Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology
Published October 29, 2002
"More Love" returned to smooth Smokey-land where his lilting falsetto can convey devotion as well as regret. A great James Jamerson bass burbles out of a field of lush strings as Smokey's wordless "hmm" conveys peace and sweet desire. "More," with its ever-expanding vista of love, is the mirror-image of "Hold," where desire is debilitating and confining. Having learned from experience, Robinson's "I Second That Emotion" cautiously threaded between his previous extremes of emotion and makes a case for love contingent upon doing it right, in which case he "seconds that emotion."
"The Tears of a Clown" recapitulated the happy veneer theme, and consolidated everything Smokey had learned about production, using piccolo highs and saxophone lows to create a festive circus feel that is chased by a rocking beat and Robinson's most powerful vocal. He seems to find heretofore untapped reserves of air. Smokey's words are sorrowful, but he seems simultaneously elated to have found the right images to convey that pain.
Robinson left the Miracles in 1972 and moved from Detroit to L.A., following the
migration of the Motown offices. Robinson had been appointed vice president of Motown in 1961, and he took his company responsibilities seriously. As Berry Gordy once remarked, "He's the most unselfish artist I've ever met. Not only does he write hits for himself, but everyone else."
Some of his best work with others includes Mary Wells' sultry "Two Lovers," a tale of a good lover and his evil twin, who turn out to be the same person in a classic Smokey twist. Her "My Guy" reached No. 1 on the strength of a gently rocking beat, Wells' self-assured vocal and another great Smokey melody. Robinson put the Temptations on the map with the smash "My Girl" which is much more than the gender reverse of "My Guy."
Smokey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in '87, and won the Grammy's Living Legend Award in '89.
- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology
- Published: October 29, 2002
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- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Hip-hop
- Writer: Eric Olsen
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Ihave loved motown for a while now and i love the Tempts. Well, I have a friend who is real good friends with them so I got to meet and bow with them on stage.
I've been rediscovering some vintage soul, too, Eric. Smokey smoked. And, when you consider his songwriting and production of other acts, it is clear he is an entertainment genius.
It embarrasses me as someone who lived in Philly for years to admit that I had pretty much lost track of Teddy Pendergrass. Someone sent me his "Life Is A Song Worth Singing," CD and I'm blown away. Downloaded a bunch of MP3s by tenacious Teddy and have been enthralled by him for the last several days. Will be buying three of his CDs tomorrow. Have his autobiography on hold at Powell's, too. Stay tuned for the blog entry.
Thanks MD, Teddy has been amazingly tenacious and is just plain classic soul - I probably like the blend of uptempo and ballads better with the Blue Notes than solo, but the voice is always there as well as the spirit.
Hi my name is Evan and I am a really big fan. I really love Motown. The christmas of 2003 I went to see the Temptations in Oakland. This Christmas I got 2 of The Temptations books and a soul trivia. And also Mr.Robinson, it would be an honir if you could email me a picture . Thankyou for your time. Evan Skversky
the MIRACLES are my favorite group of all time. I love the entire group and I think it's a travesty that the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME didnt induct the entire group . after all , the MIRACLES were the first Motown group.if it wasn't for their sucess ,there would have been no MOTOWN and none of those other groups would have been nearly as sucessful.Yet they have all been inducted , AS GROUPS ,into the HALL OF FAME. BOBBY,RONNIE,PETE,CLAUDETTE,and MARV be inducted too, not just SMOKEY.
I'm going to see Smokey tomorrow night at Carnegie Hall and I am very excited. I've been a big fan since I was a little kid.
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i just wanted to let smokey robensin know this. my mother roselyn cohen who is or was 78, got to meet him a few months ago in atlantic city, he was aloways her fave, she loved him to death, and meeting him was the biggest thrill at 78 in her life, she also saw him at the count basie thearter a few months ago, and enjoyed that to, my mom was just about blind, and what kept her going was a cd player that i got her with smokey cd, she would listen to these cds, with headphones, she was almost deaf also, for hrs and hrs, i beleive its what act. kepyt her alive so long,she had, multa maloma bone cancer, kidney failer, so at dialisis she listed to his recordings, and a few more illisness, anyway, my mom passed last week, and i just wanted smokey to know that on her dying day she listend to him, she loved him so, and he brought great happyness into her life for sure,shes not even buried yet this sunday is her funeral, but i just had to tell him the joy and the fun that he brought into my moms life, and they she cherisid the time she got to meet him and take a photo with him. just wanted to let you know this. vickie riehle