"Monkey Time/Dancing in the Street" was recorded as a medley by
singer-songwriter Laura Nyro on her 1971 covers album Gonna Take a
Miracle, with backing vocals by the group Labelle.
"The Monkey Time" is a song written by Curtis Mayfield and originally
recorded by Major Lance in 1963. It reached #2 on the U.S. R&B chart and
number 8 on the U.S. pop chart. "Dancing in the Street" is a song written
by Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became
popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha and the Vandellas whose
version reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Gonna Take a Miracle is the fifth album by New York City-born singer,
songwriter and pianist Laura Nyro, with assistance by vocal trio Labelle.
It was released on Columbia Records in November 1971. The album is
Nyro's only all-covers album, and she interprets mainly 1950s and 1960s
soul and R&B standards, using Labelle as a traditional back-up vocal group.
It was her last commercially successful album, peaking at #46 on the
Billboard 200, then known as the Pop Albums chart. The album was
recorded in May and June 1971 at Sigma Sound Studios. The producers
were Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Patti LaBelle and her vocal partners in
Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, were brought in as backing singers.
A Playlist of all HT Class of '73 Songs of the Day is available by clicking below:
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