Nowhere to Run (song)

"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.

"Nowhere to Run"
A-side label of one of U.S. vinyl releases
Single by Martha and the Vandellas
from the album Dance Party
B-side	"Motoring"
Released	February 10, 1965
Recorded	Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A); October 21, 1964
Genre	Pop, soul
Length	2:48
Label	Gordy G 7039
Songwriter(s)	Holland–Dozier–Holland
Producer(s)	Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Martha and the Vandellas singles chronology
"Wild One" (1964) "Nowhere to Run" (1965) "You've Been in Love Too Long" (1965)

History

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 1965 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]

This song is featured in Bringing Out the Dead[3] and the video game Spec Ops: The Line

Covers

• In July 1988, following the success of the film Good Morning Vietnam, the song was re-released in the UK by A&M Records, with James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)" on the flip side. The single spent three weeks on the UK chart reaching its highest position of number 52 by 24 July 1988.[4]

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:[5]
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Eddie Willis – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • James Jamerson – bass guitar
  • Jack Ashford – percussion, tambourine, vibes
  • Ivy Jo Hunter – percussion (snow chains)

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 378.
2. "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
3. "Bringing Out the Dead (1999) - Soundtracks". IMDb.com. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
4. Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, 12th Edition, 1999
5. Liner notes. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5: 1965, Hip-O Select – B0006755-02, 04 Aug 2006