February 22, 2021

1965 - November: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles “Going to a Go-Go”

26 minutes

When Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation began, the first group signed was The Miracles, also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972. The group was also the first of Motown's million-selling recording artists, and the first Motown act to appear on American Bandstand. The group would have a nineteen-year run on the American music charts, with over fifty hits, sixteen within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Smokey Robinson led the group from its start in 1955 as “The Five Chimes” until he retired from the group in 1972 to take a larger tole as Motown's vice president. Other members included Robinson's wife Claudette, Ronald White, Marv Tarplin, Pete Moore, and Bobby Rogers. In addition to their chart success, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles would have a profound affect on rock and roll, with many of the Miracles' hits being covered by groups like the Zombies, the Who, the Rolling Stones, the Hollies, and the Beatles.

Robinson, whose first name is William, got the name “Smokey” from his uncle. Young William Robinson loved cowboy movies, and his uncle started calling him “Smokey Joe” as a cowboy name. Everyone called him that until he was about 12 years old, at which time he dropped the “Joe” part.

Going to a Go-Go is the first Miracles album to use the name “Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.” It is also the only studio album by the group to chart in the top 10 of Billboards 200 albums chart, peaking at number 8. Smokey Robinson produced the album, and wrote or co-wrote all but one of the songs on it.

We're sure you will enjoy this blast from the past.

Ooo, Baby Baby

The Funk Brothers provide the instrumentals for this pleading song about a man who cheated on his woman and begs forgiveness. It was listed as number 266 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Tracks of My Tears

This iconic song is another of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” coming in at number 50. The song itself is about putting on a good face for others after a breakup. “Baby take a good look at my face, you'll see my smile looks out of place. Yeah, just look closer, it's easy to trace the tracks of my tears.”

My Girl Has Gone

Marv Tarplin plays a 12-string guitar on this song that tries to put a positive spin on a breakup. “Don't you cry, hold your head up high. Don't give up, give love one more try, ‘cause there’s a right girl for every guy.”

Going to a Go-Go

The up-temp dance song was covered by the Rolling Stones on their 1982 album “Still Life.” Miracles member and co-writer Bobby Rogers said that the song was inspired by the success of the “go-go” clubs that were popular throughout the United States in the 1960's.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The theme from the television series “Combat!”

This drama series started in black and white and switched to color during its run from 1962 to 1967, and focused on a World War II American squad fighting Germans in France.

STAFF PICKS:

Everyone's Gone to the Moon by Jonathan King

Bruce's staff pick was written and sung by Jonathan King while he was an undergraduate at Cambridge. He went on to become a record producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He discovered the band Genesis in 1967 and produced their first album, “From Genesis to Revelation.”

I'm A Man by The Yardbirds

Rob brings us a most politically incorrect tune, originally performed by Bo Diddley in 1955. The Yardbirds covered it this year after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton as guitar.

May the Bird of Paradise (Fly Up Your Nose) by “Little” Jimmy Dickens

Brian's staff pick features 4' 11" tall Jimmy Dickens. The reference was used frequently by Johnny Carson, and the song chronicles some events in the life of a cheapskate.

It Ain't Me Babe by The Turtles

Wayne finishes up the staff picks with a cover of a Bob Dylan song. The song is about a boy telling a girl that he is not the one who will meet her every need. This is the biggest hit of the first album by The Turtles.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Cleo's Back by Junior Walker & the All Stars

We close out this week's podcast with an instrumental from another Motown group.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

...more

View all episodes

By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings