RECOMMENDATION #35: READY FOR A BRAND NEW BEAT By Mark Kurlansky

Ready for a Brand New Beat cover
Mark Kurlansky’s Ready for a Brand New Beat: How “Dancing in the Streets” Became the Anthem for a Changing America looks at America in the Sixties and Seventies through the lens of Motown music. A big chunk of this book deals with Berry Gordy’s starting Motown Records, developing the Motown sound, and recruiting singers to implement his musical vision. Kurlansky believes that Martha Reeves and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Streets” played in key role in the zeitgeist of the Sixties as the Civil Rights Act, the Vietnam War, and the Goldwater vs. Johnson election all played out. The minute I finished Ready for a Brand New Beat, I had to drop everything and listen to Martha Reeves belt out this classic song! Check out the video below. GRADE: B+
DISCOGRAPHY OF “DANCING IN THE STREET”
1964 Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
1965 Cilla Black
1965 Brenda Lee
1065 The Kinks
1965 Petula Clark
1965 The Everly Brothers
1965 The Rokes
1966 The Walker Brothers
1966 The Red Squares
1967 Ramsey Lewis
1971 Little Richard
1971 Laura Nyro and Labelle
1976 Michael Bolton
1976 The Royals
1976 Donald Byrd
1977 The Grateful Dead
1979 Teri DeSario and K.C.
1979 Nohelani Cypriano
1979 Neil Diamond
1981 Tim Curry
1982 Van Halen
1982 The Who
1985 Mick Jagger and David Bowie
1985 Kingfish
1993 Leningrad Cowboys & the Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble
1996 Gunther Neefs
1997 Kim Weston
1999 The BB Band
2000 Jimmy Barnes
2001 Atomic Kitten
2002 The Power Station
2003 Dynamo’s Rhythm Aces
2004 Sugar Beats
2004 The Charades
2005 Rene Froger & Maud
2006 Human Nature
2007 The Condors, featuring Miu Sakamoto
2009 Asian Sensation
2010 Sandrine

22 thoughts on “RECOMMENDATION #35: READY FOR A BRAND NEW BEAT By Mark Kurlansky

  1. The Right Reverend Cap'n Bob Napier

    I like Heat Wave better, but DITS is catchy. But a list that has Neil Diamond and not the Beatles is useless in my universe. Maybe I missed something.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Bob, I don’t think the Beatles could have done justice to “Dancing in the Street.” Of course, I’m not sure Neil Diamond did, either.

      Reply
  2. Deb

    Sounds like an interesting book, but I wonder why so many of the acts listed are English. Not that I’m complaining, music-wise, but how does, say, Cilla Black, factor into the American civil rights movement of the 1960s. Also, I second the Right Reverend’s comment: Where are the Beatles?

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Deb, Motown had a huge effect on British music back in the Sixties. Plenty of British groups were covering Motown hits (like the Stones’ version of “Just My Imagination”). The Beatles’ sound didn’t quite jibe with Motown.

      Reply
  3. Jeff Meyerson

    I agree about Cilla Black, who barely made a blip this side of the pond.

    Another factor not mentioned was teh 1968 Detroit Tigers World Series win, which did a lot to bring Detroit together after the riot of 1967.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Good point, Jeff! I’m loading the Rogue now to begin the drive to the Albany BOUCHERCON. Wish you and Jackie could be there! You’ll be missed (along with the dozen or so regulars who won’t be there either).

      Reply
  4. RkR

    The Beatles also did a cover of “Please Mr. Postman” if you will recall. I don’t really buy this premise, but there was some good music at the time. I think they probably would have been better off to stick with 1961-1966.

    Reply
  5. Jeff Meyerson

    Yes Rick, the Contours. Incidentally, the original members of The Contours are performing together and we saw them at “The Ultimate Do-Wop Show” four years ago.

    Reply

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