The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage
Encyclopedia
"The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" is a 1967 song recorded by American R&B group The Miracles
on Motown Records
' Tamla label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson
and Marv Tarplin
and produced by Robinson, it is noted for being the first single to bill the group as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, a billing already present on the group's albums by this time.
The single was a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, and a Top 10 hit on Billboard's R&B singles chart. As with several Miracles hits, "Mirage" begins with Tarplin's guitar. The song's lyrics feature Robinson's character as a man deceived by the beauty of a woman who showed "the promise of love", but then sadly discovered that her love was "just a mirage".
The Jackson 5, Vance Gilbert
, and The Uniques
are among the acts who have recorded cover version
s of "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage". The original 45 RPM single featured "Come Spy with Me", (the original theme song to the 1967 20th Century Fox
film of the same name
), as the b-side.
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
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
' Tamla label. Written by Miracles members 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 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...
and produced by Robinson, it is noted for being the first single to bill the group as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, a billing already present on the group's albums by this time.
The single was a Top 20 hit 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 a Top 10 hit on Billboard
The Jackson 5, Vance Gilbert
Vance Gilbert
Vance Gilbert is an American folk singer/songwriter. He started out as a jazz singer, then switched to folk music, performing on the open mike circuit in Boston. His career took off when he toured with Shawn Colvin. He has recorded eight albums, including Side of the Road, a duo album with friend...
, and The Uniques
The Uniques
The Uniques may refer to:*The Uniques , a Jamaican vocal group*The Uniques , a rock group including Joe Stampley in the 1960s*The Uniques , a rock group founded including Duane in Gregg Allman in the 1960s...
are among the acts who have recorded cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage". The original 45 RPM single featured "Come Spy with Me", (the original theme song to the 1967 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
film of the same name
Come Spy with Me (film)
Come Spy with Me is a 1967 American spy film produced by Arnold Kaiser, directed by Marshall Stone, and released by 20th Century Fox. Starring Troy Donahue and Andrea Dromm, the film features Dromm , solving a murder case, rescuing a kidnap victim , breaking up a mastermind's underwater...
), as the b-side.
The Miracles
- Lead vocals by 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...
- Background vocals by 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, 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...
. - Guitar by 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...