A Love She Can Count On
Encyclopedia
"A Love She Can Count On" (Tamla 54078) was a 1963 hit single by Motown Records
R&B group The Miracles
, issued on that label's Tamla subsidiary label. It was taken from their album The Fabulous Miracles
, and was the follow-up to the group's million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame inducted tune, "You've Really Got A Hold On Me
".
The first of three singles released by The Miracles that year, this song was a Billboard Top 40 Pop Hit, peaking at #31, and missed the Top 20 of its R&B chart by only one position, peaking at # 21.
Written and produced by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson
, "A Love She Can Count On" features the same bluesy sound and feel of "Hold On Me", featuring the gospel-inspired harmonies of Miracles members Bobby Rogers
, Claudette Robinson, Pete Moore
, and the late Ronnie White, and, like that previous song, begins with the guitar of Miracles member Marv Tarplin
.
However, that is where the similarities end; unlike the previous hit, with its theme of being in love with someone you don't like, "A Love She Can Count On" has as its theme undying love and loyalty, with Robinson, as the song's narrator, promising eternal love and devotion:
The other Miracles participate in a sing-along call and response
with Smokey on the song's bridge, similar to the song that, according to Smokey, inspired both this song and "Hold On Me", Sam Cooke's
1962 hit "Bring It On Home to Me
". The single and album versions of this song are noticeably different, the album version of "A Love She Can Count On" featuring a bluesy piano style as was done by its predecessor "You've Really Got A Hold On Me". For the most part the piano was deleted from the single version, not being featured as prominently.
Unlike almost all other singles from The Miracles, and indeed many other songs by the group, "A Love She Can Count On" has not yet been covered by major acts. This was also the case with the B-side of the single, "I Can Take A Hint", despite the fact that it was also a chart hit, reaching # 107 on the Billboard Pop chart.
"A Love She Can Count On" appears on several Miracles "Greatest Hits" collections, including their album Greatest Hits from the Beginning
, and their 2009 two-CD set, The Miracles–Depend On Me: The Early Albums
(which features both live and studio versions). The Miracles also performed a special extended version of the song on their first live album, 1963's The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage
.
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
R&B group The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
, issued on that label's Tamla subsidiary label. It was taken from their album The Fabulous Miracles
The Fabulous Miracles
The Fabulous Miracles is a 1963 album by The Miracles featuring the million-selling hit, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", one of the group's most popular singles...
, and was the follow-up to the group's million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame inducted tune, "You've Really Got A Hold On Me
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
"You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a 1962 Top 10 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla label. One of the group's most covered tunes, this million-selling song is a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee...
".
The first of three singles released by The Miracles that year, this song was a Billboard Top 40 Pop Hit, peaking at #31, and missed the Top 20 of its R&B chart by only one position, peaking at # 21.
Written and produced by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, "A Love She Can Count On" features the same bluesy sound and feel of "Hold On Me", featuring the gospel-inspired harmonies of Miracles members Bobby Rogers
Bobby Rogers
Bobby Rogers is an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 to present. He is also the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque-Life:Rogers is the son of the late...
, Claudette Robinson, Pete Moore
Pete Moore
Pete Moore is an African American soul singer, record producer, and songwriter, notable as the bass singer for Motown group The Miracles from 1955 onwards, and is one of the group's original members...
, and the late Ronnie White, and, like that previous song, begins with the guitar of Miracles member Marv Tarplin
Marv Tarplin
Marvin "Marv" Tarplin was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for The Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group's original members and co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 2007 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted "The Tracks...
.
However, that is where the similarities end; unlike the previous hit, with its theme of being in love with someone you don't like, "A Love She Can Count On" has as its theme undying love and loyalty, with Robinson, as the song's narrator, promising eternal love and devotion:
- Every day...
- I'm gonna love you,come what may
- 'Cause I know that there is nothing that means more
- To a woman,
- than A Love That She Can Count On.
The other Miracles participate in a sing-along call and response
Call and response
Call and response is a form of "spontaneous verbal and non-verbal interaction between speaker and listener in which all of the statements are punctuated by expressions from the listener."...
with Smokey on the song's bridge, similar to the song that, according to Smokey, inspired both this song and "Hold On Me", Sam Cooke's
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
1962 hit "Bring It On Home to Me
Bring It On Home to Me
"Bring It On Home to Me" is a 1962 soul song written and recorded by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. The song, about infidelity, was a hit for Cooke and has become a pop standard covered by numerous artists of different genres. It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped...
". The single and album versions of this song are noticeably different, the album version of "A Love She Can Count On" featuring a bluesy piano style as was done by its predecessor "You've Really Got A Hold On Me". For the most part the piano was deleted from the single version, not being featured as prominently.
Unlike almost all other singles from The Miracles, and indeed many other songs by the group, "A Love She Can Count On" has not yet been covered by major acts. This was also the case with the B-side of the single, "I Can Take A Hint", despite the fact that it was also a chart hit, reaching # 107 on the Billboard Pop chart.
"A Love She Can Count On" appears on several Miracles "Greatest Hits" collections, including their album Greatest Hits from the Beginning
Greatest Hits from the Beginning
Greatest Hits from the Beginning is a compilation double LP by The Miracles released in 1965. It covers most of the group's hits from their pre-1965 albums, such as "Shop Around", "Who's Loving You", "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" and "Mickey's Monkey" as well as the non-album singles from 1964...
, and their 2009 two-CD set, The Miracles–Depend On Me: The Early Albums
The Miracles–Depend On Me: The Early Albums
The Miracles – Depend On Me: The Early Albums is a 2009 double-CD limited release by Motown Records' original vocal group The Miracles, released through Universal's Hip-O Select imprint to coincide with the legendary Motown label's 50th anniversary....
(which features both live and studio versions). The Miracles also performed a special extended version of the song on their first live album, 1963's The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage
The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage
The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage is a 1963 live album by The Miracles, part of the early 60's Motown "Live on Stage" series by various artists...
.