The Contours – “First I Look at the Purse,” Pop #57, R&B #12 By Joel Francis The name on the label says “The Contours,” but all four of the singers who found success with 1962′s chart-topping “Do You Love Me” were gone by the time this number came out three years later. A novelty song [...]
Posts Tagged ‘The Miracles’
The Contours – “First I Look at the Purse”
Posted in Motown, tagged Dirty Dancing, Four Tops, Hitsville U.S.A., Joel Francis, Motown 25, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Contours, The Miracles, The Temptations on December 3, 2008 | 2 Comments »
The Miracles – “Ooo Baby Baby”
Posted in Motown, tagged Ella Fitzgerald, Five Stairsteps, Hitsville U.S.A., Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles on November 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Miracles – “Ooo Baby Baby,” Pop #16, R&B #4 “Ooo Baby Baby” didn’t hit the top of the chart, or even sell a million copies, but it was one of THE songs of the summer in 1965. Despite a baby-talk title, the song starts melancholy and doesn’t waver. An unfaithful Smokey Robinson is heartbroken, [...]
The Temptations – “My Girl”
Posted in Motown, tagged Al Green, David Ruffin, Dolly Parton, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., James Jamerson, Jesus and Mary Chain, music, My Girl, Rolling Stones, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles, The Temptations on October 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Temptations – “My Girl,” Pop #1, R&B #1 By Joel Francis Lightning definitely struck twice for Smokey Robinson and the Temptations. After struggling for years, Robinson gave the Temptations their breakthrough hit with “The Way You Do The Things You Do.” “My Girl,” their follow-up, is not only Motown’s biggest song, but one of [...]
The Miracles – “Mickey’s Monkey”
Posted in Motown, tagged Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Joel Francis, Motown, music, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles on September 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Miracles – “Mickey’s Monkey,” Pop #8, R&B #3 One of the most infectious and upbeat singles in the Motown catalog is unique in two ways. First, it was not written by main Miracle Smokey Robinson, but by the hot house songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Second, it is one of few Motown songs to appropriate [...]
The Miracles – “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Hitsville U.S.A., music, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles on July 3, 2008 | 3 Comments »
The Miracles – “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” Pop #8, R&B #1 Another stone classic from the pen of Smokey Robinson. Counting his songs for Mary Wells, this is Robinson’s fourth No. 1 hit (his first song with Wells stalled at No. 2 on the R&B charts). The song was famously covered by [...]
The Miracles – “Shop Around”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Berry Gordy, Hitsville U.S.A., music, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles on March 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Miracles – “Shop Around” Pop #2, R&B #1 Barry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family to launch the Tamla label. The first group Gordy signed to Tamla was The Matadors, who changed their name to The Miracles. It’s impossible to underestimate how important main Miracle Smokey Robinson was to Barry Gordy’s success. He not [...]

