Interesting comments, as I have to say that Martha sings 'Dancing In The Street' just like that when she performs over here in UK.
She always puts on her best show, but she can and does pitch her voice higher if the occasion moves her, and she feels lifted by the audience response.
I believe Martha has said that the original key on the recording was too high for her. Her younger singing voice did have a harder, strident quality.....but the result on record worked like a charm, whenever heard over transistor and car radios. Especially anywhere with an echo, like parks, large open spaces and fairgrounds. Martha's voice was like a clarion call.
Now, there is a huskiness to her voice...which I like. There is a certain breathlessness at times, but generally her breathing is more controlled , which helps to keep the vibrato quality within bounds. Being Martha, she still likes to improvise and get happy [[of course!), but normally uses her 'whistle register' further back from the mic.
It's also interesting to note and remember just how much younger people consider Martha to be a real stage entertainer. To them, she is a sassy, grand lady with a long history in show business. They don't compare her now with how she sounded or looked in the 60s, because they simply can't remember those days. But they do know and feel her to be authentic.
And Martha is often presenting radio programmes on UK radio, for those same reasons.
Maybe there's a lesson for us all, right there. Not to look back too far, and just enjoy our days right here, right now.
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