My Girl Has Gone
Encyclopedia
"My Girl Has Gone" is a 1965 R&B single recorded by The Miracles
for Motown's Tamla label. Included on their 1965 album Going to a Go-Go
, "My Girl Has Gone" was the follow-up to the group's number 16 Billboard Hot 100
million-selling hit "The Tracks Of My Tears
".
Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson
, Ronnie White, Pete Moore
, and Marv Tarplin
, the single was a Top 20 Pop hit,peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
in the United States
, and a Top 5 R&B hit,peaking at number three on Billboard's R&B singles chart. According to Robinson, Moore, and Bobby Rogers
, the inspiration behind "My Girl Has Gone" was the guitar riffs of Miracles member Marv Tarplin
, who also inspired "The Tracks of My Tears
". Marv employed a 12 string guitar on the song, accompanied by the other Miracles' gospel-inspired harmonies,arranged by Miracle Pete Moore
(who was , for years, the group's uncredited vocal arranger). As with many Miracles songs, the lyrics of "My Girl has Gone" describe the end of the narrator's relationship with his lover:
"My Girl Has Gone" has been covered by artists such as Etienne Daho
, Edwyn Collins
, Ken Parker
,
and Motown labelmate Bobby Taylor. The Miracles can be seen performing "My Girl Has Gone" on the Motown DVD release, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles : The Definitive Performances 1963-1987.
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...
for Motown's Tamla label. Included on their 1965 album Going to a Go-Go
Going to a Go-Go
Going to a Go-Go is a 1965 album by The Miracles', the first to bill the group as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. It includes four of the Miracles' Top 20 hits: "Ooo Baby Baby", "The Tracks of My Tears", "Going to a Go-Go", and "My Girl Has Gone"...
, "My Girl Has Gone" was the follow-up to the group's number 16 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...
million-selling hit "The Tracks Of My Tears
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
".
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...
, Ronnie White, 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 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...
, the single was a Top 20 Pop hit,peaking at number 14 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a Top 5 R&B hit,peaking at number three on Billboard's R&B singles chart. According to Robinson, Moore, and 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...
, the inspiration behind "My Girl Has Gone" was the guitar riffs 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...
, who also inspired "The Tracks of My Tears
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
". Marv employed a 12 string guitar on the song, accompanied by the other Miracles' gospel-inspired harmonies,arranged by Miracle 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...
(who was , for years, the group's uncredited vocal arranger). As with many Miracles songs, the lyrics of "My Girl has Gone" describe the end of the narrator's relationship with his lover:
- My girl has gone, and said goodbye
- Don't you cry, hold your head up high
- Don't give up, give love one more try,
' Cause there's a right girl for every guy.
"My Girl Has Gone" has been covered by artists such as Etienne Daho
Étienne Daho
Étienne Daho is a French singer, songwriter and record producer who has released a number of synth-driven and rock-surf influenced pop hit singles since 1981.- Career :...
, Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins is an Ivor Novello Award winning Scottish musician, playing mostly electric guitar-driven pop. Collins formed the musical group Nu-Sonics in 1976, which later became Orange Juice...
, Ken Parker
Ken Parker (musician)
Ken Parker is a Jamaican musician who first recorded in the 1960s.-Biography:Like many of Jamaica's singers of the era, Parker began by singing in church, where his father was a preacher. He formed a group called the Blues Benders in the mid-1960s, and their first recording was "Honeymoon by the...
,
and Motown labelmate Bobby Taylor. The Miracles can be seen performing "My Girl Has Gone" on the Motown DVD release, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles : The Definitive Performances 1963-1987.
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 vocals, co-writer, producer - 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...
-background vocals - 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...
-background vocals, co-writer, vocal arrangements - Ronnie White-background vocals, co-writer
- 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...
-background vocals - 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, co-writer