I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying
Encyclopedia
I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying was a 1963 hit by The Miracles
on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was a Billboard
Top 40 Pop hit,reaching # 35 on that chart,and a Top 20 hit on its R&B chart, peaking at # 17 . It was written and produced by Motown's main songwriting team , Brian Holland
, Lamont Dozier
, and Eddie Holland, and was the follow-up to the group's Top 10 pop hit, "Mickey's Monkey
", written by the same team.
The smash success of that song ,according to Motown policy, automatically gave Holland-Dozier-Holland the green light to write and produce The Miracles' next release, which resulted in this song . Like "Mickey's Monkey", "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" features a "live party" feel. The song's title is a take-off on the old expression, "I Gotta Laugh to Keep From Crying", highlighting the all-too-human tendency to escape from heartbreak or personal pain by dancing , laughing and having a good time. Miracles lead singer, Smokey Robinson
, as the song's narrator, portrays a young man trying to get over the heartbreak of a recent breakup with his girl: "Gather 'round me, swingers and friends...help me forget my hurt within...I lost the only girl i've ever loved....the only one I'm thinking of..and I've Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying..." Holland-Dozier-Holland later went on to write another Top 20 hit for The Miracles in 1966 : "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need
", which was the last song to bill the group as The Miracles before their name was officially changed to Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. " I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" has inspired cover versions by The Who
and Jimmy James
, and was included on the groups' albums (and CD's), The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey
, I Like It Like That
(aborted), Greatest Hits from the Beginning
, and several other Miracles "Greatest Hits" albums and CD Anthologies .
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 a 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...
Top 40 Pop hit,reaching # 35 on that chart,and a Top 20 hit on its R&B chart, peaking at # 17 . It was written and produced by Motown's main songwriting team , Brian Holland
Brian Holland
Brian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
, Lamont Dozier
Lamont Dozier
Lamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
, and Eddie Holland, and was the follow-up to the group's Top 10 pop hit, "Mickey's Monkey
Mickey's Monkey (song)
"Mickey's Monkey" was a 1963 song recorded by the R&B group The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was written and produced by Motown's main songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, who later went on to write 2 more Miracles hit singles, the Top 40 "I Gotta...
", written by the same team.
The smash success of that song ,according to Motown policy, automatically gave Holland-Dozier-Holland the green light to write and produce The Miracles' next release, which resulted in this song . Like "Mickey's Monkey", "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" features a "live party" feel. The song's title is a take-off on the old expression, "I Gotta Laugh to Keep From Crying", highlighting the all-too-human tendency to escape from heartbreak or personal pain by dancing , laughing and having a good time. Miracles lead singer, 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...
, as the song's narrator, portrays a young man trying to get over the heartbreak of a recent breakup with his girl: "Gather 'round me, swingers and friends...help me forget my hurt within...I lost the only girl i've ever loved....the only one I'm thinking of..and I've Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying..." Holland-Dozier-Holland later went on to write another Top 20 hit for The Miracles in 1966 : "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need
(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need
" I'm the One You Need" is a 1966 hit single by Motown group The Miracles, released on Motown Records' Tamla label.Unlike most Miracles songs, which were written and produced by the group themselves, "I'm the One You Need" was written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team...
", which was the last song to bill the group as The Miracles before their name was officially changed to Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. " I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" has inspired cover versions by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and Jimmy James
Jimmy James
- People :* Jimmy James , British comedian* Jimmy James , Australian tracker* Jimmy James, the nickname of Bertram James , RAF officer who survived "The Great Escape"...
, and was included on the groups' albums (and CD's), The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey
The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey
The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey is a 1963 album by The Miracles for the Tamla label. The album includes the group's Top 10 smash single "Mickey's Monkey", written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. "Mickey's Monkey" popularized "The Monkey" as a novelty dance, and has been covered by...
, I Like It Like That
I Like It Like That (album)
I Like It Like That is a 1964 album by Motown Records group The Miracles issued on its Tamla label subsidiary in the United States , and on the Tamla-Motown label elsewhere in the world. Known as The Miracles' "forgotten album" , few people, outside of Motown insiders,hard-core Miracles fans,...
(aborted), Greatest Hits from the Beginning
Greatest Hits from the Beginning
Greatest Hits from the Beginning is a compilation double LP by The Miracles released in 1965. It covers most of the group's hits from their pre-1965 albums, such as "Shop Around", "Who's Loving You", "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" and "Mickey's Monkey" as well as the non-album singles from 1964...
, and several other Miracles "Greatest Hits" albums and CD Anthologies .
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...
- Lead vocals - 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 - 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...
- Guitar - Claudette Robinson - Background vocals
- 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...
- Background vocals - Ronnie White - Background vocals
Other Personnel
- Other Instruments: The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe 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...
- Written and Produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland