Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)
Encyclopedia
"Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)" was a 1966 R&B song by Motown Records group The Miracles
, issued on Motown's Tamla Records subsidiary. Written by Motown staff songwriter Frank Wilson
, it was one of only two singles the group released in '66, taken from their album Away We A Go-Go
.
Although the group's billing on their singles remained "The Miracles" up to this point, their billing on the album was changed to "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles," their second album to receive this billing.
Pop charts, but the tune managed much better on the Billboard R&B listings, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #20.
The Miracles, after a huge year in 1965, took a year off from touring during 1966, and this song's lack of promotion may have been a reason for its relative failure, but it has nevertheless been included in many Miracles "greatest hits" album and CD compilations.
This up-tempo song featured rapid-fire vocal interplay between Smokey and the other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete, and Claudette, accompanied by equally-urgent horns and a hot Funk Brothers rhythm section. Smokey, as the song's narrator, portrays a man whose life has been completely changed by a passionate relationship with his new girl: "I can't explain the things you do to me ,but I'm sure there's an explanation, Maybe it's the way you carry yourself , or maybe it's your conversation." His friends also notice the change in him: " The guys I used to run around with tell me I changed, and I'm acting kind of strange; But they don't realize, that since I met you, my whole life has been re-arranged."
Song author Frank Wilson later co-wrote The Four Tops' 1970 hit "Still Water (Love)
" with Robinson. He also went on to co-write The Temptations
' 1967 Top 10 hit, "All I Need
."
and Marv Johnson
. Its flip side, "Oh Be My Love",like many Miracles "B" sides, was also popular, and has inspired cover versions by Barbara Lewis
, The Supremes
, and Barbara McNair
.
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...
, issued on Motown's Tamla Records subsidiary. Written by Motown staff songwriter Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson (musician)
Frank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records.-Biography:He was born to James Wilson and Samantha Gibbs...
, it was one of only two singles the group released in '66, taken from their album Away We A Go-Go
Away We a Go-Go
Away We A Go-Go is a 1966 album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The album features the singles " I'm The One You Need",a Billboard Top 20 Pop hit, written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland; and "Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart ", written and produced by Frank Wilson...
.
Although the group's billing on their singles remained "The Miracles" up to this point, their billing on the album was changed to "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles," their second album to receive this billing.
Chart success
This song was not one of the group's more successful singles, and broke a string of Top 20 Pop hits by the group, only reaching #46 on the BillboardBillboard (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...
Pop charts, but the tune managed much better on the Billboard R&B listings, reaching the Top 20, peaking at #20.
The Miracles, after a huge year in 1965, took a year off from touring during 1966, and this song's lack of promotion may have been a reason for its relative failure, but it has nevertheless been included in many Miracles "greatest hits" album and CD compilations.
Lyrical and musical content
Despite this song's relatively mild success in 1966, "Whole Lot Of Shaking" was one of The Miracles' most dynamic, most propulsive recordings.This up-tempo song featured rapid-fire vocal interplay between Smokey and the other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete, and Claudette, accompanied by equally-urgent horns and a hot Funk Brothers rhythm section. Smokey, as the song's narrator, portrays a man whose life has been completely changed by a passionate relationship with his new girl: "I can't explain the things you do to me ,but I'm sure there's an explanation, Maybe it's the way you carry yourself , or maybe it's your conversation." His friends also notice the change in him: " The guys I used to run around with tell me I changed, and I'm acting kind of strange; But they don't realize, that since I met you, my whole life has been re-arranged."
Song author Frank Wilson later co-wrote The Four Tops' 1970 hit "Still Water (Love)
Still Water (Love)
"Still Water " is a 1970 hit single written by Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson, who also produced the track for Motown singing group The Four Tops, who took the song to the top ten of the UK pop charts and the top twenty of the US pop chart...
" with Robinson. He also went on to co-write The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' 1967 Top 10 hit, "All I Need
All I Need (The Temptations song)
"All I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It is the group's first single to be produced by Norman Whitfield's protégé Frank Wilson. Written by Wilson, Edward Holland, Jr. and R...
."
Covers
"Whole Lot Of Shakin'" has inspired cover versions by The HellacoptersThe Hellacopters
The Hellacopters were a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson , Dregen , Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson . Andersson had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies...
and Marv Johnson
Marv Johnson
Marv Johnson was an American R&B and soul singer, most notable for performing on the first record to be issued from what became Motown.-Biography:...
. Its flip side, "Oh Be My Love",like many Miracles "B" sides, was also popular, and has inspired cover versions by Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis , is an American singer and songwriter whose smooth style influenced rhythm and blues.-Career:Lewis was born in Salem, near Ann Arbor, Michigan...
, The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, and Barbara McNair
Barbara McNair
Barbara McNair was an African American singer and actress.Born Barbara Jean McNair in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago...
.
Personnel credits 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 - Claudette Robinson - 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 - 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
- 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
External links
Other credits
- Writer–Producer: Frank WilsonFrank Wilson (musician)Frank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records.-Biography:He was born to James Wilson and Samantha Gibbs...
- 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...