The Fabulous Miracles
Encyclopedia
The Fabulous Miracles is a 1963 album by The Miracles
featuring the million-selling hit, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me
", one of the group's most popular singles. It was later reissued as You've Really Got A Hold On Me.It also features the chart hits "A Love She Can Count On
" and "I've Been Good To You
" , which The Beatles
' John Lennon
has identified as his favorite Miracles song.
Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson
was the principal writer on all tracks, while Miracles members Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers
co-wrote with him on several of the album's songs.
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...
featuring the million-selling hit, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
"You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a 1962 Top 10 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla label. One of the group's most covered tunes, this million-selling song is a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee...
", one of the group's most popular singles. It was later reissued as You've Really Got A Hold On Me.It also features the chart hits "A Love She Can Count On
A Love She Can Count On
"A Love She Can Count On" was a 1963 hit single by Motown Records R&B group The Miracles, issued on that label's Tamla subsidiary label...
" and "I've Been Good To You
I've Been Good To You
"I've Been Good To You" is a 1961 R&B song by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released as the B-side of their Billboard Top 40 hit, "What's So Good About Goodbye", and was included on their album I'll Try Something New the following year. This sad, melancholy ballad charted #103...
" , which The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
has identified as his favorite Miracles song.
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...
was the principal writer on all tracks, while Miracles members Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers
Bobby Rogers
Bobby 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...
co-wrote with him on several of the album's songs.
- The album also features "I Can Take A Hint", which charted on the Billboard pop & R&B listings after being issued as the B-side of "A Love She Can Count On".
- "(Have A) Happy LandingHappy LandingHappy Landing was a 1962 R&B recording by Motown Records singing group The Miracles , issued on that label's Tamla Records subsidiary label . It was recorded in November of 1962, and appeared on their album The Fabulous Miracles...
", the flip side of "You Really Got A Hold On Me" which, while never charting nationally, did become a hit on several regional charts, and was performed by the group on their first live album, The Miracles Recorded Live on StageThe Miracles Recorded Live on StageThe Miracles Recorded Live on Stage is a 1963 live album by The Miracles, part of the early 60's Motown "Live on Stage" series by various artists...
. It was also the original "A" side of You've Really Got A Hold On Me ,but fell into undeserved obscurity as the nation's Dee Jays discovered and played the record's more successful flip side, relegating Happy Landing to "B" side status.http://motownjunkies.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/241/
- The Fabulous Miracles is only one of three Miracles albums to feature Miracles guitarist and original group member 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...
on its cover. The Miracles' bass singer 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...
is not featured on the album or the cover, as he was serving in the U.S. Armed Services at the time this album was recorded (Moore is shown in a separate photograph on the back cover). While Tarplin remained a member of the Miracles through 1973, he was not featured any more of the group's classic album covers, except for 1961's Cookin' with The MiraclesCookin' with The MiraclesCookin' with The Miracles is the second Tamla album by The Miracles and their second for the year 1961. Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson co-wrote most of the songs here, including the two charting singles "Ain't It Baby" and "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues". The album is composed mostly of upbeat...
, 1962's I'll Try Something NewI'll Try Something NewI'll Try Something New is the third Tamla album by The Miracles. The title track was an important early single for the group, featuring Smokey Robinson's lead voice, a chorus led by his wife Claudette and an orchestra of strings...
, and this album. Tarplin does, however, appear on the cover of the group's 2009 Motown CD release,"The Miracles-Depend On Me:The Early Albums (2009)
Side one
- "You've Really Got a Hold on MeYou've Really Got a Hold on Me"You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a 1962 Top 10 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla label. One of the group's most covered tunes, this million-selling song is a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee...
" (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...
) - "I've Been Good To YouI've Been Good To You"I've Been Good To You" is a 1961 R&B song by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released as the B-side of their Billboard Top 40 hit, "What's So Good About Goodbye", and was included on their album I'll Try Something New the following year. This sad, melancholy ballad charted #103...
" (Robinson) - "Such is Love, Such is Life" (Robinson)
- "I Can Take a Hint" (Robinson, Janie BradfordJanie BradfordJanie Bradford is an American songwriter, most known for her tenure with Motown. With Berry Gordy, she co-wrote "Money ", originally recorded by Barrett Strong and used by The Beatles on their second album With The Beatles...
, Stanley Ossman, Robert 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...
) - "Won't You Take Me Back" (Robinson)
Side two
- "A Love She Can Count On" (Robinson)
- "Whatever Makes You Happy" (Robinson, Ronald WhiteRonald WhiteRonald "Ronnie" White was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that group's line-up changes...
) - "Heartbreak Road" (Robinson, White)
- "(Have a) Happy LandingHappy LandingHappy Landing was a 1962 R&B recording by Motown Records singing group The Miracles , issued on that label's Tamla Records subsidiary label . It was recorded in November of 1962, and appeared on their album The Fabulous Miracles...
" (Robinson, White) - "Your Love" (Robinson)
- While this album has not been re-released on CD until recently, all of its songs are available from other current sources. These in print albums include, but are not limited to: "Ooo Baby Baby: The Miracles Anthology" , "Motown: Early Classics" (The Miracles), "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection" (Box Set),and "Hi... We're The MiraclesHi... We're the MiraclesHi... We're The Miracles is the first album by Motown's first group, The Miracles, released on Motown's Tamla subsidiary label in the summer of 1961.It also has the distinction of being the first album ever released by the Motown Record Corporation The album features several songs which played an...
" (*Rare).
- The Fabulous Miracles and 4 other classic Miracles albums, has been released on CD for the first time,as part of the 2009 Motown limited edition CD release: " The Miracles: Depend On Me" .
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, producer, executive producer. - 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...
(co-lead on "You Really Got a Hold on Me"), Warren "Pete" Moore, Claudette Robinson: background vocals - Marv Tarplin: guitarist
External links
- [ Allmusic review: The Fabulous Miracles]
- The Fabulous Miracles- Original Liner Notes