Nowhere to Run (song)
| "Nowhere to Run" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Motoring" |
"Nowhere to Run" is a 1965 pop single by Martha and the Vandellas for the Gordy (Motown) label and is one of the group's signature songs. The song, written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, depicts the story of a woman trapped in a bad relationship with a man she cannot help but love.
Overview
Holland-Dozier-Holland and the Funk Brothers band gave the song a large, hard-driving instrumentation sound similar to the sound of prior "Dancing in the Street" with snow chains used as percussion alongside the tambourine and drums.
Included on their third album, Dance Party, "Nowhere to Run" hit number eight on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, and number five on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.[1] It also charted in the UK peaking at number twenty-six on the chart. The single release was backed with "Motoring".
This version was ranked #358 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[2]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Martha Reeves
- Background vocals by Rosalind Ashford & Betty Kelly
- Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, Jr.
- Produced by Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland
- All instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
- Benny Benjamin: drums
- James Jamerson: bass guitar
- Earl Van Dyke: electric piano
- Jack Ashford: percussion, tambourine, vibes
- Ivy Jo Hunter: percussion (snow chains)
- Robert White: guitar
- Eddie Willis: guitar
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 378.
- ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Retrieved 2008-06-19.