Tag Archives: Hitsville USA

Miracles: The Fabolous Miracles

Leave a comment

On February 28, 1963, “Tamla” label released “The Fabulous Miracles”, the fourth Miracles (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1962, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy Jr.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, executive producer
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Smokey Robinson, except where noted.

  1. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
  2. I’ve Been Good to You
  3. Such Is Love, Such Is Life
  4. I Can Take a Hint – Smokey Robinson, Janie Bradford, Stanley Ossman, Bobby Rogers
  5. Won’t You Take Me Back
  6. A Love She Can Count On
  7. Whatever Makes You Happy – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  8. Heartbreak Road – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  9. Happy Landing – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  10. Your Love

Stevie Wonder: Eivets Rednow

Leave a comment

On November 20, 1968, “Gordy” label released “Eivets Rednow”, the ninth Stevie Wonder album (Eivets Rednow is Stevie Wonder spelled backwards, Wonder’s name does not appear on the cover of the original releases). It was recorded 1967 – 1968, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Henry Cosby.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – harmonica, piano, clavinet, drums, percussion
  • James Jamerson – bass guitar
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  2. More than a Dream – Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder
  3. A House Is Not a Home – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  4. How Can You Believe – Stevie Wonder
  5. Medley: Never My Love/Ask the Lonely – Don Addrisi, Dick Addrisi/Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  6. Ruby – Mitchell Parish, Heinz Roemheld
  7. Which Way the Wind – Stevie Wonder
  8. Bye Bye World – Stevie Wonder
  9. Grazin’ in the Grass – Philemon Hou

Stevie Wonder: Down To Earth

Leave a comment

On November 16, 1966, “Tamla Motown” label released “Down to Earth”, the sixth Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, harmonica, keyboards, drums, percussion
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • James Jamerson – bass guitar
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. A Place in the Sun – Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
  2. Bang Bang – Sonny Bono
  3. Down to Earth – Ron Miller, Avery Vanderberg
  4. Thank You Love – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  5. Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together) – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  6. Sylvia – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  7. My World Is Empty Without You – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  8. The Lonesome Road – Gene Austin, Nat Shilkret
  9. Angel Baby (Don’t You Ever Leave Me) – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
  10. Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
  11. Sixteen Tons – Merle Travis
  12. Hey Love – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Away We A Go-Go

Leave a comment

In November 1966, “Tamla Motown” label released “Away We a Go-Go”, album by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (second album by the name of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles). It was recorded in 1966, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Mickey Gentile, Frank Wilson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Norman Whitfield and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers  – instrumentation
  • Various New York session musicians – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Whole Lot of Shakin’ in My Heart (Since I Met You) – Frank Wilson
  2. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – Pino Donaggio, Simon Napier-Bell, Vicki Wickham, Vito Pallavicini
  3. Come ‘Round Here) I’m the One You Need – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  4. Save Me – Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers, Warren Moore
  5. Oh Be My Love – Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore
  6. Can You Love a Poor Boy – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  7. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.
  8. I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  9. Baby Baby – Helen Lewis, Kay Lewis
  10. Walk On By – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  11. Swept for You Baby – Smokey Robinson
  12. More, More, More of Your Love – Smokey Robinson

Four Tops: Four Tops Second Album

Leave a comment

On November 13, 1965, “Motown” label released “Four Tops Second Album”, the second Four Tops studio album. It was recorded in 1965, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Levi Stubbs – lead (baritone) and backing vocals
  • Abdul Fakir – first tenor and backing vocals
  • Renaldo Benson – bass backing vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – second tenor backing vocals, lead vocals, keyboards
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Holland–Dozier–Holland (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland), except where noted.

  1. I Can’t Help Myself
  2. Love Feels Like Fire
  3. Is There Anything That I Can Do – Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  4. Something About You
  5. It’s the Same Old Song
  6. Helpless
  7. Just as Long as You Need Me
  8. Darling, I Hum Our Song
  9. I Like Everything About You
  10. Since You’ve Been Gone
  11. Stay in My Lonely Arms
  12. I’m Grateful – Eddie Holland, Cleo Drake, George Fowler

The Miracles: Cookin’ With The Miracles

Leave a comment

On November 13, 1961, “Tamla” label released “Cookin’ with the Miracles” the second Miracles (The) album. It was recorded in 1961, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, “RCA Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Berry Gordy Jr.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Berry Gordy, Jr. – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. That’s the Way I Feel – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  2. Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  3. Mama – Smokey Robinson, Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy Jr.
  4. Ain’t It Baby – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  5. Determination – Smokey Robinson
  6. You Never Miss A Good Thing – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  7. Embraceable You – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  8. The Only One I Love – Smokey Robinson
  9. Broken Hearted – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  10. I Can’t Believe – Smokey Robinson

The Miracles: The Miracles Doin’ Mickey’s Monkey

Leave a comment

On November 11, 1963, “Tamla” label released “The Miracles Doin’ Mickey’s Monkey”, the fifth Miracles (The) album. It was recorded in 1963, at “Hitsville USA”, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Claudette Rogers Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Pete Moore – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Stanley Mouse – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Mickey’s Monkey – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  2. Dance What You Wanna – James Alexander, Sam Cooke, Clifton White
  3. The Wah-Watusi – Dave Appell, Kal Mann
  4. The Twist – Hank Ballard
  5. Dancin’ Holiday – Diane Rogers, Fred Smith, Zelda Samuels
  6. Land of a Thousand Dances – Chris Kenner
  7. I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  8. The Monkey Time – Curtis Mayfield
  9. The Groovey Thing – Smokey Robinson
  10. Twist and Shout – Phil Medley, Bert Russell
  11. Do You Love Me – Berry Gordy, Jr.  

The Miracles: Four In Blue

Leave a comment

On November 3, 1969, “Motown” label released “Four in Blue”, album by The Miracles. It was recorded in 1969, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Pete Moore – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar

Track listing:

  1. You Send Me (With Your Good Lovin’) – Al Cleveland, Terry “Buzzy” Johnson, Smokey Robinson
  2. Dreams Dreams – Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland
  3. Tomorrow Is Another Day – Deke Richards, Beatrice Verdi
  4. Hey Jude – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. California Soul – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. A Legend in Its Own Time – Smokey Robinson
  7. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Barry Mann, Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil
  8. We Can Make It We Can – Nikolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  9. When Nobody Cares – Smokey Robinson
  10. Don’t Say You Love Me – Richard Morris
  11. Wish I Knew – Debbie Dean, Deke Richards
  12. My World Is Empty Without You – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Make It Happen

Leave a comment

On August 29, 1967, “Tamla” label released “Make It Happen”, the third Smokey Robinson & the Miracles album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and in Los Angeles, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Smokey Robinson and Henry Cosby.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, executive producer
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – additional backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. The Soulful Shack – Smokey Robinson
  2. The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage – Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
  3. My Love for You – Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax
  4. I’m on the Outside (Looking In) – Bobby Weinstein, Teddy Randazzo
  5. Don’t Think It’s Me – Smokey Robinson
  6. My Love Is Your Love (Forever) – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  7. More Love – Smokey Robinson
  8. After You Put Back the Pieces (I’ll Still Have a Broken Heart) – Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax, Stevie Wonder
  9. It’s a Good Feeling – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  10. You Must Be Love – Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore
  11. Dancing’s Alright – Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin, Warren Moore, Robert Rogers, Ronald White
  12. The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby

Stevie Wonder: For Once in My Life

Leave a comment

On December 8, 1968, “Motown” label released “For Once in My Life”, the ninth studio and the tenth overall Stevie Wonder album. It was recorded December 1967 – August 1968, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Stevoe Wonder, Henry Cosby and Don Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, harmonica, piano, organ, clavinet, drums, percussion
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Uriel Jones – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – various instruments
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
  2. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  3. You Met Your Match – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Wonder
  4. I Wanna Make Her Love Me – Henry Cosby, Don Hardaway, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  5. I’m More Than Happy (I’m Satisfied) – Henry Cosby, Cameron Grant, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  6. I Don’t Know Why – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  7. Sunny – Bobby Hebb
  8. I’d Be a Fool Right Now – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  9. Ain’t No Lovin’ – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  10. God Bless the Child – Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday
  11. Do I Love Her – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy
  12. The House on the Hill – Lawrence Brown, Berry Gordy, Allen Story