Martha And The Vandellas - I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playin' Lyrics

Great song love syreeta in the background

1:35 one of my favorite moments in music. You can't tell where Martha's voice ends, and the saxophone begins. It was a perfect effect

One thing I liked about Martha & The Vandellas was the fact that The Vandellas actually had moments to not only back up Martha but to bring up and really flesh out the sound and style moreso than other groups at the time (Diana Ross & The Supremes for example). Sure, there were "bigger" groups out there at the time but Martha was the type of lady back then who would have a drink with you. She was the type of woman who would sign an autograph and probably chat with you as well. I just always admired her personality which came through with the music and singing. A real joy! Thank you Martha, and thank you Vandellas!

That isn't Martha singing...that is Syreeta Wright as confirmed by Martha herself as Martha did not want to finish the song.  And god knows who the Vandellas were by this time....the real Vandellas were gone by this time...the background sound like chipmunks.

Actually, Martha did NOT want Syretta's part in the song because it sounded to much like Diana Ross.

The back-up singers are the Andantes (Motown's in house background singers).

I don't know who came up with the piano riff but I have to wonder, if not for this record, would Steely Dan ever have written 'Peg'?

Berry Gordy said in his biography that Martha had the ability to have her feet planted to where she stood and would rock the house!

On this day in 1968 {September 15th} Martha Reeves and the Vandellas appeared on the NBC-TV musical special 'Soul', the show was hosted by Lou Rawls...
At the time the trio's "I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin'" was at #50 on Billboard's Hot Top 10 chart; the two previous weeks it was at #42 and that was also its peak position on the Top 100...
It reached #24 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
Between 1963 and 1972 the trio had twenty-five hits on the R&B Singles chart; eleven made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Heat Wave" in 1963 and "Jimmy Mack" in 1967...

Straight Motown. Straight 60's. Great song!!!

This was and is always one of M&Vd's greatest and it never became a hit!
Wow, that saxophone...!

According to Martha Reeves's autobiography, she did not want to do this song because she did not feel it was right for her.  However, just as the powers that be at Motown used the Andantes in place  of Mary an Cindy on several later Supremes records, Motown simply recorded the song with Syreeta Wright as the lead.  Martha was so shocked that Motown went ahead and recorded and released  the record with Syreeta Wright doing what would have been Martha's part.   So here we have a record with Syreeta Wright doing the lead and god knows who the Vandellas were by this time and the record is released under the name of  Martha and the Vandellas ..and there are  no real Vandellas are on the record....not even Martha herself!   How is that for duping the public?   Syreeta Wright was so talented that she could mimic almost any female singer at Motown.  That is why Syreeta was used to record demos for the other singers at Motown.  So if any female singer became difficult just call in Syreeta Wright and she will fill in and not get credit for it.

Martha is singing the verses Syreeta the chorus

Yes.   According to Martha's book you are correct.  Syreeta was recruited to replace Martha in the chorus section of the song when Martha walked out of the session.  Martha also verified this in an interview she gave many years later when she stated that the schedules were so tight that she was usually pressured to complete a song in one or two takes.  Martha stated that if you had a problem with a song there was always "someone" standing in the wings  ready to take your place....in this case it was Syreeta Wright. If a group member was unable to make a session , no problem..just call in the Andantes.

Betty Boo brought me here.

@Porch Fyre
I grew up with the Beatmasters version, as well as being aware that it heavily sampled Martha & The Vandellas' original version. I'm just baffled why you're proud of your ignorance. Nobody's admiring you morons because "Glee/Lost/Betty fucking Boo brought me here". Rant over.

@Paul Todd stfu tard and don't let it bother you.

@Paul Todd proving your point? it's slang for "retarded" asshat. It's sad when someone now has to aim at someone's grammar in a comment. You're a regular cry baby aren't you?

Judging by your grammar, if you're over the age of 15, you are borderline retarded. Let me guess you're a product of the American public school system.

Wow! You have now stooped so low as to judge my grammar and insult Americans while calling me a moron because I said a Betty Boo song led me here. Do you even realize how pathetic you sound? You're obviously trolling me.

They were terrific!  I love this. Thanks.

In my opinion better than the Supremes!

i like betty boo

It pissed her off because Syretta sounds so similar to Diana Ross

thank you!!

Real art is timeless.

I had absolutely no idea that this wasn't written by Betty Boo.

thanks for the info...

It Pissed Martha off that they got Syreeta to finish the parts of the song Martha didnt

I'm ashamed to say I had only heard the Betty Boo / Beatmasters version until two weeks ago. When I heard this version on the radio for the first time, I fell in love with the tune all over again - just fabulous.

One of Motowns best acts. Great singers. Big joy.

Whoever didn't like this is against life!