Here's a superb collection of hit recordings from one of Motown's earliest and most prolific acts during the very early sixties in Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Smokey (real name William Robinson) was the lead singer of the group who clocked up an impressive array of hits for Berry Gordy's fledging label at that time and as a major songwriter too, he wrote countless Motown hits for the likes of the Temptations (My Girl) and Edwin Starr (Way Over There) for example. It is well known that Robinson was instrumental in shaping the sound of Motown during the early years and the opening six songs one the first disc in this set is testament to early raw r'n'b flavoured soul that the label delivered.

That same formulae was used by Robinson on fellow Motown artist Mary Wells who enjoyed numerous hits at the song writing pen of Smokey Robinson.

By 1963 when Gordy's record company were starting to see some success locally with an increase in record sales a new songwriting team emerged at Hitsville in Holland Dozier Holland who wrote and produced some of the finest moments in Motown's history until they left the company in 1967 and eventually set up their own label Invictus/Hot Wax in 1970. Whilst this in itself didn't stop Robinson being a creative song writer for the company the reality was that HDH were on a roll with the major acts and had to some degree put Robinson in the shade as main producers etc.

By 1963 the Miracles had clocked up two noticeable local hits in 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' and the appealing 'Shop Around' (which was issued on London American in the UK). This was a major step forward for Gordy as his artist roster were struggling to find a hit formulae on which to build and develop the acts, and the success of 'Shop Around' was arguably the starting point in Robinson's career. Click here to see the Miracles in action performing this song.

'What's So Good About Goodbye' is a good example of the style that Robinson was developing for the Miracles and remains one of my favourite early songs from the group and the instrumental break has hints of the break on Ben E King's 'Stand By Me'. The group were lucky were to attract attention from Ed Sullivan for his popular US TV show where they made many appearances thus exposing the group to a much wider (and whiter) audience which was something many of the lesser known acts for Motown had the benefit of. Here in the UK in 1964 the music scene was kissing rock 'n' roll goodbye and being replaced by the Mersey Sound led by the Beatles and a new youth culture had emerged with the mods of '64' who took a shine to the Motown sound emanating from the States alongside Blue Beat/Ska etc. and it wasn't long before the songs began to chart alongside hits for the Supremes/Mary Wells/Martha & Vandella's. Suddenly the Motown Sound was IN and numerous acts began to have hits in the UK mainly thanks to a visit to the UK in 1964 for a Ready Steady Go TV special hosted by the late Dusty Springfield (herself a big Motown fan).

This anthology spread over two CD's delivers very little new material that hasn't been available on other CD's over the last ten years although you find a vast array of hit songs for the group and original versions of songs that would give other Motown acts a hit, and/or album filler material. Side one concentrates on the early years and if I am being honest they did not impress me in the way that Marvin/Tops/Martha's records did. I can pick off around four or five songs that I will constantly play including the superb 'That's What Love Is Made Of' (a favourite mod classic) and 'I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying' and the aforementioned hit 'Shop Around'.

In 1965 the UK launched the Tamla Motown label with the Supremes and the second record to be issued was a gorgeous ballad in 'Ooh Baby Baby' and rates as the best ballad the group ever recorded and each time I hear it I still get those goose pimples. From this point on during the next five years Robinson could do no wrong either as a songwriter for the Miracles, or other acts who all wanted to record a Smokey song. 'Tracks Of My Tears' from 1965 is simply a classic and shows just how a good song should be wrote. The song wasn't a big hit at the time it was first issued but a re-release in 1969 saw the song hit top 5 in the UK.

Disc two really does the business opening with the mod anthem 'Going To A Go-Go' a thumping dance tune with a irresistible guitar riff that took the dance halls by storm during a period when the Beatles and Rolling Stones ruled the beat scene, but Gordy's hit making machine would not lie down. An album in 1966 'Away We A Go-Go' featured this song together with another dancefloor favourite 'Whole Lot Of Shaking (Going On) a fabulous piece of uptempo Motown dance magic together with 'Come Round Here' which feature Smokey's unique vocal style at it's very best. The hits just keep coming from this point on with the likes of 'More Love' 'I Second That Emotion' and 'If You Can Want' which are now seen as Miracles classics.

This CD is very much a comprehensive collection of their best recordings but the icing on the cake would have been the inclusion of the brilliant 'Your Business My Pleasure' an unreleased track from the middle sixties until it's eventual inclusion on a three CD box set in 1994. There are also of course, album cuts that are not included here ('Save Me') so please don't view this CD as the ultimate 'everything' they have ever done. Whilst I would encourage everyone to go and buy this CD I am mindful of the fact that not everybody sees Smokey as the best act on Motown - after al there are so many to choose from.

Standout tracks on side two include 'Special Occasion' 'Tears Of A Clown' and 'Whole Lot Of Shaking' and 'Baby Baby Don't Cry'

Enjoy.

Rating 7/10