Ridin’ High’: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Move On Up

[jack020]

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stori...in-high-album/


Martha Reeves & the Vandellas – with the lead singer’s surname recently added to the group name – started 1968 with the song that turned out to be their final R&B top tenner. “Honey Chile” also climbed to No.11 on the pop chart and was followed by the funky “I Promise To Wait My Love,” a Top 40 hit on the soul side.
On June 1, 1968, Ridin’ High, the album that contained both of those singles and even the Top 20 soul hit before that, “Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone,” made both the pop and R&B charts. In the month the album was released, the group played at the Copacabana in New York.

The album, on Motown’s Gordy label, was the group’s first studio set not to benefit from the significant songwriting input of Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier, who had just left to set up their own Invictus and Hot Wax labels. Their only song on the album was one of its most accomplished, “Leave It In The Hands Of Love.” The LP also featured the first vocal contribution of Martha’s sister Lois, who was in the process of replacing Betty Kelly in the line-up.

Vandellas sing Bacharach & David

Various new writers contributed to Ridin’ High, but the album saw the group looking to two proven copyrights from the recent songbook of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. They put a Motown twist on “[[There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me” and “I Say A Little Prayer.” Reeves and the Vandellas also turned their hands to another recent No.1 US smash for Lulu, Don Black, and Mark London’s “To Sir With Love.”

Yet another single from Ridin’ High would be released by Motown in the spring of 1969, “[[We’ve Got) Honey Love,” which reached the R&B Top 30. In a surprising postscript, the boyfriend-away-at-the-war song “Forget Me Not” – the flipside of “I Promise To Wait My Love” in the US – was released as a UK single fully three years after its LP appearance, and went all the way to No.11.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Great album, Jack! It still boggles my mind as to why H-D-H's "Leave It In The Hands Of Love" wasn't released as a single. It's my favorite song on there!

[jack020]

This was one of the first Motown albums I ever bought and still play from time to time.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

This was one of the first Motown albums I ever bought and still play from time to time.

That album was released in 1968, Jack, so you we're a relatively late bloomer in discovering The Motown Sound, eh?

[jack020]

I started with 45's , first one was Where Did Our Love Go in the winter of 1964, first LP I think was Reach Out by The 4 Tops, probably in 1967. I still had a lot to catch up on then

[sup_fan]

it's a strong album, certainly a better package than some that would follow it.

since the group had recorded a handful of "country soul" songs around this time, i played producer and redid the album to be a bit more cohesive. also there are some gems that should have been on it that were left off

Honey Chile
Sweet Darlin'
I Tried
We've Got Honey Love
I'm in Love and I Know It
Forget Me Not

I Promise To Wait My Love
Without You
I'm Glad You Belong To Me
Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone
A Little Bit Of Heaven
I Can't Dance To That Music


Little Bit of Heaven is just a great tune, although a little short. total shame to have left it in the vaults.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

it's a strong album, certainly a better package than some that would follow it.

since the group had recorded a handful of "country soul" songs around this time, i played producer and redid the album to be a bit more cohesive. also there are some gems that should have been on it that were left off

Honey Chile
Sweet Darlin'
I Tried
We've Got Honey Love
I'm in Love and I Know It
Forget Me Not

I Promise To Wait My Love
Without You
I'm Glad You Belong To Me
Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone
A Little Bit Of Heaven
I Can't Dance To That Music


Little Bit of Heaven is just a great tune, although a little short. total shame to have left it in the vaults.

Sup - I, too, love "A Little Bit of Heaven [[On A Little Patch Of Earth)". In fact, I find that I like pretty much all of Richard Morris' compositions and productions on Martha. I would gladly give my right arm for a chance to hear an entire album's worth of Richard/Martha recordings.

[Roger Polhill]

Wish granted P/MGary:
"Candy Man"
"Don`t Say You Love Me"
"Sweet Darling"
"A Little Bit Of Heaven [[On A Little Patch Of Earth)"
"Forget Me Not"
"Honey Chile"
"I`m So Glad It`s Twilight Time"
"Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone"
"[[We`ve Got) Honey Love"
"Show Me The Way"
"I Tried"
"I`m Glad You Belong To Me"

[SatansBlues]

Anyone have an Expanded Edition track listing for this album?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Wish granted P/MGary:
"Candy Man"
"Don`t Say You Love Me"
"Sweet Darling"
"A Little Bit Of Heaven [[On A Little Patch Of Earth)"
"Forget Me Not"
"Honey Chile"
"I`m So Glad It`s Twilight Time"
"Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone"
"[[We`ve Got) Honey Love"
"Show Me The Way"
"I Tried"
"I`m Glad You Belong To Me"

Hey, thanks for that, Roger! As it turns out, I have all of those tracks on Martha [[Reeves) & The Vandellas' "Ridin' High", "Sugar & Spice", and the "Spellbound: Motown Lost & Found" previously-unreleased 2-CD set. To your knowledge, are the 12 tracks listed above the extent of the Richard Morris tracks?

There are some really great recordings produced for Martha by Richard Morris. What a shame that Motown poo-poo'd them at the time, relegating them to the vaults. Such a waste!

[Roger Polhill]

My pleasure Gary. As far as I`m aware, but as we know there could be more in the vaults. Paul Nixon would be the one to answer that. "Riding High" is one of my favourite Martha albums.

[Roger Polhill]

There is a possibility of a version of "He`s Good For Me" which we already have by Chris Clark.

[paul_nixon]

There is a possibility of a version of "He`s Good For Me" which we already have by Chris Clark.

Like all the big Motown players there's very little new left on Martha now - the vaults have been well and truly emptied but like everythin else never say never and there are always alternate mixes and sometimes alternate vocals and unreleased monos or stereos.
He's Good For Me whilst assigned to Martha was only ever recorded by CC - shame I can hear Martha doing this one - it would have suited that country style.

[Roger Polhill]

Thank you Paul. Would there be any chance of demos by Richard Morris in the vaults?

[paul_nixon]

Thank you Paul. Would there be any chance of demos by Richard Morris in the vaults?

Do you mean demos sung by Richard Morris or demos of songs written by Richard Morris?

[sup_fan]

Wish granted P/MGary:
"Candy Man"
"Don`t Say You Love Me"
"Sweet Darling"
"A Little Bit Of Heaven [[On A Little Patch Of Earth)"
"Forget Me Not"
"Honey Chile"
"I`m So Glad It`s Twilight Time"
"Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone"
"[[We`ve Got) Honey Love"
"Show Me The Way"
"I Tried"
"I`m Glad You Belong To Me"

this is a great list and thanks for compiling! Im going to use this for a playlist because clearly there's a production style and approach that Morris used and it fit with MR perfectly. in the development of my Riding High alt album playlist, i hadn't really looked as much at the producer. and while i think the "country soul" approach worked well as a collective concept, i also think Morris' overall work fits extremely well together. even if there were "other country-tinged" songs that don't end up on the lp.

[Roger Polhill]

Sorry Paul, I meant demos recorded by Richard Morris.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Like all the big Motown players there's very little new left on Martha now - the vaults have been well and truly emptied but like everythin else never say never and there are always alternate mixes and sometimes alternate vocals and unreleased monos or stereos.
He's Good For Me whilst assigned to Martha was only ever recorded by CC - shame I can hear Martha doing this one - it would have suited that country style.

Paul, did they ever find Martha Reeves/Vandellas' version of "Living In A World I Created For Myself"? When I toured the Donovan Building back in October 1971, George Gordy took me to his office and played me two new tracks he had just recorded on Martha -- "In And Out Of My Life" [[which ended up on "Black Magic") and "Living In A World I Created For Myself" [[which Motown had just released on Jimmy Ruffin's recent "Groove Governor" album). Disappointingly, Harry reported that it was nowhere to be found in the vaults. I know the track existed, as I heard it with my own two ears when George played it for me. [[BTW, Martha sang it in a lower register than usual, as she did on "In And Out Of My Life". It was beautiful!) I'm still hoping the track will miraculously turn up in the Motown vaults, as have other recordings thought to have been lost before it.

[paul_nixon]

Paul, did they ever find Martha Reeves/Vandellas' version of "Living In A World I Created For Myself"? When I toured the Donovan Building back in October 1971, George Gordy took me to his office and played me two new tracks he had just recorded on Martha -- "In And Out Of My Life" [[which ended up on "Black Magic") and "Living In A World I Created For Myself" [[which Motown had just released on Jimmy Ruffin's recent "Groove Governor" album). Disappointingly, Harry reported that it was nowhere to be found in the vaults. I know the track existed, as I heard it with my own two ears when George played it for me. [[BTW, Martha sang it in a lower register than usual, as she did on "In And Out Of My Life". It was beautiful!) I'm still hoping the track will miraculously turn up in the Motown vaults, as have other recordings thought to have been lost before it.

I've looked and looked and looked but there's no evidence of Martha ever recording this track in paperwork [[that's not to say she didn't have a try out on it but there's no session details and no recording details written down). It's possible George Gordy could have recorded her I suppose - not made any note of it and kept the master to himself. There is however a demo which I believe to be George himself - are you sure your memory is not playing tricks on you?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I've looked and looked and looked but there's no evidence of Martha ever recording this track in paperwork [[that's not to say she didn't have a try out on it but there's no session details and no recording details written down). It's possible George Gordy could have recorded her I suppose - not made any note of it and kept the master to himself. There is however a demo which I believe to be George himself - are you sure your memory is not playing tricks on you?

100% sure, Paul! As soon as the intro played, I recognized the tune immediately and commented, "Hey, that's "Living In A World I Created For Myself"! Jimmy Ruffin just recorded it on his new "Groove Governor" album", to which George replied, "You really DO know your Motown!" To me, it was such a heart-felt compliment, and a proud moment for me -- from a member of the Gordy family, no less! I'll remember that moment for as long as I shall live.

[Roger Polhill]

I have lists of Motown songs that were assigned to various artists and "Living In A World I Created For Myself" by Martha & the Vandellas is on that list. I know that does not mean that it was recorded.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I have lists of Motown songs that were assigned to various artists and "Living In A World I Created For Myself" by Martha & the Vandellas is on that list. I know that does not mean that it was recorded.

It WAS recorded! Again, I heard it with my own two ears when George Gordy sat there with me and played it for me!!! It was on a reel-to-reel tape machine. First, he played "In And Out Of My Life" 3 times at my request, after which he jokingly said, "If you wanna hear it again, you've gotta buy it [[which, of course, I did -- both the single and Martha/Vandellas "Black Magic" album . About 20 years later, the CD.) George then played "Living In A World I Created For Myself" and, as I pointed out, he was pleasantly surprised to learn that I recognized the tune [[from Jimmy Ruffin's new "Groove Governor" album which I had recently purchased). Believe it or not, that's up to you guys. It was an in-person Motown moment that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. Years later, after Harry Weinger told me they couldn't find it in Motown's tape library, I was gonna write to George Gordy -- hoping he might still remember me and, hopefully, give me some closure about whatever became of the lost track. Unfortunately, I kept putting it off. By the time I got around to acting on it, George had already passed away. I was a fool to have procrastinated.

[Roger Polhill]

Gary I`m not doubting you. I`m just saying that it`s on my list. Have you mentioned this before. I ask this as it could have been where I got it from.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Gary I`m not doubting you. I`m just saying that it`s on my list. Have you mentioned this before. I ask this as it could have been where I got it from.

Roger, I don't doubt that it was on your list. In fact, I'm encouraged that it was! It was your next sentence, stating that it doesn't mean it was recorded. I guess you didn't see my response to Paul_Nixon above [[Post #20) who insinuated that my mind was playing tricks on me!

In the past, at least twice, I've shared about my October 1971 tour of Motown's Donovan Building where I met George Gordy [[and a host of others) including the fact that George took me to his office and played me those two new tracks he had just recorded on Martha. Neither time did anyone here bother replying. I guess they didn't believe me either, or just didn't care. Doesn't matter. I'm here for Motown -- no one else.

[Roger Polhill]

Gary I believe you. I meant that a lot that are on my lists were not recorded as Paul has pointed out, not specifically this track. I just can`t remember how it came to be there.

[mysterysinger]

Just looking in the obvious places [[DFTMC) is interesting and I wonder if any of the alternate titles might provide a clue to PMG's conundrum?

I've included "In and Out Of My Life" because LIAWICFM may have been recorded at the same sessions.


Living In A World I Created For Myself [[George Gordy-Allen Story-Lawrence Brown) published Jobete 25-Sep-69.
- [[a) Jimmy Ruffin; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 12-Nov-69 ; produced by George Gordy, Allen Story ; arranged by Paul Riser

In And Out Of My Life [[George Gordy-Lawrence Brown-Allen Story) published Jobete 28-Dec-71
alt title: Our Favorite Melody
- [[a) The Vandellas; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 12-Nov-71 ; produced by George Gordy, Lawrence Brown ; arranged by Paul Riser, Dave Van DePitte

Our Favorite Melody [[Allen Story-George Gordy-Lawrence Brown) published Jobete 16-Jun-70
alt title: In And Out Of My Life
- a) Jimmy Ruffin; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 01-Apr-70 ; produced by George Gordy, Lawrence Brown ; [LP version]
- b) Jimmy Ruffin; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 29-Sep-71 ; produced by George Gordy, Lawrence Brown ; arranged by Paul Riser, Dave Van DePitte ; [45 version]

Maybe try asking Martha whether she remembers the recording?

[paul_nixon]

100% sure, Paul! As soon as the intro played, I recognized the tune immediately and commented, "Hey, that's "Living In A World I Created For Myself"! Jimmy Ruffin just recorded it on his new "Groove Governor" album", to which George replied, "You really DO know your Motown!" To me, it was such a heart-felt compliment, and a proud moment for me -- from a member of the Gordy family, no less! I'll remember that moment for as long as I shall live.

So now I have to eat humble pie - there IS evidence of it being recorded - I would never have found it without the help of super sleuth theboyfromxtown. That track is listed as both, Living In A World I Created For Myself, and later as A World We Created For Ourselves and according to the logs was destined for Miss Ross. Martha added her vocals on 18th December 1970. It's amazing how the removal of two small words from a title can throw you, now this I'd love to hear if it survives and there's every reason to suspect it might.

[mysterysinger]

Great news - and a track for inclusion in Cellarful 6? That would be joy in the morning.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

So now I have to eat humble pie - there IS evidence of it being recorded - I would never have found it without the help of super sleuth theboyfromxtown. That track is listed as both, Living In A World I Created For Myself, and later as A World We Created For Ourselves and according to the logs was destined for Miss Ross. Martha added her vocals on 18th December 1970. It's amazing how the removal of two small words from a title can throw you, now this I'd love to hear if it survives and there's every reason to suspect it might.

Martha's version is great, Paul. She sang it in a lower register, just as George had her do on "In And Out Of My Life". I really loved it! Thanks to you and theboyfromxtown for your outstanding detective work! I'm both excited and relieved that it's finally become a reality! A track like that is far too special to go unheard by the public.

I would have loved to hear Diana's version. Maybe you'll get lucky and find her's filed under yet another title!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Great news - and a track for inclusion in Cellarful 6? That would be joy in the morning.

Great idea, Kevin! I second that emotion!