detmotownguy. People always associate MR&TVs with up-beat dance stuff, but they could always do slow and intense too. As you say, Martha is the centre of a vortex of attention, commanding and focusing the audience on her, and controlling the pace and the emotions. Such a star. And as TBFXT says, Benny is very good, and it's lovely and touching to see his great star sisters providing perfect and respectful vocal support.

**RobertZ** · 06-08-2015, 05:35 AM

Yes, great to "A Love..."! A tough song to sing, and to sell to a partyin' crowd, but our Dr. Reeves owned it!

**Sharpmoves** · 06-08-2015, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by RobertZ

Yes, great to "A Love..."! A tough song to sing, and to sell to a partyin' crowd, but our Dr. Reeves owned it!

That's a very good way to put it RobertZ. In her best performances Martha inhabits her songs, takes charge of them, and extracts every last ounce of passion from them. Even in songs like Dancing in the Street, and Nowhere to Run, which have been covered by many others, sometimes very well, I find myself turning back to Martha's for the real deal. And I find Bowie/Jagger in Dancing in the Street is embarrassingly bad - whereas Martha's is perfection! Have a great day!

**westgrandboulevard** · 06-08-2015, 08:14 AM

Whenever I see Martha onstage, I'm aware that not only am I watching and listening to the voice of a Motown star from my youth, but also that the lady on the stage, while not a personal friend of mine, continues to feel that way to me in spirit.

The first is a reality, the second is my own perception; but, to me, the difference is immense, and hugely reassuring.

Martha offers the very best reason not only to remember my past with great affection, but also to approach my future with hope and good spirit.

**theboyfromxtown** · 06-08-2015, 09:37 AM

You have a way with words WGB.

I wish I could be that clever.

**westgrandboulevard** · 06-08-2015, 09:56 AM

You are already clever, theboyfromxtown, but thank you for your own kind words...and The Velvelettes are personal friends of yours, so you most certainly have your own way with communication..

**Roberta75** · 06-08-2015, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by RobertZ

Yes, great to "A Love..."! A tough song to sing, and to sell to a partyin' crowd, but our Dr. Reeves owned it!

The First Lady of Motown Records Dr Martha Reeves IS Motown imo and the best singer ever to record under the Motown label and the best live perfpormer out there today.

I love this gracious and talented and lovely lady so much.

Fondly,

Roberta

**detmotownguy** · 06-08-2015, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Sharpmoves

How right you are Detmotownguy. People always associate MR&TVs with up-beat dance stuff, but they could always do slow and intense too. As you say, Martha is the centre of a vortex of attention, commanding and focusing the audience on her, and controlling the pace and the emotions. Such a star. And as TBFXT says, Benny is very good, and it's lovely and touching to see his great star sisters providing perfect and respectful vocal support.

oh I didn't mean to leave out her siblings as they are great too! I wonder if Martha ever considered including Benny in her act? Damn that family is talented. Again, her control of the stage is outstanding.

**marv2** · 06-08-2015, 10:11 PM

Benny Reeves laid Brook Benton's "A Rainy Night in Georgia" OUT! I was in Ann Arbor about 3 weeks ago. I love that town.

**detmotownguy** · 06-08-2015, 10:42 PM

Had a great time in college there! But had to buckle down for the PhD., so had to move on.

**marv2** · 06-08-2015, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by detmotownguy

Had a great time in college there! But had to buckle down for the PhD., so had to move on.

My mom's cousin was a prof at U of M.

**detmotownguy** · 06-09-2015, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by marv2

My mom's cousin was a prof at U of M.

Wait, didn't Martha have a gig in Ann Arbor at the Blind Pig? As remember it was. packed to the rafters. I believe in was in the winter. Damn time flies.