1968 Soul Show TV Special with Martha, Vandellas airs tonight

[BayouMotownMan]

What a kick this is gonna be, was announced that this tv special will air tonight on YouTube. I remember Martha, Lois and Roz doing Down By The Riverside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DqPJT7gqAY

[reese]

This is great news. Whenever I visit NYC, I go to the Museum of TV and watch this special.

[BayouMotownMan]

Are there other rare Supremes you could find at that Museum? Would love to see JMC do Touch from Flip Wilson again

[reese]

Are there other rare Supremes you could find at that Museum? Would love to see JMC do Touch from Flip Wilson again

To be honest, most of the Ross/Supremes things that I've seen there are not all that rare. That's why it is great to see something like this SOUL! special or the Pips' summer series, etc.

[carlo]

Can't wait!!

[floyjoy678]

Does anyone know if this will be available for viewing after showing it live?

This special was one of the last appearances of Roz with the group.

[BayouMotownMan]

Just watched it, what great memories. I was expecting Martha to do her newest single Sweet Darlin' at the time this aired. But I guess it was taped sometime in between I Can't Dance and that song. She sounded great on Down By The Riverside however.

[thanxal]

Just watched it, what great memories. I was expecting Martha to do her newest single Sweet Darlin' at the time this aired. But I guess it was taped sometime in between I Can't Dance and that song. She sounded great on Down By The Riverside however.

She did sound good on that. I was hoping for a second song, perhaps a recent hit, but it was nice to see them on a special. It was very clear and restored very well. Lots of camera shots of Roz and Lois.

[bradsupremes]

There was a second number that didn’t make it into the special. I’ve seen two photos of the ladies performing in front of the live band/set that Nipsy Russell, Lou Rawls, and H.B. Barnum perform at earlier in the special. The Vandellas wore gold and black beaded gowns and it clearly was an upbeat song because both Roz and Lois are doing choreography. I wonder if it was a medley or perhaps their latest single[[s).

[blackguy69]

[BayouMotownMan]

There was a second number that didn’t make it into the special. I’ve seen two photos of the ladies performing in front of the live band/set that Nipsy Russell, Lou Rawls, and H.B. Barnum perform at earlier in the special. The Vandellas wore gold and black beaded gowns and it clearly was an upbeat song because both Roz and Lois are doing choreography. I wonder if it was a medley or perhaps their latest single[[s).

Brad would you have that photo to post for us?

[floyjoy678]

It was nice seeing that. And it was a good performance by Martha and the girls. They're one of those groups I prefer to listen to than watch though if that makes sense. I don't mean to slight them but they really don't have much stage presence.

[Boogiedown]

What a time capsule. Just like good ol' HEE HAW with painfully corny jokes validated by canned laughter, but this one includes punchlines that are surprisingly racist ...

Chambers Brothers were the highlight for me although Martha is a close second.

[bradsupremes]

Brad would you have that photo to post for us?

This is one of them. I have a file of a color photo of a different angle found in the Michael Travis archives likely because he designed these gowns but can’t find the file at the moment.

I’d love to know what they performed.

[thanxal]

This is one of them. I have a file of a color photo of a different angle found in the Michael Travis archives likely because he designed these gowns but can’t find the file at the moment.

I’d love to know what they performed.

They said in the chat during the show they hope to have the show released in the coming months. I wonder if they have access to the extra material and might include it as "bonus" for the DVD?

[danman869]

I hadn't known [or had long forgotten] that Michael Travis also designed gowns for MRATV. The ones worn in the aired show were really beautiful on the ladies--and hopefully we'll get to see those black and gold gowns in color--maybe as a part of bonus footage like thanxal mentioned?

Here's some screen captures of Martha, Roz, and Lois from the show. Bumped up the saturation a little bit and they're even more gorgeous!

[Roberta75]

LOVED Down By The Riverside and Tell mama. A real great show. I always thought Dr Martha Reeves would have made a fine actress.

[BayouMotownMan]

This is one of them. I have a file of a color photo of a different angle found in the Michael Travis archives likely because he designed these gowns but can’t find the file at the moment.

I’d love to know what they performed.

Brad this might have been a dress rehearsal of the same song and then they decided on a different gown depending on the scenery being used. Can't say I liked the wigs though, so acrylic looking

[bradsupremes]

Brad this might have been a dress rehearsal of the same song and then they decided on a different gown depending on the scenery being used. Can't say I liked the wigs though, so acrylic looking

I'm not sure if it is a dress rehearsal because in the other photo I saw, they had the band playing behind them and in a different set. Plus their wigs match the ones from the soulful "My Fair Lady" segment. It's possible it is a dress rehearsal but knowing George Schlatter productions they film more than what they use.

[snakepit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3C_463zgGY

Huge Northern Soul tune....George Kirby