Special Occasion (Miracles album)
Encyclopedia
Special Occasion is an album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
released in 1968. It contains three Top 40 hits: "If You Can Want
", "Yester Love", and "Special Occasion
". Also included are versions of the Motown hits "I Heard It Through the Grapevine
" and "Everybody Needs Love
" (both made popular by Gladys Knight & The Pips
) and The Beatles
' "Yesterday
". The album's biggest hit was the uptempo "If You Can Want", which just missed the Billboard
Pop Top 10,peaking at # 11,and was performed by the group on their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
in 1968 .
The Miracles were actually the first group to record "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", before the later hits versions by Marvin Gaye
and Gladys Knight & the Pips
were done, although the master used on this album is a re-recorded version prepared following the release of the Pips' version.This album also includes the popular Miracles regional hit "B" sides, Much Better Off (which inspired a cover version by late rapper J Dilla
) , and Give Her Up .
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...
released in 1968. It contains three Top 40 hits: "If You Can Want
If You Can Want
"If You Can Want" is a 1968 single recorded by R&B group Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label. Written and produced by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, "If You Can Want" was the most successful of the three singles included on the group's 1968 album Special Occasion....
", "Yester Love", and "Special Occasion
Special Occasion (Miracles song)
"Special Occasion" is a 1968 hit single recorded by Motown Records R&B group Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, issued by its Tamla Records subsidiary and taken from the album of the same name...
". Also included are versions of the Motown hits "I Heard It Through the Grapevine
I Heard It through the Grapevine
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...
" and "Everybody Needs Love
Everybody Needs Love (Temptations song)
"Everybody Needs Love" is a 1964 Motown song by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr.. The first version released was by The Temptations for their album The Temptin' Temptations in 1965 , but the most successful version was on a single by Gladys Knight & the Pips, which peaked at #39 on the...
" (both made popular by Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
) and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Yesterday
Yesterday (song)
"Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. The song first hit the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 cover versions, one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded...
". The album's biggest hit was the uptempo "If You Can Want", which just missed the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Pop Top 10,peaking at # 11,and was performed by the group on their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
in 1968 .
The Miracles were actually the first group to record "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", before the later hits versions by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
were done, although the master used on this album is a re-recorded version prepared following the release of the Pips' version.This album also includes the popular Miracles regional hit "B" sides, Much Better Off (which inspired a cover version by late rapper J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
) , and Give Her Up .
Side one
- "Yester Love" (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...
, Al ClevelandAl ClevelandAl 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...
) - "If You Can WantIf You Can Want"If You Can Want" is a 1968 single recorded by R&B group Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label. Written and produced by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, "If You Can Want" was the most successful of the three singles included on the group's 1968 album Special Occasion....
" (Robinson) - "Special OccasionSpecial Occasion (Miracles song)"Special Occasion" is a 1968 hit single recorded by Motown Records R&B group Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, issued by its Tamla Records subsidiary and taken from the album of the same name...
" (Robinson, Cleveland) - "Everybody Needs LoveEverybody Needs Love (Temptations song)"Everybody Needs Love" is a 1964 Motown song by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr.. The first version released was by The Temptations for their album The Temptin' Temptations in 1965 , but the most successful version was on a single by Gladys Knight & the Pips, which peaked at #39 on the...
" (Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
, Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
) - "Just Losing You" (Robinson)
- "Give Her Up" (Robinson)
Side two
- "I Heard It Through the GrapevineI Heard It through the Grapevine"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...
" (Whitfield, Barrett StrongBarrett StrongBarrett Strong is an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, although he is best remembered for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.-His career:Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry...
) - "YesterdayYesterday (song)"Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. The song first hit the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 cover versions, one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded...
" (John Lennon, Paul McCartneyLennon/McCartneyThe Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
) - "Your Mother's Only Daughter" (Robinson, Cleveland)
- "Much Better Off" (Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore)
- "You Only Build Me Up To Tear Me Down" (Robinson)
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, producer, executive producer - Ronnie White, 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...
, Warren "Pete" Moore, Claudette Robinson: background vocals - Marv Tarplin: guitarist
Other Credits
- Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
, producer ("Everybody Needs Love", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine") - The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
: instrumentation