This 1968 single version of "Dancing in the Street" presented a darker, more rhythmically complex arrangement than the 1964 original, showcasing a mature sound as the decade waned. The single was notably different from the album version also released in 1968.
- The 1968 version of "Dancing in the Street" was produced by Norman Whitfield, who was responsible for the label's shift towards a grittier, funk-influenced sound. This single reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the R&B chart. It was released as a single after the album of the same name, which featured a different arrangement of the title track.
- The 1968 single version of "Dancing in the Street" was recorded by Martha Reeves and the Andantes, a session group, rather than the original lineup of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. This single was released in March 1968, preceding the album which was released in August of the same year.
- This later recording of "Dancing in the Street" featured a prominent, driving bassline and sharper percussion, marking a departure from the brighter, more pop-oriented sound of earlier Motown productions. The single's chart performance did not match the original's success, indicating a shifting audience preference.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were a seminal Motown Records soul vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, best known for their string of spirited, commanding hits in the 1960s. By 1968, the group had already achieved significant fame with hits like "Dancing in the Street" and "Heat Wave," and were navigating the changing musical landscape of the late 1960s.
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