In this book, Kurlansky explores the phenomenon of how Motown and the song “Dancing in the Street” changed music in a turbulent time in the US in the 1960’s. Kurlansky also explores the events of the time period including the rise of the Beatles, Vietnam, the Civil Rights Act and changes in politics. Kurlansky is never boring to me and I enjoy his unusual book topics! ( )

One of the most enduring songs of 1966 was Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: dancing in the street, an anthem for America. It is about the song of course but really much larger than that since the author describes the era of the 1960s, the place of black power politics, and the influence that this song has had on an international basis and during the rise of the Beatles and the British invasion.

my full review at http://smokingmule.blogspot.com ( )

Mark Kurlansky's book is a good introduction to the civil rights movement and understanding why hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in an effort to end segregation during the March on Washington.

In 1963, America was "a-changin" and Kurlansky condenses the political and social attitudes of the era to the sound of Martha and the Vandellas', "Dancing in the Street."

He champions the song as an anthem about integration while filling out the rest of his book by documenting black music culture and its influence on Rock 'n' Roll. He also discusses Motown Records' impact on breaking down racial barriers, but sadly, there are only brief snippets of Martha Reeves' own story, as well as other soulful singers who were part of the Motown Sound.

With well-informed speculation, Kurlansky tries to unmask the political interpretations which may or may not be the song's original intent. He then wedges the track between the nonviolent civil rights movement and the more aggressive Black Power ideology, arguing its importance as an integral part of the social freedoms gained during the 1960s.

Kurlansky's thesis might read more persuasive if it was a shorter magazine article. Nonetheless, his premise is still a good call out to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech," reminding everyone that there's still an invitation across the nation, a chance for the folks to meet, dance and realize that change is possible when locked hand in hand with fellow believers. ( )

This book discusses the influence of music, especially Motown and particularly the song of the title upon the civil rights movement of the 1960's. A lot of the history and facts presented are interesting and especially fun if you lived during that era. Unfortunately, the writing is not up to par: many sentences are not well constructed, grammatical errors abound and the structure is often clumsy and disjointed. As I received this as a pre-pub edition, I am hoping that an editor still has a shot at it. It could be condensed into a great magazine article that would be especially timely with the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom being celebrated this year. ( )