Song by Song: "Dancing in the Street" Quiz

Answer: Martha and the Vandellas

The song, after being released as a single in 1964, was included on the 1965 album "Dance Party," which was released on the Gordy (Motown) label. According to Rolling Stone magazine, the song was originally intended for - but turned down by - Motown singer Kim Weston.

Answer: Marvin Gaye

The song was co-written by Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, and William "Mickey" Stevenson. The single was released July 31, 1964 in the U.S. with "There He Is" on the B-side.

Answer: El Paso

The song also mentions Chicago, New York, D.C., and L.A. As riots broke out in the inner cities in the 1960s, some people came to regard "Dancing in the Street" not as a party song, but as a radical Civil Rights anthem. According to a July 22, 2013 article in The New Yorker by Rollo Romig, "A rumor went around that 'Dancing in the Street' had been banned from the radio because it had inspired the violence."

Answer: Detroit

According to songfacts.com, co-writer Mickey Stevenson got the idea for dancing while he and Marvin Gaye were riding through Detroit in the summer and saw kids cooling off and playing in the streams from the city's open fire hydrants. Detroit is nicknamed Motor City or the Automotive Capital of the World because it is home to the automobile industry's big three manufacturers - GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

Answer: beat

"Callin' out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street."

Martha and the Vandellas version of "Dancing in the Street" peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles chart and at number three on the Canada RPM Singles chart. A re-release in 1969 hit number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 in Ireland (IRMA).

Answer: music

"They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere."

Instrumentation for this song was supplied by a group of Detroit-based session musicians popularly known as "The Funk Brothers." While Martha Reeves sang lead, background vocals were supplied by writers Ivy Jo Hunter and William "Mickey" Stevenson along with Betty Kelly and Rosalind Ashford.

Answer: records

"There'll be swingin' and swayin' and records playing
Dancing in the street."

The song contained guitars, saxophones, trumpets, and trombones. For percussion, Jack Ashford played tambourine and the vibraphone, while Ivy Jo Hunter played the tire iron. Marvin Gaye played the drums, and James Jamerson supplied bass guitar.

Answer: girl

"Oh it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
There'll be dancing (dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street
Dancing in the street."

On it's July 2017 list of "The 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time," Billboard magazine ranked "Dancing in the Street" number 29. It also came in at number 40 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

Answer: nation

Here, invitation is rhymed with nation:

"It's just an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing and music swinging
Dancing in the street."

The invitation to dance goes out across the whole nation, from city to city in America, and beyond:

"Let's get our big strong long, get on time (they're dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue, me and you (we're dancing in the street)."

Martha and the Vandellas' version of "Dancing in the Street" was one of fifty sound recordings preserved by in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

A Swedish rock group called the Tages released a cover of this song in 1967 from their album "Tages 2."

Answer: The Mamas and the Papas

The Mamas and the Papas released the cover as a single from their 1966 album of the same name, with "Words of Love" on the B-side. Denny Doherty, Michelle Phillips, and John Phillips supplied harmony and backing vocals while Cass Elliot took the lead. Their version peaked at number 73 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: The Kinks

The song was included on the Kinks' 1965 album "Kinda Kinks." The album peaked at number 3 on the UK albums chart, but the Kinks' version of "Dancing in the Streets" received few accolades. "Tired of Waiting for You," on the other hand, became a number one hit on the UK singles charts.

Answer: Van Halen

The song was contained on Van Halen's 1982 album "Driver Down." Also on the B-side of the single was "The Full Bug." Van Halen's version peaked at number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. David Lee Roth sang lead vocals on the song.

Answer: The Grateful Dead

The single was released from the 1977 album "Terrapin Station." The Grateful Dead often performed "Dancing in the Streets" live in concert. Jerry Garcia played lead guitar on the song.

Answer: Recess: School's Out

The cover was released as a single form Myra's self-titled second album on June 8, 2001. Although the version for "Recess: School's Out" was in English, Myra recorded the song again in Spanish for "Gotta Kick it Up!" a 2002 Disney Channel movie. In Spanish, the song was titled "Bailando en la Ciudad."

Answer: Mick Jagger and David Bowie

The single was recorded to raise money for Live Aid, a charity intended to provide famine relief. It peaked at number one on the UK singles chart and at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The rock icons also filmed a video of the song directed by British director David Mallet.