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Tamla T 54036 (B), February 1961
B-side of Ain’t It Baby
(Written by Smokey Robinson)
London American HLU 9366 (B), June 1961
B-side of Ain’t It Baby
(Released in the UK under license through London Records)
A solo writing credit for Smokey on this one, his third such credit after the stupendous single Way Over There, and the rather less stupendous B-side Who’s Lovin’ You.
It’s a sweet, slow-paced ballad that doesn’t really go anywhere, but it’s pretty all the same, well sung by Smokey at the very top of his register. Hardly a million miles away from Who’s Lovin’ You, it again has heavy traces of doo-wop, although this one’s prominent use of rhythm guitar and soft brushed drums does appear to be a step away from that style, towards the sort of arrangement shown on Debbie Dean’s A New Girl, another Smokey co-write.
Once again, I find myself holding Smokey to higher standards than other Motown artists and songwriters of the period, which isn’t really fair; but while this might have been a passably good effort by one of Motown’s early-Sixties lesser lights, it’s little more than filler when put up against some of the Miracles’ better songs even only to this point.
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!)
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 “Ain’t It Baby” |
Barrett Strong “Money And Me” |
Motown Junkies 
I feel that you underrate this one. This one is like a couple of other Motown songs, Forever by the Marvelettes and If You Don’t Want My Love by Eddie Holland that grabs you if you are in the feeling blue mode. It is one to make you long for the love you lost, and it is effective. Not a mature Smokey song, but a great bridge between Doo Wop and the sounds of 1964-1965 Smokey.
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Agree this song is just okay. I think it could have been better if the tempo was a little faster. Surprisingly, I like this better than the A side. Towards the end of this track Smokey starts letting go and killing the track. Good stuff!
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Adorable song. Very adorable. The thing i think i like more than anything is the Miracles backing vocals. Not that Smokeys doing bad he is superb as well. I agree much better than A side. 6/10
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“the stupendous single Way Over There”
I have to say, you’re winning me over on Way Over There. It takes time and repeated listenings for a new song (new to me since TCMS) to have a fair chance against one that’s been in everyone’s collective cultural memory for decades (e.g., Shop Around). Way Over There has tremendous poetic imagery and is now gradually becoming a classic in my mind. I still wish it had a bridge though.
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