Quicksand (Martha and the Vandellas song)
| "Quicksand" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Martha and the Vandellas | ||||
| from the album Heat Wave | ||||
| B-side | "Darling, I Hum Our Song" | |||
| Released | November 4, 1963 | |||
| Recorded | Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A); 1963 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Length | 2:38 | |||
| Label |
Gordy G7025 |
|||
| Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
| Producer(s) | Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier | |||
| Martha and the Vandellas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Quicksand" is a song recorded by the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. It was written by the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland and released as a single in November 1963.
Background
"Quicksand" was built around a similar gospel-inspired delivery of the Martha and the Vandellas' breakout hit " Heat Wave", but with a slightly slower tempo and a harder edge. Like "Heat Wave", it features an analogy to a natural phenomenon, with the narrator comparing falling in love to sinking in quicksand. Cash Box said that "it continues the hard-hitting excitement of ['Heat Wave']."
"Quicksand" was Martha and the Vandellas' third single to be written by Holland–Dozier–Holland, who would later write songs for other Motown artists such as The Supremes and the Four Tops.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Martha Reeves
- Background vocals by Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard
- Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier
- Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland Jr.
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers:
- Benny Benjamin: drums
- James Jamerson: upright bass
- Robert White: guitar
- Eddie Willis: guitar
- Jack Ashford: tambourine, vibes
- Andrew "Mike" Terry: baritone saxophone solo
Chart performance
Released in November 1963 on the Gordy label, the song became another Top Ten hit for Martha & the Vandellas, eventually reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.