Martha & The Vandellas- My Baby Loves Me

[WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance]

Was listening to this today, first time in quite a few years. Now that I'm a few years older, I'm really struck with just how amazing this song truly is. I always liked it, but now more than ever, I appreciate that Motown put this out. It kind of resides in its own space- not a ballad, but not a dance tune [[well, maybe it was good for slow dancing.)

One thing that struck me was the backing vocals. I always thought it was really an unexpected step to replace the Vandellas, not just with the Andantes, but with a full male vocal group as well. I'm sure it was nothing more than the producer just wanting a different sound for the record, but honestly, you'd swear this was a Martha Reeves solo record.

I remember thinking it was the Four Tops backing Martha but I really had nothing more than my ears. Then, years later I read some books saying that very thing. But now I'm wondering if they too just surmised that for the same reason I did: the blend of male vocals with the Andantes sounds very much like Four Tops backing vocals. So is it REALLY the Tops and Andantes here or is it The Spinners and Andantes? At any rate, I think the choice to used male and female vocals really works to great effect for this particular record.

[Motown Eddie]

I remember thinking it was the Four Tops backing Martha but I really had nothing more than my ears. Then, years later I read some books saying that very thing. But now I'm wondering if they too just surmised that for the same reason I did: the blend of male vocals with the Andantes sounds very much like Four Tops backing vocals. So is it REALLY the Tops and Andantes here or is it The Spinners and Andantes? At any rate, I think the choice to used male and female vocals really works to great effect for this particular record.

According to the notes for "My Baby Loves Me" from TCMS-1966 as well as info from Wikipedia, those backing vocals are by The Andantes with The Four Tops [and none of the other members of The Vandellas are on that record]. And IMHO it sounds familiar since The Andantes also did the backing vocals on many of The Tops classic records from that era and it became a such signature of their sound.

[WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance]

According to the notes for "My Baby Loves Me" from TCMS-1966 as well as info from Wikipedia, those backing vocals are by The Andantes with The Four Tops [and none of the other members of The Vandellas are on that record]. And IMHO it sounds familiar since The Andantes also did the backing vocals on many of The Tops classic records from that era and it became a such signature of their sound.

Thank you for this. Wow! So back when I was a kid, my ears were telling me the truth that it was the Four Tops and Andantes -only at the time I didn't know about the Andantes, I just thought the guys were amazingly gifted with being able to sing ultra high notes!

[motony]

I always LOVED Marthas' performance on this, but when she did it LIVE with ROZ & Betty, I loved it even more. There is a video of them on the Mike Douglas Tv show where Martha Roz & Betty do it LIVE with their own combo & its GREAT.

[arr&bee]

One of their best.

[blackguy69]

You have to remember that My Baby Loves Me was intended to be a Four Tops song hence the Andantes. Then it was reassigned to Martha who added her lead.

also here’s that clip from Mike Douglas

[lockhartgary]

You have to remember that My Baby Loves Me was intended to be a Four Tops song hence the Andantes. Then it was reassigned to Martha who added her lead.

also here’s that clip from Mike Douglas

I would have LOVED to hear how Levi would have tackled this song! Having said that, Martha's version is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Martha tracks.

[WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance]

You have to remember that My Baby Loves Me was intended to be a Four Tops song hence the Andantes. Then it was reassigned to Martha who added her lead.

also here’s that clip from Mike Douglas

AHA!!!! OK, that's the key that makes all of it fall into place for me. I was thinking it was just a stylistic/artistic choice but your comment is like the missing puzzle piece. And I have to say, the live clip is amazing because it shows just how wonderful the Vandellas were as singers in their own right.

[kenneth]

It is a beautiful song, deceptively simple in its melody and Martha's delivery is uncharacteristically understated. I honestly never appreciated how great this song is when I was young, as I only liked the dance or more R&B oriented numbers. But this really shows the kind of range Martha has, and I only wish she had been encouraged to do more such material. Undeniably, one of her best moments! And the Tops only make it that much sweeter.

[mowest]

Would the song’s success have been any greater [[than #22 Billboard Pop) if it was recorded with the Vandellas in the background instead?

[kenneth]

Would the song’s success have been any greater [[than #22 Billboard Pop) if it was recorded with the Vandellas in the background instead?

I'd love to think so, but perhaps it just wasn't single material. To me, that kind of song takes a while to grow on you.

[motony]

Would the song’s success have been any greater [[than #22 Billboard Pop) if it was recorded with the Vandellas in the background instead?

Motown was a business & because they controlled the artists total career, they would choose to fly only the lead singer back to Detroit to record the new track as the artists were on the road alot, due to their popularity!

[bradsupremes]

Motown was a business & because they controlled the artists total career, they would choose to fly only the lead singer back to Detroit to record the new track as the artists were on the road alot, due to their popularity!

I never bought that the acts were so busy they could only fly in the lead. They only did it to the girl groups at Motown. Motown somehow made it work to fly in the Four Tops, Temptations, Miracles, Spinners in to add their vocals to their tracks.

[kenneth]

I never bought that the acts were so busy they could only fly in the lead. They only did it to the girl groups at Motown. Motown somehow made it work to fly in the Four Tops, Temptations, Miracles, Spinners in to add their vocals to their tracks.

I've always wondered about that too, for the same reason. Were the girl groups' backgrounds considered to be more "interchangeable" perhaps? Also, it's not as if Mary and Cindy or Lois and Sandra or Katherine and Anne could tour without Diane, Martha or Wanda.

In the age-old debate, I still prefer the original groups in the background, even when they might not have been in great harmony. I just love the innocent, unvarnished sound of the original singers.

Of course, the Tempts and the Tops had voices that were easily recognizable, such as, Melvin, Eddie, Paul, David, Obie, and Duke. There was no generic male backup group, although I have read the Spinners often contributed background vocals prior to their breakout hits, which really didn't happen till after they left Motown. The early male backup, the Love Tones, seemed to be limited to Mary Wells' recordings, at least that is when they were mentioned by name on albums [[and I think on her live album they are mentioned by name by the announcer).

[reese]

I've always wondered about that too, for the same reason. Were the girl groups' backgrounds considered to be more "interchangeable" perhaps? Also, it's not as if Mary and Cindy or Lois and Sandra or Katherine and Anne could tour without Diane, Martha or Wanda.

In the age-old debate, I still prefer the original groups in the background, even when they might not have been in great harmony. I just love the innocent, unvarnished sound of the original singers.

Of course, the Tempts and the Tops had voices that were easily recognizable, such as, Melvin, Eddie, Paul, David, Obie, and Duke. There was no generic male backup group, although I have read the Spinners often contributed background vocals prior to their breakout hits, which really didn't happen till after they left Motown. The early male backup, the Love Tones, seemed to be limited to Mary Wells' recordings, at least that is when they were mentioned by name on albums [[and I think on her live album they are mentioned by name by the announcer).

I always figured the use of the Andantes or other background singers instead of the actual group members was the choice of the producers. You can hear Ashford and Simpson singing background on some of their productions. There was most likely a sound they were going for and the group members might not have had it.

That said, why it seemed to happen more often with the females has never been confirmed. Maybe the females didn't kick up a fuss about it. Maybe it did happen with some of the male groups and we just don't know.

[Motown Eddie]

Would the song’s success have been any greater [[than #22 Billboard Pop) if it was recorded with the Vandellas in the background instead?

I don't think that not having The Vandellas doing the backing vocals would've had any impact on the Billboard Pop chart success of "My Baby Loves Me". The song did do much better on the R&B charts [hitting #3] and Martha & Co. would enjoy an even bigger hit at the end on 1966 with "I'm Ready For Love".

[rovereab]

Martha "owns" this song in the same way that Tammi "owns" All I Do Is Think About You.

Sometimes something magical happens with a combination of an artist and song which is hard to explain but its so obvious when you hear it.

This in one of my favourite songs by Martha Reeves.

[motony]

thank you blackguy69 for posting that video. I also LOVED the follow-up "What Am I Gonna Do Without Your Love" which there is a video from the TV show "Where The Action Is" of Martha Roz & Betty on the grounds of the Roostertail in Detroit.

[luke]

Totally agree. And didn’t they ever use local studios to record vocals?

[soulwally]

In my all time Motown top 5.

[floyjoy678]

I definitely hear Levi in the background on the "oh yeah"s. This was always a favorite of mine. Love how jazzy it is.