Michigan Boogie

Martha Reeves at the Rainbow Room

Martha Reeves returned to Detroit last week to play a gala appearance at the Shelby Hotel's Rainbow Room. The place was packed, both during and after the official "press party" bar and elbow-rubbing scene, and it wasn't hard to understand why.

Martha's actually from Alabama, but her career with Motown and the Vandellas became her real resting place. Business "homes" through, have a tendency to be fleeting, and MCA, Richard Perry the producer and Martha herself are attempting to convince the public of her new MOR and versatile style. For this that "new" image either stayed well-hidden or was not effective with the hyped up crowd. Just by glancing at the Reeves poster proclaiming her as some sultry, seductive, laid-back songstress, one could easily be misled. 

As for her new style, Martha capably handled a country flavored gospel lament, a Van Morrison tune and other from her latest LP> Otherwise, she belted out her old joyful self, either "Dancing in the Street" stuck in the "Quick-sand" or suffering from another "Heat Wave."

A word about the Lyman Woodard Organization, who played the press party. Let us especially mention their sparkling altoist, Norma Bell. Her alive saxophone seemed like it was moving all by itself, as if it would jump out of her hands at any second and keep wailing out front just from Norma's vibes. She's backed the Spinners and Stevie Wonder already and is certainly worth your attention.