Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
‘Make It Happen’ and ‘Special Occasion’
US Motown - 013183-2
Available in the UK from 29th May 2001

Two more albums on one CD from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, and this time taken from 1967 and 1968 respectively.

By the end of 1967 the Motown sound was beginning to change somewhat from it’s vibrant pounding uptempo sound to a more gentler back-beat feel, and one only has to listen to ‘Honey Chile’ and ‘Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing’ as an example. One thing of course that didn’t change - and that was the sweet harmonies that the likes of Smokey Robinson provided so well, and these two excellent albums give an indication of how the Motown sound was developing in the latter half of the decade.

Unlike most of the labels acts who had relied so heavily on the writing and producing talents of HDH, Robinson wrote virtually everything himself and thus became known as the ‘greatest living poet’ to quote fellow American Bob Dylan. There isn’t an act on the label who hasn’t recorded a Smokey song at some time either as a 45 or an album track.

The opening track on ‘Make It Happen’ is a typical mid sixties finger-snappin’ dance tune that rates as good as anything he has done in the past, and the issue that year ‘Tears Of A Clown’ is found on this set. This song has seen numerous re-releases over the years but saw its highest UK chart position in 1970.

‘You Must Be Love’ and ‘The Love I Saw In You’ both found their way onto 45’s one way or another and show Robinson’s vocal dexterity at its very best, with a nice gentle feel to both songs and a most memorable hookline. One thing is for certain - you could never cover up a Smokey Robinson performance as THAT voice is instantly recognisable.

‘It’s A Good Feeling’ returns to a more uptempo feel and a cover version of the Little Anthony song ‘I’m On The Outside Looking In’ is equally as good as the original. Here we have an album that in itself is not that rare, however, a golden opportunity to once again acquire a piece of Motown history in glorious CD quality.

UK Tracklisting;
‘Make It Happen’
The Soulful Shack/The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage/My Love For You/I’m On The Outside (Looking In)/Don’t Think It’s Me/My Love Is Your Love (Forever)/More Love/After You Put Back The Pieces/It’s A Good Feeling/You Must Be Love/Dancing’s Alright/The Tears Of A Clown/

Additional information:
Album originally issued in the US on Tamla 276 in August 1967.
Released in the UK on Tamla Motown (TML 11067) in February 1968

· This album was later renamed ‘Tears Of A Clown’ following the chart success of the re-issued single in 1970

US & UK Singles;
The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage/Come Spy With Me - Tamla 54145/the UK issue on TMG 598 had ‘Swept For You Baby’ on the ‘b’ side
More Love/Swept For You Baby - Tamla 54152
More Love/Come Spy With Me - TMG 614
Tears Of A Clown/You Must Be Love - Tamla 54199/TMG 745

'Special Occasion'

In 1968 at a time when Motown was on a roll and a number of the major acts within the company were seeing their biggest success to date i.e. Marvin & Tammi/Supremes/Temptations/Four Tops etc. The company followed through with ‘Special Occasion’ which was not too different from the previous set with a mixture of memorable ballads, with the odd uptempo track thrown in for good measure.

Take a listen at ‘If You Can Want’ (issued in the UK as a 45) to see how Smokey was setting the pace for other acts to follow with this brilliantly produced piece of pop magic. You will find three instantly recognisable cover versions on this set including the Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’ to the Norman Whitfield produced ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ (which is a superb dance track of the highest order) and his version of ‘Everybody Needs Love’ previously recorded by the Velvelettes/Jimmy Ruffin although I’ve yet to hear a better version than Gladys Knight’s ‘b’ side of the same year.

‘Yester Love’ and the title track make pleasant listening although from a personal perspective there are stronger cuts to be found elsewhere on this CD. Whilst Robinson isn’t my all time favourite Motown act, he is, an artist of the highest calibre whose music and lyrics reflect a whole generation of music lovers during the sixties and has built up the greatest of respect of fellow musicians and artists world wide who have recorded his songs.

I remember when I interviewed Martha Reeves where she told me that just recording a version of ‘Tracks Of My Tears’ was in itself a sheer privelege, and coming from someone of her calibre and standing speaks volumes for itself.

UK Tracklisting;
‘Special Occasion’
Yester Love/If You Can Want/Special Occasion/Everybody Needs Love/Just Losing You/Give Her Up/I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Yesterday/Your Mother’s Only Daughter/Much Better Off/You Only Build Me Up To Tear Me Down/

Additional information:
Album originally issued in the US on Tamla 290 in August 1968.
Released in the UK on Tamla Motown (TML 11089) in January 1969

US & UK Singles;
If You Can Want/When The Words Get Caught Up In Your Throat - Tamla 54162/TMG 648
Yester Love/Much Better Off - Tamla 54167/TMG 661
Special Occasion/Give Her Up  - Tamla 54172/TMG 673