Tag Archives: Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Season For Miracles

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On November 23, 1970, “Tamla” label released “The Season for Miracles”, the ninth Smokey Robinson & The Miracles albums. 

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Claudette Rogers Robinson – vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – tenor vocals
  • Ronnie White – baritone vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – bass vocals
  • Wade Marcus – arrangements
  • David Van De Pitte – arrangements
  • Jimmy Roach – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – artwork, design
  • Jim Hendin – photography
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphic supervision

Track listing:

  1. Deck the Halls / Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella – traditional
  2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – traditional
  3. I Can Tell When Christmas Is Near – Stevie Wonder
  4. I Believe in Christmas Eve – Smokey Robinson
  5. The Christmas Song – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
  6. Jingle Bells – James Lord Pierpont
  7. It’s Christmas Time – Stevie Wonder
  8. Go Tell It on the Mountain – traditional, John Wesley Work Jr. 
  9. Away in a Manger / Coventry Carol – traditional, William James Kirkpatrick 
  10. Peace on Earth (Good Will Toward Men) – Ann Roach
  11. The Day That Love Began – Deborah Miller, Ron Miller
  12. A Child Is Waiting – Joe Hinton, Patti Jerome

Laura Nyro: Gonna Take A Miracle

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On November 17, 1971, “Columbia” label released “Gonna Take a Miracle”, the fifth Laura Nyro studio album. It was recorded May – June 1971, at “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Laura Nyro – vocals, piano
  • Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash – vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Jim Helmer – drums
  • Vincent Montana Jr. – percussion
  • Larry Washington – bongos
  • Nydia “Liberty” Mata – congas
  • Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakula, Thom Bell – string and horn arrangements
  • Tim Geelan – engineer
  • Gary Burden – art direction, design
  • Stephen Paley – front cover photography

Track listing:

  1. I Met Him on a Sunday – Doris Jackson, Addie Harris McPherson, Beverly Lee, Shirley Alston Reeves
  2. The Bells – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Iris Gordy, Elgie Stover
  3. Monkey Time/Dancing in the Street – Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  4. Désiree – L.Z. Cooper, Danny Johnson
  5. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  6. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
  7. Jimmy Mack – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  8. The Wind – Devora Brown, Bob Edwards, Nolan Strong
  9. Nowhere to Run – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  10. It’s Gonna Take a Miracle – Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Lou Stallman

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

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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

Diana Ross & The Supremes: Love Child

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On November 13, 1968, “Motown” label released “Love Child”, the fifteenth Diana Ross & the Supremes studio album. It was recorded February – October 1968, and was produced by Berry Gordy, Frank Wilson, R. Dean Taylor, Deke Richards, Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Marv Johnson, George Gordy, Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross – lead vocals
  • Mary Wilson – backing vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Nickolas Ashford – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation
  • Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Love Child – Pam Sawyer, R. Dean Taylor, Frank Wilson, Deke Richards
  2. Keep an Eye – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone – Pam Sawyer, Frank Wilson
  4. Does Your Mama Know About Me – Tom Baird, Tommy Chong
  5. Honey Bee (Keep on Stinging Me) – Janie Bradford, Debbie Dean, Deke Richards
  6. Some Things You Never Get Used To – Nikolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  7. He’s My Sunny Boy – Smokey Robinson
  8. You’ve Been So Wonderful to Me – Anna Gordy Gaye, George Gordy, Allen Story
  9. (Don’t Break These) Chains of Love – George Beauchamp, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  10. You Ain’t Livin’ Till You’re Lovin’ – Nikolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  11. I’ll Set You Free – Gwen Fuqua, B. Gordy, Ivy Jo Hunter, Renee Tener
  12. Can’t Shake It Loose – Sidney Barnes, George Clinton, Joanne Jackson, Rose Marie McCoy

Four Tops: Four Tops Second Album

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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

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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

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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.  

Marianne Faithfull: Easy Come Easy Go

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On November 10, 2008, “Naïve Records” label released “Easy Come, Easy Go”, the 18th Marianne Faithfull album. It was recorded in 2008, “Sear Sound Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Hal Willner.

Personnel:

  • Marianne Faithfull – vocals
  • Barry Reynolds – guitars
  • Marc Ribot – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Keith Richards – vocals, guitar
  • Sean Lennon – vocals, guitars
  •  Gil Goldstein – piano, accordion, arrangements, string direction
  • Brian Mitchell – piano
  • Steve Weisberg – piano, electric piano, celesta, arrangements, conducting
  • Rob Burger – piano, organ
  • Greg Cohen – bass
  • Jim White – drums
  • Joey Baron – drums
  • Art Baron – bass recorder, trombone
  • Doug Wieselman – clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
  • Ken Peplowski – bass clarinet
  • Marty Ehrlich – bass clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Lenny Pickett – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, sarrusophone, double bass
  • Steven Bernstein – glockenspiel, mellophone, alto brass, trumpet
  • Maxin Moston, Rob Moose – violin
  • Warren Ellis – violin, electric violin
  • Michael Nicholas – viola
  • Jane Scarpantoni – cello
  • Chan Marshall – vocals
  • Nick Cave – vocals
  • Antony Hegarty – vocals
  • Rufus Wainwright – vocals
  • Jarvis Cocker – vocals
  • Kate & Anna McGarrigle – backing vocals
  • Cat Power – backing vocals
  • Jean-Baptiste Mondino– art direction, photography

Track listing:

  1. Down from Dover – Dolly Parton
  2. Hold On, Hold On – Neko Case
  3. Solitude – Duke Ellington
  4. The Crane Wife 3 – The Decemberists
  5. Easy Come, Easy Go – Bessie Smith
  6. Children of Stone – Espers
  7. How Many Worlds – Brian Eno
  8. In Germany Before the War – Randy Newman
  9. Ooh Baby Baby – Smokey Robinson
  10. Sing Me Back Home – Merle Haggard
  11. Salvation – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
  12. Black Coffee – Sarah Vaughan
  13. The Phoenix – Judee Sill
  14. Dear God Please Help Me – Morrissey
  15. Kimbie – Jackson C. Frank
  16. Many a Mile to Freedom – Traffic
  17. Somewhere (A Place for Us) – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
  18. Flandyke Shore – traditional

Diana Ross & The Supremes And The Temptations: Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations

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On November 6, 1968, “Motown” label released “Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations”, album by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations. It was recorded May – September 1968, and was produced by  Frank Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland, Henry Cosby, Terry “Buzzy” Johnson, Nickolas Ashford and Deke Richards.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross & The Supremes – vocals
  • The Temptations – vocals
  • Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong, Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – horns, strings
  • Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Try It Baby – Berry Gordy
  2. I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland
  3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Ross
  5. This Guy’s in Love With You – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Funky Broadway – Arlester Christian
  7. I’ll Try Something New – Smokey Robinson
  8. A Place in the Sun – Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
  9. Sweet Inspiration – Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham
  10. Then – Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore
  11. The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh