The Miracles were the Motown Record Corporation's first group and its first million-selling recording artists. During their nineteen-year run on the American music charts, the Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of doo wop, soul, disco, and R&B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the top 10 of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen charted within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven reaching the top ten and two – 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" (Part 1) – reaching #1. A third song, the million-selling "Shop Around", reached #1 on the Cash Box magazine pop chart. The Miracles also scored 11 U.S. R&B top 10 albums, including 2-#1's.
| The Miracles discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 25 |
| Live albums | 3 |
| Compilation albums | 7 |
| Singles | 57 |
According to several websites, the Miracles are one of the most covered groups in recorded history and the most covered Motown group ever. Their music and songs have influenced artists all over the world – in every major musical genre – over the last 50 years.[1] At #32, the Miracles are the highest-ranking Motown group on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time".[2] They also have the distinction of having more songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame than any other Motown group.[3] All releases were on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label unless otherwise indicated.
In the 1960s, Motown Record Corporation, like many independent labels, did not register sales figures through the RIAA, the organization that certifies and awards Gold Records. So it is difficult to determine the full number of Miracles songs and recordings that sold a million or more records. Also, with the passing of decades of time, some songs that did not sell a million records initially may have indeed done so over the years. However, several reference works, such as the books Hits of the '60s: The Million Sellers by Demitri Coryton & Joseph Murrells,[4] as well as The Book of Golden Discs by Joseph Murrells,[5] point out that the Miracles had several million-selling records during their career, including "Shop Around" (1961), "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going To A Go-Go", (single and album) (1965), "I Second That Emotion" (1967), "Baby Baby Don't Cry" (1969), "The Tears of a Clown"* (1970), "Do It Baby" (1974), "Love Machine"* (1975), and the platinum album City of Angels (1975). This is quite probably an incomplete list, since Miracle Pete Moore stated on his corporate website, that the Miracles actually had 12 million-selling records to their credit by 1967, including 1965's "Ooo Baby Baby".[6]
Albums
editThe Miracles
edit| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] | ||
| 1961 | Hi... We're the Miracles | — | — |
| Cookin' with the Miracles | — | — | |
| 1962 | I'll Try Something New | — | — |
| 1963 | The Fabulous Miracles | 118 | — |
| The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage | 139 | — | |
| Christmas with The Miracles | — | — | |
| The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey | 113 | — | |
| 1964 | I Like It Like That | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
edit| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] | ||
| 1965 | Going to a Go-Go | 8 | 1 |
| 1966 | Away We a Go-Go | 41 | 3 |
| 1967 | Make It Happen (re-issued as The Tears of a Clown in 1970) |
28 | 3 |
| 1968 | Special Occasion | 42 | 1 |
| 1969 | Smokey Robinson & the Miracles LIVE! | 71 | 7 |
| Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles | 25 | — | |
| Four in Blue | 78 | 3 | |
| 1970 | What Love Has...Joined Together | 97 | 9 |
| A Pocket Full of Miracles | 56 | 10 | |
| The Season for Miracles (Christmas album) | — | — | |
| 1971 | One Dozen Roses | 92 | 17 |
| 1972 | Flying High Together (last studio album with Smokey Robinson) |
46 | 31 |
| 1972 | Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972 (live; final concert/double album) |
75 | 14 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
The Miracles (with Billy Griffin)
edit| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] |
AUS [8] | ||
| 1973 | Renaissance | 174 | 33 | — |
| 1974 | Do It Baby | 41 | 4 | — |
| 1975 | Don't Cha Love It | 96 | 7 | — |
| City of Angels | 33 | 29 | 81 | |
| 1976 | The Power of Music | 178 | 35 | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] | ||
| 1977 | Love Crazy | 117 | 31 |
| 1978 | The Miracles | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Compilations
edit| Year | Album | Peaks |
|---|---|---|
| US [7] | ||
| 1965 | Greatest Hits from the Beginning (double-album) | 21 |
| 1968 | Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 | 7 |
| 1974 | Anthology (re-released in 1986, 1995 and 2002 with different track-listings) |
97 |
| 1977 | Greatest Hits (with Billy Griffin) | — |
| 1994 | The 35th Anniversary Collection [9][10] | — |
| 1998 | The Ultimate Collection | — |
| 1999 | Lost and Found: Along Came Love (1958–1964) | — |
| 2002 | Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology | — |
| 2009 | Depend on Me: The Early Albums | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||
Singles
editThe Miracles
editFirst (pre-Motown) releases
edit| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [7] | |||||
| 1958 | "Got a Job" b/w "My Mama Done Told Me" |
5 | Greatest Hits from the Beginning | ||
| "I Need Some Money" b/w "I Cry" |
— | ||||
| 1959 | "I Need a Change" b/w "All I Want Is You" |
— | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Tamla (Motown) releases
edit| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] |
CAN |
UK [11] | ||||
| 1959 | "It" b/w "Don't Say Bye Bye" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Bad Girl" b/w "I Love Your Baby" |
93 | — | — | — | Greatest Hits from the Beginning | ||
| "The Feeling Is So Fine" b/w "(You Can) Depend on Me" (from Hi, We're the Miracles) |
— | — | — | — | Non-album track | ||
| 1960 | "Way Over There" b/w "(You Can) Depend on Me" (second version) |
94 | — | — | — | Hi, We're the Miracles | |
| "Shop Around" b/w "Who's Lovin' You" |
2 | 1 | — | — | |||
| 1961 | "Ain't It Baby" b/w "The Only One I Love" |
49 | 15 | — | — | Cookin' with the Miracles | |
| "Mighty Good Lovin'" / | 51 | 21 | — | — | Non-album track | ||
| "Broken Hearted" | 97 | — | — | — | Cookin' with the Miracles | ||
| "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" b/w "I Can't Believe" |
52 | 11 | — | — | |||
| "What's So Good About Goodbye" / | 35 | 16 | — | — | I'll Try Something New | ||
| "I've Been Good to You" | —[A] | — | — | — | |||
| 1962 | "I'll Try Something New" b/w "You Never Miss a Good Thing" (from Cookin' with the Miracles) |
39 | 11 | — | — | ||
| "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" b/w "Happy Landing" |
8 | 1 | — | — | The Fabulous Miracles | ||
| 1963 | "A Love She Can Count On" / | 31 | 21 | — | — | ||
| "I Can Take a Hint" | —[B] | — | — | — | |||
| "Mickey's Monkey" b/w "Whatever Makes You Happy" (from The Fabulous Miracles) |
8 | 3 | — | — | Doin' Mickey's Monkey | ||
| "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying" b/w "Such Is Love, Such Is Life" (from The Fabulous Miracles) |
35 | 17 | — | — | |||
| "The Christmas Song"[C] b/w "Christmas Everyday" |
— | — | — | — | Christmas with the Miracles | ||
| 1964 | "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" b/w "Heartbreak Road" (from The Fabulous Miracles) |
59 | 12 | — | — | Non-album track | |
| "I Like It Like That" b/w "You're So Fine and Sweet" (Non-album track) |
27 | 10 | 37 | — | Greatest Hits from the Beginning | ||
| "That's What Love Is Made Of" b/w "Would I Love You" |
35 | 9 | — | — | |||
| "Come On Do the Jerk" b/w "Baby Don't You Go" (Non-album track) |
50 | 22 | — | — | Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | ||
| 1965 | "Ooo Baby Baby" b/w "All That's Good" |
16 | 4 | 17 | — | Going to a Go-Go | |
| "The Tracks of My Tears" b/w "A Fork in the Road" |
16 | 2 | 5 | 9[D] | |||
| "My Girl Has Gone" b/w "Since You Won My Heart" |
14 | 3 | — | — | |||
| "Going to a Go-Go" / | 11 | 2 | — | 44 | |||
| "Choosey Beggar" | — | 35 | — | — | |||
| 1966 | "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)" b/w "Oh Be My Love" |
46 | 20 | 53 | — | Away We a Go-Go | |
| "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" b/w "Save Me" |
17 | 4 | 12 | 13[E] | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
edit(Same members, name changed to spotlight lead singer)
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] |
CAN |
UK [11] | ||||
| 1967 | "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" b/w "Come Spy with Me" (Non-album track) |
20 | 10 | 36 | — | Make It Happen | |
| "More Love" b/w "Swept for You Baby" (from Away We a Go-Go) |
23 | 5 | 8 | — | |||
| "I Second That Emotion" b/w "You Must Be Love" (from Make It Happen) |
4 | 1 | 13 | 27 | Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | ||
| 1968 | "If You Can Want" b/w "When the Words from You Heart Get Caught Up in Your Throat" (Non-album track) |
11 | 3 | 17 | 50 | Special Occasion | |
| "Yester Love" b/w "Much Better Off" |
31 | 9 | 28 | — | |||
| "Special Occasion" b/w "Give Her Up" |
26 | 4 | 29 | — | |||
| 1969 | "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" b/w "Your Mother's Only Daughter" (from Special Occasion) |
8 | 3 | 8 | — | Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles | |
| "Here I Go Again" / | 37 | 15 | 53 | — | |||
| "Doggone Right" | 32 | 7 | 40 | — | |||
| "Abraham, Martin and John" b/w "Much Better Off" (from Special Occasion) |
33 | 16 | 56 | — | |||
| "Point It Out" / | 37 | 4 | 38 | — | A Pocket Full of Miracles | ||
| "Darling Dear" | 100 | — | — | — | |||
| 1970 | "Who's Gonna Take the Blame" b/w "I Gotta Thing for You" (Non-album track) |
46 | 9 | 79 | — | ||
| "The Tears of a Clown" b/w "Promise Me" (Non-album track) |
1 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
|
One Dozen Roses | |
| 1971 | "I Don't Blame You at All" b/w "That Girl" |
18 | 7 | — | 11 | ||
| "Crazy About the La La La" b/w "Oh Baby Baby I Love You" |
56 | 20 | 67 | — | |||
| "Satisfaction" b/w "Flower Girl" (from A Pocket Full of Miracles) |
49 | 20 | 74 | — | |||
| 1972 | "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" b/w "When Sundown Comes" (from One Dozen Roses) |
46 | 9 | — | — | Flying High Together | |
| "I Can't Stand to See You Cry" b/w "With Your Love Came" |
45 | 21 | — | — | |||
| 1976 | "The Tears of a Clown" b/w "The Tracks of My Tears" |
— | — | — | 34[F] | Anthology | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||
The Miracles (with Billy Griffin)
edit| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] |
CAN |
AUS [8] |
UK [11] | ||||
| 1973 | "What Is A Heart Good For" b/w "Wigs and Lashes" |
— | — | — | — | — | Renaissance | |
| "Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin)" b/w "Wigs and Lashes" |
56 | 26 | — | — | — | |||
| "Give Me Just Another Day" b/w "I Wanna Be with You" (from Renaissance) |
—[G] | 47 | — | — | — | Do It Baby | ||
| 1974 | "Do It Baby" b/w "I Wanna Be with You" (from Renaissance) |
13 | 4 | 21 | 96 | — | ||
| "Don't Cha Love It" b/w "Up Again" (from Do It Baby) |
78 | 4 | 45 | — | — | Don't Cha Love It | ||
| 1975 | "Gemini" b/w "You Are Love" (from Do It Baby) |
—[H] | 43 | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Machine" – Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
1 | 5 | 11 | 89 | 3 |
|
City of Angels | |
| 1976 | "Night Life" b/w "Smog" |
— | 60 | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) | Peak chart positions | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US R&B [7] |
UK [11] | |||
| 1977 | "Spy for Brotherhood" b/w "The Bird Must Fly Away" |
—[I] | 37 | — | Love Crazy |
| "I Can Touch the Sky" b/w "Women (Make the World Go 'Round)" |
— | — | — | ||
| 1978 | "Mean Machine" b/w "The Magic of Your Eyes (Laura's Eyes)" |
— | 55 | — | Miracles |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Videography
editDVD release
editNotes
edit- ^ Peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
- ^ Peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
- ^ Released only as a promo single.
- ^ Chart position is from 1969.[11]
- ^ Peaked at number 37 in the UK on original issue in 1966. 1971 reissue peaked at number 13.[11]
- ^ Re-released in the UK in 1976.[11]
- ^ Peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
- ^ Peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
- ^ Peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.
References
edit- ^ "MOTOWN LEGENDS TODAY: TAMLA MOTOWN NEWS". Funandmusic.biz. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ Reed, Coley. "Rolling Stone: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Ranker.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ List of Miracles awards and achievements – Grammy Hall of Fame.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph; Coryton, Demitri (1990). Hits of the '60s: The Million Sellers (illustrated ed.). Batsford. ISBN 9780713458510.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "WBMM the Miracles Facts". Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "The Miracles – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 202. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Amazon.com: The 35th Anniversary Collection: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: Music". Amazon. 1994. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Smokey Robinson and The Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection (Box Set) by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles". iTunes. February 22, 1994. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "MIRACLES – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c "British certifications – Miracles". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 28, 2022. Type Miracles in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
External links
edit- Miracles member Pete Moore's corporate website – WBMM Enterprises (Miracles Facts)
- Asanovic, Bosko; Rimmer, Dave & Goldberg, Marv. Miracles discography. Soulful Kinda Music.
- The Miracles songs and albums- from the "Soully Oldies" website
- The Miracles: Bio and Discography
- The Miracles' Albums
- The Miracles discography at Discogs