The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack video free download


1,666,448
Duration: 02:19
Uploaded: 2007/11/29

Basically, for everyone who ever loved Motown, this one just has it ALL. The right group, the right song, the right dresses, and the right performance. This song literally SCREAMS Motown, and justifies everything I ever tried to achieve with Motorcity Records. It all began for me while growing up. At fourteen years old, I discovered the joy of listening to The Velvelettes "Needle In A Haystack", not once, not twice, but probably twenty times a day. I knew every word, every nuance, of Cal Gill's amazingly plaintive vocal. The more obscure Motown groups fascinated me far more than the obvious ones. Which is why, when I started Motorcity, I sought out The Velvelettes and re-recorded my beloved favourite, this amazing classic, "Needle In A Haystack". And these Velvelettes were all four original girls. Not a substitution in sight. I continued to record them over the next few years, releasing their first ever album, something which, at the time, they had never achieved at Motown. There was also another wonderful song that I co-wrote with Ivy Jo Hunter, the legendary Motown songwriter, called "It Keeps Reminding Me (Of Happy Memories)", a song which summed up everything I tried to achieve with my Motorcity Reunion Project. When this video was filmed, on a hot August night in 1990, all four original members, Cal, Bertha, Norma, and Millie, were all on top form. When I recorded them on this classic in 1987, I tried to change it and make it more high energy, but lost the magic of the original groove, so I quickly remixed it and tried to capture that magic that made the original so special. I think this performance is also special, and I'm proud to be able to give Motown fans all over the world such an exceptional video to enjoy.

Comments

9 years ago

Tony Smith

Good looking Indian woman.

9 years ago

John Blackham

You're right - Motown in a nutshell.

9 years ago

Gillian Scott

love their dresses. i swear them dresses are back in fashion. the dresses goes with the song and dance routine. 

9 years ago

Jacky Tew

One off my old time favourites

9 years ago

Paul V

Back to my youth!

9 years ago

melancholiac

Golden memories x

9 years ago

John Jarou

FANTASTIC! and all the original members too! thank you ian for the great post.

9 years ago

gnomely1

Thanks for posting this. I agree entirely about the less prominent Motown groups. The Velvelettes have a more robust sound than the Supremes and for me are eminently better to listen to. 

10 years ago

iceboxontheradio

Tanto amore, tanto 

10 years ago

Ceye

I overdeveloped my calf muscles dancing to this (among others) when I was a lass :)

10 years ago

Sheven718

yep ! bang on the money ! what a poppin tune eh ? 64 on stateside here in the UK a classic reminder of the early to mid 60s in the "nighters" up west my personal fave by them is " he was really sayin something" but thats just my choice " needle" is just brilliant one of those that came along at the very cutting edge of the RnB boom that followed, many thanks for sharing ian you posted a classic ! regards dave

10 years ago

Donald Thompson

ok who's tapping their feet, cause my house is rocking!

10 years ago

Raykisha Braziel

My aunt told me one of the velvelettes was her junior high school music teacher in Kalamazoo Michigan.How great is that!!!!!!!!

10 years ago

Dwight Worley

Digging through the Motown crates tonight...or, more accurately, scrolling through my Google Music account, and came across this song by The Velvelettes, Needle In A Haystack. Nice.

10 years ago

barry deeming

One of my favourite all time Northern Soul songs from Wigan Casino

10 years ago

Raymond Ward

#motownmonday Yes a another drugged from the Basement this kicking about some where on iTunes and Amazon mp3 downloads, got this on a computation!:-D

13 years ago

tim60s321

great vid

13 years ago

tim60s321

GREAT SONG GREAT PERFORMANCE..CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ONLY GOT TO 45 ON THE BILLBOARD HOT 100 and 34 IN ENGLAND...WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH US...I SUPPOSE IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF BEATLEMANIA AND GUITAR GROUPS AND WASNT GIVEN PROPER PROMOTION...BERRY GORDY AT MOTOWN DIDNT WANT THEM TO THREATEN THE SUPREMES POSITION AS HIS TOP GIRL GROUP..THANKS FOR WONDERFUL VID

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