I Don't Blame You At All
Encyclopedia
"I Don't Blame You At All" was a 1971 R&B hit by The Miracles
on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was composed and produced by Miracles lead singer ,William "Smokey" Robinson,and was taken from their album, One Dozen Roses
. This song was actually the follow-up hit to their #1 smash, "The Tears of a Clown
", and reached the Top 20 of the Billboard
Hot 100, charting at #18, and the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #7. It was also a Top 20 hit in England, reaching #11 on the British charts that year. It is also noted as the group's last Top 20 pop hit before Smokey Robinson's departure from The Miracles the following year, and was performed by the group on Dick Clark's American Bandstand
.
In this sad, mournful tune, belying its up-tempo nature, Smokey, as the song's narrator, tells a girl that he obviously wants (that doesn't share his feelings) that he doesn't blame her for "playing it cool" when she decides to call off the relationship.
Lamenting the fact that his attraction to her covered the fact that she had just casual feelings for him, he sings:
"I dont blame you at all,'cause you played it cool
You don't owe me a thing 'cause I was a fool
I'm only paying the price
For a trip I took to Paradise
Cause I looked into a pair of eyes, and what I thought was The Look Of Love
Was only hurt in disguise"
"I Don't Blame You At All" was the group's final big hit with Robinson, though the group did continue to chart several times before his departure, with songs including "Satisfaction", "I Can't Stand To See You Cry", and "We've Come Too Far To End It Now". This song has inspired a cover version by Rosetta Hightower
, and appears on many Miracles' "Greatest Hits" album and CD compilations.
Additional Instruments: The Funk Brothers
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...
on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was composed and produced by Miracles lead singer ,William "Smokey" Robinson,and was taken from their album, One Dozen Roses
One Dozen Roses
One Dozen Roses is a 1971 album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, issued on Motown Records' Tamla label. The penultimate album before lead singer Smokey Robinson departed the group for a solo career, One Dozen Roses features the Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit single "I Don't Blame You At All"...
. This song was actually the follow-up hit to their #1 smash, "The Tears of a Clown
The Tears of a Clown
"The Tears of a Clown" is a song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla label, originally released on the 1967 album Make It Happen. It was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in September 1970, where it became a #1 hit on the UK singles chart...
", and reached the Top 20 of 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...
Hot 100, charting at #18, and the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #7. It was also a Top 20 hit in England, reaching #11 on the British charts that year. It is also noted as the group's last Top 20 pop hit before Smokey Robinson's departure from The Miracles the following year, and was performed by the group on Dick Clark's American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
.
In this sad, mournful tune, belying its up-tempo nature, Smokey, as the song's narrator, tells a girl that he obviously wants (that doesn't share his feelings) that he doesn't blame her for "playing it cool" when she decides to call off the relationship.
Lamenting the fact that his attraction to her covered the fact that she had just casual feelings for him, he sings:
"I dont blame you at all,'cause you played it cool
You don't owe me a thing 'cause I was a fool
I'm only paying the price
For a trip I took to Paradise
Cause I looked into a pair of eyes, and what I thought was The Look Of Love
Was only hurt in disguise"
"I Don't Blame You At All" was the group's final big hit with Robinson, though the group did continue to chart several times before his departure, with songs including "Satisfaction", "I Can't Stand To See You Cry", and "We've Come Too Far To End It Now". This song has inspired a cover version by Rosetta Hightower
Rosetta Hightower
Rosetta Hightower is an American singer,and the former lead singer of the 1960s girl group The Orlons....
, and appears on many Miracles' "Greatest Hits" album and CD compilations.
Personnel: The Miracles
- Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "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...
- Claudette Rogers RobinsonClaudette Rogers RobinsonClaudette Rogers Robinson is an African-American soul singer, a member of The Miracles from 1957 to 1972. Her brother Emerson "Sonny" Rogers was an original member of the group, which was originally called "The Matadors" before 1957; Claudette Rogers took her brother's place after he was drafted...
- 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...
- Ronnie White
- 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...
- Marv TarplinMarv TarplinMarvin "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...
Additional Instruments: The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...