Do It Baby
Encyclopedia
"Do It Baby" is a 1974 single recorded and released by the Motown R&B group The Miracles
and marked the soul quintet's first top forty hit over a year and a half after the departure of the group's most important member, former leader Smokey Robinson
and the inclusion of Billy Griffin
, who took over Robinson's lead position in 1973.The song was written by Motown staff songwriters Freddie Perren
and Christine Yarian and produced by Perren. The song's production also was a far departure from the group's earliest sounds as they embraced a funk
ier production style. The single was released off the group's 1974 album of the same name and reached the Billboard
Pop Top 20,and sold over one million copies,* peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100
and The Top 10 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles
chart in early 1974, peaking at #4, and would remain their biggest post-Robinson hit until the 1975 release of the now-disco
classic, "Love Machine
", which was one of the group's only two singles to reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to Billy Griffin,his brother, new Miracles member Donald Griffin, replaced original Miracle Marv Tarplin
on guitar. Tarplin continued to tour and work with Smokey Robinson. This song has inspired cover versions by Jimmy Ponder
, and Red Holt (of Young-Holt Unlimited). The Miracles can be seen performing Do It Baby on the Motown/Universal DVD release: The Miracles: The Definitive Performances (1963-1987)
.
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
and marked the soul quintet's first top forty hit over a year and a half after the departure of the group's most important member, former leader Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
and the inclusion of Billy Griffin
Billy Griffin
Billy Griffin is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles in 1972.-Biography:...
, who took over Robinson's lead position in 1973.The song was written by Motown staff songwriters Freddie Perren
Freddie Perren
Frederick "Freddie" Perren was an American songwriter, record producer, arranger, and orchestra conductor best known for as a co-songwriter and co-producer of such mega-hits as "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches &...
and Christine Yarian and produced by Perren. The song's production also was a far departure from the group's earliest sounds as they embraced a funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
ier production style. The single was released off the group's 1974 album of the same name and reached the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Pop Top 20,and sold over one million copies,* peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and The Top 10 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart in early 1974, peaking at #4, and would remain their biggest post-Robinson hit until the 1975 release of the now-disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
classic, "Love Machine
Love Machine (The Miracles song)
"Love Machine" is a 1976 number-one single recorded by Motown group The Miracles, taken from their album City of Angels. This single was one of two Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits recorded by The Miracles with Billy Griffin as lead vocalist; the other is 1973's "Do It Baby". Griffin had replaced...
", which was one of the group's only two singles to reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to Billy Griffin,his brother, new Miracles member Donald Griffin, replaced original Miracle Marv Tarplin
Marv Tarplin
Marvin "Marv" Tarplin was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for The Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group's original members and co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 2007 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted "The Tracks...
on guitar. Tarplin continued to tour and work with Smokey Robinson. This song has inspired cover versions by Jimmy Ponder
Jimmy Ponder
Jimmy Ponder is an American jazz guitarist.Ponder started playing guitar at age 14, and was heavily influenced by Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell. He began playing with Charles Earland at 17, and in the following years played with Lou Donaldson, Houston Person, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine,...
, and Red Holt (of Young-Holt Unlimited). The Miracles can be seen performing Do It Baby on the Motown/Universal DVD release: The Miracles: The Definitive Performances (1963-1987)
The Definitive Performances (1963-1987)
The Definitive Performances is an anthology of performances by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. It was produced by Reelin' in the Years Productions and the Universal Music Group International,in conjunction with Motown.In addition to the musical performances,this DVD also features the first - ever...
.
Personnel: The Miracles
- Billy GriffinBilly GriffinBilly Griffin is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles in 1972.-Biography:...
: lead vocals - Ronnie White, Pete MoorePete MoorePete Moore is an African American soul singer, record producer, and songwriter, notable as the bass singer for Motown group The Miracles from 1955 onwards, and is one of the group's original members...
and Bobby RogersBobby RogersBobby Rogers is an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 to present. He is also the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque-Life:Rogers is the son of the late...
: background vocals - Donald Griffin: guitar