The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey
Encyclopedia
The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey is a 1963 album by The Miracles
for the Tamla (Motown) 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 several artists, including The Hollies
, The Young Rascals, and John Mellencamp
. Also included is another H-D-H dance-oriented single, "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying
", a Billboard Top 40 hit, which inspired a cover version by The Who
.
Much of the rest of the LP is made up of cover versions of other popular dance songs, including "The Twist
", "Twist and Shout
", and The Contours
' Motown hit "Do You Love Me
".
Miracles member Bobby Rogers
co-wrote a song Dancin' Holiday for this album.
The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey was released on CD by Motown Records in 1986,in a two-for one set with their Away We A Go-Go album,http://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Doin-Mickeys-Monkey-Away/dp/B000F3PBVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318698462&sr=1-1 and again by itself in a 1992 release,http://www.amazon.com/Mickeys-Monkey-Smokey-Robinson-Miracles/dp/B000008K2J/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318698462&sr=1-2 but both releases have since gone out of print.
Personnel-The Miracles
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...
for the Tamla (Motown) label. The album includes the group's Top 10 smash single "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 and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Holland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
. "Mickey's Monkey" popularized "The Monkey" as a novelty dance, and has been covered by several artists, including The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, The Young Rascals, and John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
. Also included is another H-D-H dance-oriented single, "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying
I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying
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...
", a Billboard Top 40 hit, which inspired a cover version 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...
.
Much of the rest of the LP is made up of cover versions of other popular dance songs, including "The Twist
The Twist (song)
"The Twist" is a twelve bar blues song that gave birth to the Twistdance craze. The song was written and originally released in 1959 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side but his version was only a moderate 1960 hit, peaking at 28 on the Billboard Hot 100...
", "Twist and Shout
Twist and Shout
"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
", and The Contours
The Contours
The Contours were one of the early African-American soul singing groups signed to Motown Records.The group is best known for its Billboard Top 10 hit, "Do You Love Me," a million-selling song that peaked twice in the Top 20....
' Motown hit "Do You Love Me
Do You Love Me
"Do You Love Me" is a 1962 hit single recorded by The Contours for Motown's Gordy Records label. Written and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., "Do You Love Me?" was the Contours' only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Notably, the record achieved this feat...
".
Miracles member 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 a song Dancin' Holiday for this album.
The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey was released on CD by Motown Records in 1986,in a two-for one set with their Away We A Go-Go album,http://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Doin-Mickeys-Monkey-Away/dp/B000F3PBVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318698462&sr=1-1 and again by itself in a 1992 release,http://www.amazon.com/Mickeys-Monkey-Smokey-Robinson-Miracles/dp/B000008K2J/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318698462&sr=1-2 but both releases have since gone out of print.
Side one
- "Mickey's MonkeyMickey'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...
" (Holland-Dozier-HollandHolland-Dozier-HollandHolland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
) - "Dance What You Wanna" (James AlexanderJames Alexander (musician)James Alexander is an American soul and R&B musician. He is a longtime member of the band The Bar-Kays, for which he plays bass guitar. He also is the father of noted hip-hop and R&B producer Phalon "Jazze Pha" Alexander, whom he named after his best friend and late Bar-Kays bandmate Phalon Jones...
, Sam CookeSam CookeSamuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
, 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...
) - "The Wah-Watusi" (Dave AppellDave AppellDave Appell Dave (David) Appell Dave (David) Appell (born March 24, 1922, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, worked as an arranger, producer, and musician in Philadelphia, in the 1950s.-Career:...
, Kal MannKal MannKal Mann was an American lyricist. He is best known for penning the words to Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear", plus "Butterfly", a hit for both Charlie Gracie and Andy Williams.-Biography:...
) - "The TwistThe Twist (song)"The Twist" is a twelve bar blues song that gave birth to the Twistdance craze. The song was written and originally released in 1959 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side but his version was only a moderate 1960 hit, peaking at 28 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" (Hank BallardHank BallardHank Ballard , born John Henry Kendricks, was a rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, the lead vocalist of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and one of the first proto-rock 'n' roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s...
) - "Dancin' Holiday" (Robert RogersRobert RogersRobert Rogers may refer to:*Robert Rogers , 18th century American colonial officer, explorer and playwright*Robert Rogers , Canadian politician...
, Smith, Zelda Samuels) - "Land of a Thousand DancesLand of a Thousand Dances"Land of a Thousand Dances" is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962. The song is famous for its "na na na na na" hook, which was added by Cannibal & the Headhunters in their version of the song in 1965, whose version peaked at number thirty...
" (Chris KennerChris KennerChris Kenner was a New Orleans R&B singer and songwriter, best known for two hit singles in the early 1960s, that became staples in the repertoires of many other musicians.-Biography:...
)
Side two
- "I Gotta Dance to Keep From CryingI Gotta Dance to Keep From CryingI 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...
" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - "The Monkey Time" (Curtis MayfieldCurtis MayfieldCurtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
) - "The Groovey Thing" (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...
) - "Twist and ShoutTwist and Shout"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
" (Phil Medley, Bert Russell) - "Do You Love MeDo You Love Me"Do You Love Me" is a 1962 hit single recorded by The Contours for Motown's Gordy Records label. Written and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., "Do You Love Me?" was the Contours' only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Notably, the record achieved this feat...
" (Berry Gordy, Jr.)
Personnel-The MiraclesThe MiraclesThe 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...
- Lead vocals: 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...
(on "The Wah-Watusi") - Background 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...
, 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 Claudette Rogers Robinson - Guitar: 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...
Producers
- William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr.Smokey 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...
, producer - Brian HollandBrian HollandBrian 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,...
and Lamont DozierLamont DozierLamont 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:...
, producer