379. The Marvelettes: “He’s A Good Guy (Yes He Is)”
Ever wanted to know what a Motown cover of “Charlie Had A Pigeon” / “I’m A Little Dutch Girl” would sound like? Wonder no more. (6)
Category Archives: Writing credit: Smokey Robinson
375. The Temptations: “The Way You Do The Things You Do”
A new start for everyone involved, a major step forward for the Motown Sound, and a damned fine pop record in its own right. Super. (8)
363. The Miracles: “Christmas Everyday”
Even if it’s not a great record, even among the rest of the Miracles’ output in 1963, it’s charming, bouncy and joyful, and I still (whisper it, blasphemer!) actually prefer it to Mickey’s Monkey. (6)
357. The Miracles: “Such Is Love, Such Is Life”
It’s not terrible – there’s something in Smokey’s pained, awkward delivery which always brings me back for more, so they must be doing something right at least – but it’s very much a remnant from an era Motown was already leaving behind forever. (4)
342. The Marvelettes: “As Long As I Know He’s Mine”
The song is good, but the record isn’t. If they’d had another couple of weeks to work on this, it might have been spectacular; instead, it’s a missed opportunity, and showbiz never allows you too many of those. (6)
335. Mary Wells: “What’s Easy For Two Is So Hard For One”
This is a record full of ideas for the future career of Mary Wells, none of them fully-realised yet, to the extent that it sounds like four or five different songs all smooshed together with no great care – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in itself. (6)
327. The Miracles: “Whatever Makes You Happy”
It’s a testament to the strength of Smokey’s songwriting, and the excellent vocal he turns in here, that even a “Miracles by the numbers” job like this is still better than some groups’ best efforts. (5)
312. The Supremes: “A Breath Taking Guy”
It isn’t half as catchy as it thinks it is, meaning it was probably never likely to trouble the upper echelons of the pop charts. In truth, this has “B-side” written all over it. (5)
294. Mary Wells: “What Love Has Joined Together”
Too slow to be a single, this is still one of the best records of Mary Wells’ all-too-brief tenure with Motown, and it gets better each time you listen to it. (9)
293. Mary Wells: “Your Old Stand By”
Unusually for a big-ticket Motown single, it’s a song that rewards repeated listens, rather than grabbing you by the lapels and proclaiming its greatness. (8)
290. The Temptations: “The Further You Look, The Less You See”
A sneakily catchy number, which after a few listens actually gets its hooks much deeper into you than the A-side. (7)
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