"Quicksand" is a song recorded by the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. It was written by the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland and released as a single in November 1963.
Background "Quicksand" was built around a similar gospel-inspired delivery of the Martha and the Vandellas' breakout hit " Heat Wave", but with a slightly slower tempo and a harder edge. Like "Heat Wave", it features an analogy to a natural phenomenon, with the narrator comparing falling in love to sinking in quicksand. Cash Box said that "it continues the hard-hitting excitement of ['Heat Wave']."
"Quicksand" was Martha and the Vandellas' third single to be written by Holland–Dozier–Holland, who would later write songs for other Motown artists such as The Supremes and the Four Tops.
Personnel Lead vocals by Martha Reeves Background vocals by Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland Jr. Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers:The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 3: 1963 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records Benny Benjamin: drums James Jamerson: bass Earl Van Dyke: piano Robert White: guitar Eddie Willis: guitar Jack Ashford: tambourine, vibes Andrew "Mike" Terry: baritone saxophone solo
Chart performance Released in November 1963 on the Gordy label, the song became another Top Ten hit for Martha & the Vandellas, eventually reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
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