Tag Archives: The Miracles

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

The Miracles: Hi…We’re The Miracles

Leave a comment

In January 1961, “Tamla” label released “Hi… We’re the Miracles”, the debut Miracles (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1960, and was produced by Berry Gordy Jr.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Ronnie White – lead and backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – additional instrumentation
  • Wakefield & Mitchell – design
  • Pictorial Studios Inc. – photography

Track listing:

  1. Who’s Lovin’ You – Smokey Robinson
  2. Depend on Me – Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy
  3. Heart Like Mine – Ronnie White, Smokey Robinson
  4. Shop Around – Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy
  5. Won’t You Take Me Back – Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy
  6. Cause I Love You – Ronnie White, Smokey Robinson
  7. Your Love – Smokey Robinson
  8. After All – Smokey Robinson
  9. Way Over There – Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy
  10. Money – Berry Gordy, Janie Bradford
  11. Don’t Leave Me – Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman

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

The Miracles: Renaissance

Leave a comment

On April 18, 1973, “Tamla” label released “Renaissance”, album by The Miracles. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren, Marvin Gaye, Frank Wilson, Clay McMurray, Leonard Caston, Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson.

Personnel:

  • Billy Griffin – lead vocals
  • Ronnie White – baritone backing vocals
  • Pete Moore – bass backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – tenor backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • Smokey Robinson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. What is a Heart Good For – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
  2. If You’re Ever in the Neighborhood – Don Fenceton, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  3. I Wanna Be with You – Willie Hutch
  4. Wigs and Lashes – Larry Mizell
  5.  Don’t Let It End (‘Til You Let It Begin) – Christine Yarian, Freddie Perren
  6. I Love You Secretly – Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover, Marvin Gaye
  7. I Don’t Need No Reason – Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer
  8. Nowhere To Go – Clay McMurray, Dennis Jackson, Gary Fears
  9. I Didn’t Realize the Show Was Over – Richard Hutch, Willie Hutch

Marvin Gaye: Moods of Marvin Gaye

Leave a comment

On May 23, 1966, “Tamla” label released “Moods of Marvin Gaye”, the seventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Hitsville” in Detroit, US, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Clarence Paul and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Miracles – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I’ll Be Doggone – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarpin
  2. Little Darling (I Need You) – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  3. Take This Heart of Mine – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
  4. Hey Diddle Diddle – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fugua, Marvin Gaye
  5. One More Heartache – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin, Ronald White
  6. Ain’t That Peculiar – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
  7. Night Life – Walt Breeland, Paul Buskrik, Willie Nelson
  8. You’ve Been a Long Time Coming – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  9. Your Unchanging Love – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  10. You’re the One for Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. I Worry ‘Bout You – Norman Mapp
  12. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

Leon Ware

Leave a comment

On February 23, 2017, Leon Ware died aged 77. He was composer,  released eleven albums as a performer, but he was best known for producing and writing music for other musicians and bands including: The Isley Brothers,  Donny Hathaway, The Miracles, Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack, Lulu,  Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye.

The Butterfield Blues Band: The Resurrection of Pigboy Grabshaw

Leave a comment

the_resurrection_of_pigboy_crabshaw

In December 1967, “Elektra” label released “The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw”, the third Butterfield Blues Band (The) album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by John Court.

Personnel:

  • Paul Butterfield– vocals, harmonica
  • Elvin Bishop– guitar
  • Mark Naftalin– keyboards
  • Bugsy Maugh – bass, vocalon
  • Phil Wilson– drums
  • David Sanborn– alto saxophone
  • Gene Dinwiddie– tenor saxophone
  • Keith Johnson – trumpet

Track listing:

  1. One More Heartache – Smokey Robinson, The Miracles
  2. Driftin’ and Driftin’ – Charles Brown, Johnny Moore, Eddie Williams
  3. I Pity the Fool – Deadric Malone
  4. Born Under a Bad Sign – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
  5. Run Out of Time – Paul Butterfield, Gene Dinwiddie
  6. Double Trouble – Otis Rush
  7. Drivin’ Wheel – Roosevelt Sykes
  8. Droppin’ Out – Paul Butterfield, Tucker Zimmerman
  9. Tollin’ Bells – traditional, arranged by The Butterfield Blues Band

Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On

Leave a comment

Whats+Going+On

On May 21, 1971, “Tamla” label released “What’s Going On”, the eleventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded June –September 1970; March – May 1971,  at “Hitsville U.S.A.”, “Golden World”, and “United Sound Studios” in Detroit and “The Sound Factory” in Hollywood, and was produced by Marvin Gaye. “What’s Going On” was an immediate success both commercially and critically, and is regarded as one of the most important albums in the music history. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number six on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1985, readers of “NME” magazine voted “What’s Going On” the “Best Album of all Time”. “Guardian” ranked “What’s Going On at number one on its list of the “100 Best Albums Ever”.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals, piano, mellotron, box drum
  • The Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted and arranged by David Van De Pitte
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Solo Horns – instrumentation
  • Joe Messina, Robert White– electric guitars
  • Jack Ashford– tambourine, percussion
  • Earl Van Dyke– keyboards
  • Johnny Griffith– celeste, keyboards
  • Max Janowsky – double bass
  • James Jamerson– bass guitar
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Chet Forest – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown– bongos, congas
  • Earl DeRouen – bongos, congas
  • Bobbye Hall– bongos
  • Jack Brokensha– vibraphone, percussion
  • Larry Nozero, Angelo Carlisi, George Benson, Tate Houston– saxophone
  • Eli Fontaine– alto saxophone
  • Wild Bill Moore– tenor saxophone
  • John Trudell, Maurice Davis – trumpet
  • Nilesh Pawar – oboe
  • Carl Raetz – trombone
  • Dayna Hardwick, William Perich – flutes
  • Gordon Staples, Zinovi Bistritzky, Beatriz Budinzky, Richard Margitza, Virginia Halfmann, Felix Resnick, Alvin Score, Lillian Downs, James Waring – violin
  • Edouard Kesner, Meyer Shapiro, David Ireland, Nathan Gordon – viola
  • Italo Babini, Thaddeus Markiewicz, Edward Korkigan – cello
  • Carole Crosby – harp
  • The Andantes – Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps – backing vocals
  • Mel Farr, Charlie Sandersand  and Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions – backing vocals
  • Dave Bingof, The Detroit Pistons, Bobby Rogersof , The Miracles, Elgie Stover, Kenneth Stover – backing vocals
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Katherine Marking – design
  • Alana Coghlan – design
  • James Hendin – photography

Track listing:

  1. What’s Going On – Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo “Obie” Benson
  2. What’s Happening Brother – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  3. Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky) – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  4. Save the Children – Al Cleveland, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Marvin Gaye
  5. God is Love – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin Gaye
  7. Right On – Earl DeRouen, Marvin Gaye
  8. Wholy Holy – Renaldo “Oboe” Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
  9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr,