<P> "Jimmy Mack" was originally recorded in 1964 when Annette Beard was still a part of the group . The song was shelved because the Motown Quality Control team felt the recording was not suitable for release with the Vietnam War going on . Like Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' later hit, "The Tears of a Clown", "Jimmy Mack" was pulled from the vault two years later and released as a single in early 1967 . By that time, the Vietnam War had become a highly debated issue among the American public . Thus, Reeves' sentiment that her "Jimmy Mack" return took on a different meaning for many listeners, particularly those stationed overseas . </P> <P> "Jimmy Mack" was a success, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the second and final Vandellas single to top the Billboard R&B chart . "Jimmy Mack" was also a hit in Britain reaching number 21 . The song had been included on the Vandellas' LP Watchout!, issued a month before the single release . For nearly forty years, "Jimmy Mack" was presented in either monaural sound or in a mix culled from an alternate take . A true stereo mix of the original single master was not done until 2005, for The Motown Box, then appearing in 2006 on the compilation Martha & the Vandellas: Gold . </P> <Ul> <Li> Lead vocals by Martha Reeves </Li> <Li> Background vocals by Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard </Li> <Li> Additional (harmony) background vocals by The Andantes: Marlene Barrow, Jackie Hicks and Louvain Demps </Li> <Li> Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers </Li> </Ul> <Li> Lead vocals by Martha Reeves </Li>

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