Hum Along and Dance

"Hum Along and Dance" is a soul song written for the Motown label by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Originally recorded by The Temptations, the song was later covered by Motown acts Rare Earth and The Jackson 5. The song is essentially an instrumental piece and a vehicle for scatting and improvisational vocals, since, as the chorus (the song's only actual lyric) states, "ain't no words to this song/you just dance and hum along". All three versions of the song were produced by Whitfield.

Temptations version

The original version of "Hum Along and Dance" was recorded by The Temptations in early 1970 as an album track for the Psychedelic Shack album. The track, one of the Temptations' many psychedelic soul recordings, features Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Dennis Edwards taking turns in delivering the song's chorus and scatting over the instrumental track. The Funk Brothers were the instrumentalists for this version of "Hum Along and Dance", and Whitfield uses a number of echo effects and stereo-panning effects on their tracks during the song. Towards the final few bars of the record, Otis Williams delivers a heavily echoed chant: "Come on man/take a drag/don't be afraid/it ain't gonna hurt you", an overt reference to marijuana use. In fact, on the Psychedelic Shack album, "Hum Along and Dance" leads directly into "Take a Stroll Through Your Mind", an eight-minute ode to marijuana use.

The track was released as the B-side of their 1970 single "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)".

Rare Earth version

Rock band Rare Earth's version was released as an album track for their 1973 album Ma. Their version features instrumentation from the various members of the band, with harder guitar chords, and a prominent organ line. Lead singer Pete Rivera offers an excuse for the lack of lyrics ("you see, we didn't have time to write none") and urges to the listener to "get it!" (that is, dance).

Jackson 5 version

The Jackson 5 version of "Hum Along and Dance" appeared as the closing track for side A of their 1973 album G.I.T.: Get It Together. The lead vocals are primarily handled by Jackie Jackson and Tito Jackson, with Michael Jackson and Marlon Jackson appearing towards the end. Although the Jackson brothers are heard yelling out "play it, Tito" and "play it, Jermaine", the actual instrumentalists on the track were Los Angeles studio players. Motown did not allow the Jacksons to play their own instruments or write and produce their own material, and the lack of creative freedom would cause the group to leave for CBS Records within two years of making this recording.

This version of "Hum Along and Dance" is stylistically similar to the Rare Earth version, and features nearly the same arrangement with more of an electric funk sound added to the mix. A bewildered Michael Jackson is heard asking, upon hearing the song's chorus, "ain't no words? What you mean?" His band mate and brother Tito Jackson replies, as he has been doing throughout the song, by reiterating Gil Bridges' reasoning: "we ain't have time to write none". Jackie Jackson is heard answering as well telling Michael Jackson what to do. This version was sampled by The Bomb Squad for Public Enemy's 1989 track "Welcome to the Terrordome". An alternate "uncut" longer version of the song appears on the CD "Boogie".

Personnel

Temptations version

• Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, and Otis Williams
• Background vocals by The Temptations: Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Jackson 5 version

• Lead and background vocals by The Jackson 5: Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson & Michael Jackson
• Instrumentation by various Los Angeles studio musicians

Rare Earth version

• Lead vocals by Pete Rivera
• Background vocals by Gil Bridges and Rod Richards
• Instrumentation by Rare Earth: Gil Bridges (saxophone), Pete Rivera (drums), Mike Urso (bass guitar), Ray Monette (guitar), and Mark Olsen (keyboards), Ed Guzman (percussions

Rare Earth Studio albums Get Ready Ecology One World Willie Remembers Ma Back to Earth Live albums Rare Earth in Concert Singles "Get Ready" "(I Know) I'm Losing You" "I Just Want to Celebrate" "Hum Along and Dance" "Warm Ride" Related articles Ray Monette Book:Rare Earth