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Tamla T 54028 (B)*, February 1960
B-side of Way Over There
(Written by Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson)
The original version of this song had come out six months previously on the flip side of the Miracles’ previous single, the hastily-withdrawn The Feeling Is So Fine. Robinson and Gordy both liked the song, and so it was dusted off, re-recorded and pressed into service as the B-side of the following single, Way Over There.
The first version wasn’t really up to much – a pretty but straightforward doo-wop ballad, with Smokey hitting a bewildering series of high notes against a warm, fuzzy backing as the Miracles provided some of their most enveloping harmonies. This version is somehow even fuzzier, and the recording is again poor, once more suffering noticeable levels of distortion on high notes at the top of Smokey’s range, which is unfortunately where he spends much of the song.
The new recording makes everything softer, lusher and more hypnotic; the liner notes to The Complete Motown Singles: Volume 1 describe it as “dreamlike”, and that’s partly apt, since it’s almost a lullaby.
When the time came to release a Miracles album in June 1961, it was the first version (rather than this re-recording) that ended up being used on the LP, Hi, We’re The Miracles. A shame, because this is better than the first version, but I still don’t think there’s actually very much song going on underneath all the harmonising and vocal pyrotechnics. Pretty, though.
* Confusingly, Way Over There was released with the same Tamla catalogue number as The Feeling Is So Fine, meaning that the two distinct versions of (You Can) Depend On Me appeared as B-sides to two different Miracles singles, but both versions share the same catalogue number. Supposedly, these (rather frequent) catalogue cock-ups were to do with the ad-hoc, disorganised nature of Motown’s earliest days, and stopped once Barney Ales got involved and tidied up the marketing and inventory side of things – but it’s hard to shake the feeling they might have been doing this solely to drive collectors crazy some fifty years later. You gits.
MOTOWN JUNKIES VERDICT
(I’ve had MY say, now it’s your turn. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment, or click the thumbs at the bottom there. Dissent is encouraged!)
COVERWATCH
Motown Junkies has reviewed other Motown versions of this song:
- The Miracles (original recording) (September 1959)
You’re reading Motown Junkies, an attempt to review every Motown A- and B-side ever released. Click on the “previous” and “next” buttons below to go back and forth through the catalogue, or visit the Master Index for a full list of reviews so far.
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| The Miracles “Way Over There” |
Barrett Strong “Yes, No, Maybe So” |
Motown Junkies 
I’ve been meaning to take issue with you on this song for some time. It’s at least a 7 for me, because I think there’s some substance to the prettiness. The three-against-two of the title lyrics perfectly exemplify the sensual longing which pervades so many great Smokey songs. The passionate ease with which the vocal rhythms articulate themselves culminates in a kind of epitome of desire as Smokey cries out ‘I love you’ at the fade. The song is beautifully – and, I think lovingly – put together. As for the words, nothing earth-shaking – but nothing clunky either, and it all sounds sincere to me. I also enjoy the Temptations’ take on the song on The Temptations Sing Smokey…
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I agree. Our host just doesn’t like old-fashioned ballads. To him, they are dated.
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Absolutely agree. This song is just a miss for me. It is too slow and seems to chug along. The chorus seems to come at the end because that’s the only part of the song I remember. I suppose this was one of those back in the day making out in the backseat type of songs (lol).
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