Here I Go Again (Miracles song)
Encyclopedia
"Here I Go Again" was a 1969 hit single by The Miracles
(aka Smokey Robinson and the Miracles) on Motown Records' Tamla label subsidiary. It was taken from their top-25 Pop album Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
from that year, and was the flip side of their hit single, "Doggone Right
". Like that song, "Here I Go Again" was also a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number 37. It was a Top 20 hit on the R&B chart as well, peaking at number 15. It was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson
and Pete Moore
, along with Motown staff songwriters Al Cleveland
and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, an original member of the legendary R&B group The Flamingos
.
Moore and Johnson were the song's producers. A heart-wrenching ballad, Robinson, as the song's narrator, portrays a man falling deeply and hopelessly in love with a young woman, yet afraid to do so due to a bad previous relationship that ended in heartbreak and failure:
In the end, however, love wins out, outweighing his fears and apprehensions: "Here I Go Again...walking into love...".
"Here I Go Again" was performed by the group on a 1969 telecast of the ABC
music - variety program, The Music Scene
, and has inspired cover versions by Chazz Dixon, Carey Bell
, A.J. De Bravo, Little Willie G., and Oran "Juice" Jones. The original Miracles version appears on several of their "Greatest Hits" anthologies, with a live version appearing on their live album, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957-1972
. The Miracles can also be seen performing "Here I Go Again" live on the DVD compilation, Music Scene - The Best of 1969-70 (an out of print collection, but still available on certain collectors' websites).
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...
(aka Smokey Robinson and the Miracles) on Motown Records' Tamla label subsidiary. It was taken from their top-25 Pop album Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Time Out for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles is a 1969 album by Motown group Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. The album reached #25 on the Billboard Pop Album chart. It contains four pop Top 40 singles: "Doggone Right", "Abraham, Martin & John", "Here I Go Again", and the Top 10 pop smash hit "Baby,...
from that year, and was the flip side of their hit single, "Doggone Right
Doggone Right
"Doggone Right" is a 1969 single recorded by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles for the Tamla label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Marv Tarplin along with Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland and produced by Robinson, the single peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the...
". Like that song, "Here I Go Again" was also a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 37. It was a Top 20 hit on the R&B chart as well, peaking at number 15. It was written by Miracles members 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...
and 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...
, along with Motown staff songwriters Al Cleveland
Al Cleveland
Al Cleveland is a former American songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most popular co-compositions are 1967's "I Second That Emotion" performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and 1971's "What's Going On" performed by Marvin Gaye.Cleveland was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United...
and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, an original member of the legendary R&B group The Flamingos
The Flamingos
The Flamingos were a doo wop group from the United States, most popular in the mid to late 1950s and best known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You".-Early quintet:...
.
Moore and Johnson were the song's producers. A heart-wrenching ballad, Robinson, as the song's narrator, portrays a man falling deeply and hopelessly in love with a young woman, yet afraid to do so due to a bad previous relationship that ended in heartbreak and failure:
- "My heart said to me....don't walk headlong into Misery...Hey, with your eyes wide open, Cant you see...A hurt's in store... Just like before..."
In the end, however, love wins out, outweighing his fears and apprehensions: "Here I Go Again...walking into love...".
"Here I Go Again" was performed by the group on a 1969 telecast of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
music - variety program, The Music Scene
The Music Scene
The Music Scene was a television series aired by ABC as part of its Fall 1969 lineup, in the Monday, 7:30 to 8:15 timeslot, primarily featuring rock and pop music.-Overview:...
, and has inspired cover versions by Chazz Dixon, Carey Bell
Carey Bell
Carey Bell was an American blues musician, who played the harmonica in the Chicago blues style. Bell played harmonica and bass for other blues musicians during the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s before embarking on a solo career...
, A.J. De Bravo, Little Willie G., and Oran "Juice" Jones. The original Miracles version appears on several of their "Greatest Hits" anthologies, with a live version appearing on their live album, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957-1972
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957-1972
1957-1972 is a 1972 double- album by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. This two-record set is noted as the group's final series of live concerts with original lead singer Smokey Robinson, recorded over a period of three days, July 14–16, during the 1972 National Parks Centennial, at the...
. The Miracles can also be seen performing "Here I Go Again" live on the DVD compilation, Music Scene - The Best of 1969-70 (an out of print collection, but still available on certain collectors' websites).
Personnel: The Miracles
- Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "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...
– lead vocal,co-writer - Claudette Rogers RobinsonClaudette Rogers RobinsonClaudette Rogers Robinson is an African-American soul singer, a member of The Miracles from 1957 to 1972. Her brother Emerson "Sonny" Rogers was an original member of the group, which was originally called "The Matadors" before 1957; Claudette Rogers took her brother's place after he was drafted...
– backing vocal - Pete MoorePete MoorePete 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...
– backing vocal, co-writer,co-producer - Ronnie White – backing vocal
- Bobby RogersBobby RogersBobby 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...
– backing vocal - Marv TarplinMarv TarplinMarvin "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...
– guitar