Bless You

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"Bless You" was Tony Orlando's first hit record in 1961.

It was also a 1971 hit single by legendary Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas though the songs were different in comparison. Released at a time when the group's hit-making luster had long passed them especially after lead singer Martha Reeves' reported addiction to painkillers and nervous breakdown moments including one that had her briefly institutionalized, the song, written by the hit collaborating team, The Corporation, who had produced hit singles for The Jackson 5, helped return the Vandellas to chart success on the US R&B and UK singles chart reaching #29 R&B and #33 UK, it also was a modest chart hit on the pop charts peaking at #53. The song talks of a love "so heavenly" that the narrator wants to hold on to and not let others break them apart. It became the group's last significant hit and Hot 100 charted single since "Come And Get These Memories" put them on the map eight years earlier.

[edit] Credits

• Produced, written, composed and arranged by The Corporation
• Lead vocals by Martha Reeves
• Background vocals by Sandra "Lois" Reeves, Sandra Tilley and The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps
• Instrumentation by assorted Los Angeles musicians