Dancing in the Street

"Dancing in the Street"
Single by Martha and the Vandellas
from the album Dance Party
B-side	"There He Is"
Released	July 31, 1964 (US)
Recorded	June 19, 1964, Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A), Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genre	R&B, Northern soul
Length	2:40
Label	Gordy G 7033
Songwriter(s)	Marvin Gaye William "Mickey" Stevenson Ivy Jo Hunter
Producer(s)	William "Mickey" Stevenson
Martha and the Vandellas singles chronology
"In My Lonely Room" (1964) "Dancing in the Street" (1964) "Wild One" (1964)

"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 No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks, behind "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann and it also peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It is one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's premier signature song.

A 1966 cover by the Mamas & the Papas was a minor hit on the Hot 100, reaching No. 73. In 1982, the rock group Van Halen took their cover of "Dancing in the Street" to No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart and No. 15 in Canada on the RPM chart. A 1985 duet cover by David Bowie and Mick Jagger charted at No. 1 in the UK and reached No. 7 in the US. The song has been covered by many other artists, including The Kinks, Tages, Grateful Dead, and Myra.