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The 35th Anniversary Collection

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - The 35th Anniversary Collection Audio CD

A fair review of the Smokey Robinson & the Miracles "The 35th Anniversary Collection" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Smokey Robinson & the Miracles reviews here, or go back to the Smokey Robinson & the Miracles tabs.

Band: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Title: The 35th Anniversary Collection
Rating:

Release Date: 1994-02-22
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Got a Job 2: I Cry 3: Bad Girl 4: All I Want Is You 5: It [#] 6: Way Over There [Original Version][#] 7: Feeling Is So Fine [#] 8: (You Can) Depend on Me 9: Shop Around [Original Detroit Version][#] 10: Who's Lovin' You 11: Shop Around [National Hit Version] 12: After All 13: Ain't It Baby 14: Mighty Good Lovin' [#] 15: Broken Hearted 16: Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues 17: That's the Way I Feel 18: Determination 19: I Had to Cry [#] 20: What's So Good About Goodbye? 21: I've Been Good to You 22: I'll Try Something New 23: You Never Miss a Good Thing 24: If Your Mother Only Knew 25: He Don't Care About Me 26: Love That Can Never Be 27: You've Really Got a Hold on Me 28: Happy Landing 29: Father Dear [#] 30: Love She Can Count On 31: Mickey's Monkey 32: Whatever Makes You Happy 33: Day You Take One (You Have to Take the Other) [#] 34: I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying 35: (You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You [#] 36: Heartbreak Road 37: Show Me You Can Dance [#] 38: I Like It Like That 39: You're So Fine and Sweet [#] 40: That's What Love Is Made Of 41: Baby Don't You Go [#] 42: Ooo Baby Baby 43: All That's Good 44: Tracks of My Tears 45: Fork in the Road 46: My Girl Has Gone 47: Going to a Go-Go 48: Choosey Beggar 49: I'm Stuck on You ["Never Before Released Masters" Version] - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles 50: Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You) 51: Oh Be My Love 52: (Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need 53: My Business, Your Pleasure [#] 54: Save Me 55: It's a Good Feeling 56: Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage 57: Come Spy With Me [#] 58: My Love for You 59: More Love 60: After You Put Back the Pieces (I'll Still Have a Broken Heart) 61: I Second That Emotion 62: You Must Be Love 63: I Care About Detroit 64: If You Can Want 65: When the Words from You Heart Get Caught up in Your Throat [#] 66: Yester Love 67: You Only Build Me up to Tear Me Down 68: Special Occasion 69: Baby, Baby Don't Cry 70: Doggone Right 71: Composer 72: Here I Go Again 73: Once I Got to Know You (Couldn't Help But Love You) 74: Abraham, Martin and John 75: What Love Has Joined Together 76: Point It Out 77: Who's Gonna Take the Blame 78: I Gotta Thing for You [#] 79: Tears of a Clown 80: Promise Me 81: I Don't Blame You at All 82: There's a Sad Story Here [#] 83: Crazy About the la la La 84: Satisfaction 85: We've Come Too Far to End It Now 86: I Can't Stand to See You Cry 87: Here I Go Again [Live] 88: Sweet Harmony - Smokey Robinson 89: Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin) - The Miracles 90: Do It Baby - The Miracles 91: Don't Cha Love It - The Miracles 92: Quiet Storm - Smokey Robinson 93: Love Machine, Pt. 1 - The Miracles 94: Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson 95: Being With You - Smokey Robinson 96: Just to See Her - Smokey Robinson 97: One Heartbeat - Smokey Robinson

Best of the Best Box Sets
Smokey Robinson began his musical career in 1958, and he's still going strong in 2008. This four-disc retrospective showcases one of the most prolific and innovative artists of all time. This box set covers the first thirty-five years of a legendary body of work. One of my favorite features of this box set is that it is ordered chronologically, giving the listener a chance to hear firsthand the evolution of a Motown legend. Liner notes are extensive, and song selection is excellent.

Disc 1 covers the period 1958-63, and while these early songs may not be comparable to Smokey's later work, they give you a clear understanding of where and how he began. One Notable musical gem is "I'll Try Something New", an upbeat love song with gorgeous lyrics.

Disc 2 covers 1963-67. There's less of a doowop influence, more of a Motown feel. Smokey begins to perfect the smoldering soul ballads for which he became famous. The hits on this disc include "Mickey's Monkey", "Ooh Baby Baby", and "Going to A-go-go,. "

Disc 3 covers the late 60's. The lyrics, melodies, and musical arrangements have matured. "More Love", "Baby Baby Don't Cry", and "Here I Go Again" stand out as exceptional among the exceptional, and "Oh Be My Love" is a beautiful yet underappreciated musical treasure.

Disc 4 sees Smokey and The Miracles part ways. But before they do, they release "Tears of a Clown. " "Put the Blame On Me" is an achingly beautiful commentary on what can happen when you love someone too much, and this song is one of the best illustrations of Smokey's talent to address the most painful circumstances of the heart and say what so many feel and are unable to express. The disc ends with Smokey's solo work, most notably "Cruisin'" and "Being With You. "

This set is too much for the casual fan who only wants the radio hits, but for anyone who wants to learn more about this legendary artist, the 35th Anniversary Box is essential listening.

A True Miracle...
Simply Stated. . Smokey Robinson and the Miracles give you all there is to give and more! Kudos the Smokey's former wife Claudette who sings on a couple of songs and that brave soul Billy Griffin (Do it Baby, Love Machine)who followed Smokey! I'm truly a Miracles fan and I loved the musical journey! My favorites are Ooh Baby Baby, Special Occasion, Fork in the Road, and The Track of my Tears!
As usual, we all will have a couple b-side hits that don't make the "cut" such as: Much Better Off and Give Her Up" which you can find on the Special Occasion album, but overall just a must! As my niece, Mia would say, you will experience "Tears of Clown" if you don't spend a little extra and put this in your archives of Musicology! ps Play often!OOOOOOOOOH Baby Baby!.

Not What I Thought...
First let me start by saying I purchased this Boxed Set years ago because I have been a fan of Smokey and the Miracles from back in the day. I purchased it again because sometimes when company came over a friend expressed interest in purchasing this item. Several times they mentioned it to me so I decided to purchase it for them as a gift.

Personally I thought a lot of the songs were put on the disc to take up space, and other songs were left off that should have been included.

I was surprised to hear so many songs in mono when I know there are stereo versions. What was that about?

Overall, I was disappointed with the Boxed Set. I just wanted all of them in one place because all the ones that I like I already had.

For a person who really doesn't know Smokey and Miracles music, this is an OK place to start. I just think the group could have been presented better.

the MIRACLES....NOT IN THE ROCK HALL OF FAME ? ... OUTRAGEOUS !!!

Let's see here. . the Supremes are in. . . the Temptations are in. . . the Four Tops. . the Jackson Five . . . even Martha and the Vandellas are in , but the MIRACLES. . . MOTOWN'S FIRST GROUP. . . THE GROUP WHO'S HITS BUILT THE LABEL. . . THE GROUP THAT LAUNCHED A RECORDING EMPIRE. . . THE GROUP WHO'S SONGS HAVE BEEN RECORDED BY ARTIST AFTER ARTIST FROM THE BEATLES ,TO THE STONES ,TO ARETHA FRANKLIN,TO EDDIE MONEY, TO LINDA RONSTADT,TO KIM CARNES,TO JOHNNY RIVERS, THE CAPTAIN AND TENNILLE AND A HOST OF OTHERS. . . THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT GROUP IN THE COMPANY'S HISTORY. . . THE ONE THAT HAD THE LABEL'S FIRST MILLION-SELLER. . . THE GROUP WITH OVER 50 CHART HITS. . . DOESN'T MERIT INDUCTION INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ? While at the SAME TIME , groups with NOWHERE NEAR the number of hits. . . NOWHERE NEAR AS INFLUENTIAL. . . AND NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD continue to be inducted year after year ??!!. . . WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?? WHAT'S WRONG ? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG. . . THE CAPTION RIGHT NEXT TO THIS PICTURE !! IT SAYS "THE 35 TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION". . . BY SMOKEY ROBINSON !!! NOT BY THE MIRACLES. . . NOT EVEN BY SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES. . . BUT BY JUST "SMOKEY ROBINSON " AND THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM !!! Throughout the history of this legendary group, the MIRACLES have NEVER . . . but NEVER received their rightful due AS A GROUP. . . it has always been only about SMOKEY !!! but,as any insider will tell you . . . AND AS SMOKEY HIMSELF WILL TELL YOU. . . the MIRACLES HAVE NEVER BEEN JUST A ONE MAN SHOW !! they were ALL talented songwriters, singers , and producers . . . ALL OF THEM have had a share in writing their many hits. . . (if you don't believe it,just read the writing credits on the labels},not to mention the hits of almost EVERY OTHER EARLY ARTIST ON THE MOTOWN LABEL. . . MARY WELLS, THE TEMPTATIONS, MARVIN GAYE . . . YOU NAME IT !! BUT NOT ALL OF THEM SHARE THE CREDIT . . . TO THIS DAY, DISC JOCKEYS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY , AFTER PLAYING OLD MIRACLES RECORDS . . . WILL ANNOUNCE " THAT WAS BY SMOKEY ROBINSON ! " LIKE THE MIRACLES DIDN'T. . . OR NEVER EXISTED. . . . DO THEY DO THIS TO THE SUPREMES. . ? NO !! they still call them the SUPREMES ! RARELY DO DEE JAYS SAY "DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES" even though MOTOWN ACTUALLY CHANGED THE GROUP'S NAME MANY YEARS AGO!! AND NEVER, BUT EVER . . . DO THEY JUST SAY "DIANA ROSS". the MIRACLES' album "GOING TO A GO GO, WHEN RELEASED IN 1965, OUT CHARTED AND OUT SOLD CONTEMPORARY RELEASES BY THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE SUPREMES. . . EVENTUALLY REACHNG THE TOP 10 ON THE BILLBOARD POP ALBUM CHART. QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!! AND YES. . . IT WAS A GROUP ACCOMPLISHMENT !! BESIDES,LOOK AT THE TOPS, TEMPS AND SUPREMES. . . in the 1960's. . HOW MANY OF THEIR OWN HITS (OR ANYONE ELSES) did THEY WRITE?. . BUT THEY'RE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND THE MIRACLES ARE NOT ?? And for those who argue that SMOKEY was the group's only talented songwriter, I say " what about "LOVE MACHINE" ?(WRITTEN BY MIRACLES PETE MOORE AND BILLY GRIFFIN {SMOKEY'S REPLACEMENT} , a MULTI-MILLION SELLING NUMBER 1 POP SMASH. . . THE BIGGEST HIT THE GROUP EVER HAD. . WHERE was SMOKEY when THAT one was written ? (not even in the group any more ). There's no question that SMOKEY is one of the greatest songwriters of ALL TIME!! But to only credit him and completely ignore the rest of the MIRACLES is definitely UNFAIR . THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE SOLO STARS HAVE BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK HALL OF FAME . . . WHILE THE GROUPS THEY WERE ASSOCIATED WITH WERE ALSO INDUCTED . . . MICHAEL JACKSON WAS INDUCTED AS A SOLO STAR. . . BUT HIS GROUP, HIS BROTHERS , THE JACKSON FIVE, WERE INDUCTED TOO !! CURTIS MAYFIELD WAS INDUCTED AS A SOLO. . . BUT HIS GROUP, THE IMPRESSIONS, (INCLUDING ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER JERRY BUTLER ) WERE ALSO INDUCTED . . . EACH INDIVDUAL BEATLE - AS WELL AS THE GROUP ITSELF. . ARE IN THE HALL. . . SO , ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME . . . . DO THE RIGHT THING . YOU'VE INDUCTED SMOKEY AS A SOLO. . . NOW PLEASE. . . INDUCT BOBBY ROGERS, WARREN "PETE" MOORE , THE LATE RONNIE WHITE . . . CLAUDETTE ROGERS ROBINSON. . . MARV TARPLIN. . . . BILLY GRIFFIN. . . AND WILLIAM "SMOKEY" ROBINSON . . . AS A GROUP. . INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME . . . IT'S LONG PAST TIME. . . AND THEY CERTAINLY DO DESERVE IT !! IT'S TIME THE MIRACLES . . . THE GROUP. . . RECIEVE THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE !!

.

A very nice box set
There are some weak songs and it is my understanding that a few songs were left off that might have been better choices. There's a lot to be happy about on this box set but sadly there are a few negatives. The live songs are very weak. Since I am only a casual fan I'm not familiar with the songs that were left off. But they would have been nice to have instead of the weaker choices.

Fortunately, the positives outweigh the negatives and this is still a good purchase (as long as you are aware of the negatives listed above). The first disc does a great job of showing Smokey and the Miracles as they went from unknowns trying to prove themselves to accomplished performers. It also shows Smokey's growth as a writer of monster hits.

The 4th disc is incredible as it shows Smokey's solo career. You cannot beat any set that includes 'Crusin' and 'Being with you'.

It's still a good purchase.

You can see a complete list of all Smokey Robinson & the Miracles discography, or go back to the Smokey Robinson & the Miracles tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.