Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Away We A-Go-Go - 1966
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles albums were often a mixture of stunning originals and covers of contemporary songs. For that reason, I always find them coming across to me as sort of half an album. This is definitely one of those. That said, it is a still a good listen and it possesses a great stereo reproduction that sounds truly exceptional on a good system.
The album begins with Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You), a Frank Wilson song (not a Smokey one) and it was a total stomper of a record and should have been a much bigger hit. It is full of ebullience and great harmonies. It qualifies as a hidden gem in my book, albeit coming, surprisingly, in that case, from such a successful artist/group.
Up next is one of those covers - Dusty Springfield's You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.
Back to Smokey originals. Oh Lordy - (Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need is a killer of a record from the quiet for a while Miracles. They switched from Frank Wilson as a songwriter to Holland-Dozier-Holland for this one. The song had been originally intended for The Four Tops and boy, can you tell on first listening. It's pounding, archetypal H-D-H sound had Four Tops written all over every bar - you expect Levi Stubbs to come roaring on. Smokey faced a new challenge in trying to cope with such powerful material. He managed it, however, and his versatile voice gave the song part of its indisputable appeal.
Save Me is a mellifluous and pleasant little song, full of melody and Smokey's innate ability to ride smoothly over a catchy tune. Oh Be My Love is a smooth, typically lush Robinson-penned ballad. Can You Love A Poor Boy continues the laid-back, easy-listening feel of the last few songs. It was an Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder composition. It features some truly beautiful string orchestration.
The Temptations' Beauty Is Only Skin Deep was, of course, a cover, but nobody need worry that Smokey wouldn't do a fine version of it. It is the equal of the hit release of the song. It has a great sound quality on it - check that God-given stereo.
Now it's time for another Dusty cover, this time I Just Don't Know What To With Myself. Look, Smokey does these songs admirably, that goes without saying, but, as on all these albums, it is the original Motown material I really go for, such as the next song, The Lewis Sisters' torchy ballad Baby Baby.
Dionne Warwick's Walk On By is next. Does Smokey do it well? Of course he does, atmospherically, as the song requires.
The slow, but dignified number Swept For You Baby is notable for its drum roll half way through, just before the song's bridge. I love that bit - and then Smokey's voice comes back in. Great stuff. The album ends with the rollicking More, More, More Of Your Love, a song that has a piano riff that sounds just like the one in The Outsiders' Bend Me, Shape Me from the same year, a song that was also covered by Amen Corner in 1968. They used brass on the riff instead of piano.
