Martha Reeves rolls back the years in style
Motown institution Martha Reeves & the Vandellas got the Black Country's Christmas week off with a bang with a lively performance at the Robin 2 club in Bilston.
It was great to see Reeves rolling back the years at the grand old age of 71.
This band from the US enjoyed roaring success in their heyday, racking up 26 singles from 1962 to 1973.
Today, Martha Reeves still leads the charge, returning to full-time performances in 2010 after four years working as a politician for the council in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan.
It's a long way from Detroit to Bilston and the Robin 2 pulled off something of a coup in bringing such a big name in Mowtown to the Black Country.
Of course, it's not the original line up, there were two new Vandellas – one from Leeds with the other from London.
A crowd of 500-plus turned out on Sunday night and they were not disappointed.
Sing-along numbers like 'Nowhere To Run,' 'Jimmy Mack' and 'Heatwave' followed and Martha even threw in their take on 'Silent Night' to get us all into the festive mood. 'Dancing In The Street' was always their big number – it never made number but was included in the National Recording Registry for its historical, artistic and cultural significance in 2006.
That was the last ditty but there was a great medley of tunes including 'Sugar Pie Honey Punch' and 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'.
Martha still clearly loves it up there – at one point she urged us all to raise our glasses. "This is a toast to the good life, you have given me a good life" she said. . . The good life clearly isn't over yet.
