Do It Baby

Last updated
"Do It Baby"
Do It Baby - The Miracles.jpg
Single by The Miracles
from the album Do It Baby
B-side "I Wanna Be With You"
ReleasedAugust 1974 (1974)
Genre R&B
Label Tamla
Songwriter(s) Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian
Producer(s) Freddie Perren
The Miracles singles chronology
"Give Me Just Another Day"
(1973)
"Do It Baby"
(1974)
"Don't Cha Love It"
(1974)

"Do It Baby" is a 1974 single recorded and released by the Motown R&B group The Miracles. The song was taken from the album of the same name, and written by Motown staff songwriters Freddie Perren and Christine Yarian and produced by Perren.

Contents

Background

"Do It Baby" marked the soul quintet's first top forty hit over a year and a half after the departure of the group's most important member, former leader Smokey Robinson and the inclusion of Billy Griffin, who took over Robinson's lead position in 1973.

The song's production also was a far departure from the group's earliest sounds as they embraced a funkier production style. The single was released off of the group's 1974 album of the same name and reached the Billboard Pop Top 20, selling over one million copies. [1] In addition to Billy Griffin, his brother, new Miracles member Donald Griffin, replaced original Miracle Marv Tarplin on guitar. Tarplin continued to tour and work with Smokey Robinson. The Miracles can be seen performing Do It Baby on the Motown/Universal DVD release: The Miracles: The Definitive Performances (1963-1987) .

Chart performance

"Do It Baby" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and The Top 10 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart in early 1974, peaking at #4, [2] and would remain their biggest post-Robinson hit until the 1975 release of "Love Machine", which was one of the group's only two singles to reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. Some radio stations banned the song as being too suggestive of sexuality, which was why the song did not get into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts.

Personnel: The Miracles

Other credits

Chart history

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

The Miracles American rhythm and blues / soul vocal group

The Miracles were an American rhythm and blues vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and influential groups in pop, rock and roll, soul and R&B music history.

Aint That Peculiar 1965 single by Marvin Gaye

"Ain't That Peculiar" is a 1965 song recorded by American soul musician Marvin Gaye for the Tamla (Motown) label.

The Tears of a Clown 1970 single by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

"The Tears of a Clown" is a song written by Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder and originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla Records label subsidiary of Motown, first appearing on the 1967 album Make It Happen. It was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in July 1970, and it became a #1 hit on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending 12 September 1970. Subsequently, Motown released "The Tears of a Clown" as a single in the United States as well, where it quickly became a #1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts.

Shop Around American popular song written by Smokey Robinson and Barry Gordy

"Shop Around" is a song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. It was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. It became a smash hit in 1960 when originally recorded by the Miracles, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart, number one on the Cashbox Top 100 Pop Chart, and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the Miracles' first million-selling hit record, and the first-million-selling hit for the Motown Record Corporation. This landmark single was a multiple award winner for the Miracles, having been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006, inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of The 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, and honored by Rolling Stone as #500 in their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Ooo Baby Baby 1965 song by Smokey Robinson

"Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It is a classic 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label. The song has inspired numerous other cover versions by other artists over the years, including covers by Ella Fitzgerald, Todd Rundgren, The Escorts, The Five Stairsteps, Linda Ronstadt, and many others. The Miracles' original version of "Ooo Baby Baby", is listed as number 266 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

The Tracks of My Tears 1965 single by The Miracles

"The Tracks of My Tears" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning 1965 hit R&B song originally recorded by their group, The Miracles, on Motown's Tamla label. The Miracles' million-selling original version has been inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame, has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America and The National Endowment for the Arts at No. 127 in its list of the "Songs of the Century" – the 365 Greatest Songs of the 20th Century, and has been selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as #50 in its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", among many other awards. In 2021, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked The Miracles' "The Tracks Of My Tears", as "The Greatest Motown Song of All Time."

I Second That Emotion 1967 single by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

"I Second That Emotion" is a 1967 song written by Smokey Robinson and Al Cleveland. First charting as a hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles on the Tamla/Motown label in 1967, "I Second That Emotion" was later a hit single for the group duet Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations, also on the Motown label.

The Miracles were the Motown Record Corporation's first group and its first million-selling recording artists. During their nineteen-year run on the American music charts, The Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of doo wop, soul, disco, and R&B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the Top Ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen of the Miracles' songs charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven of those songs reaching the Top Ten and two – 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" – reaching number-one. A third song, the million-selling "Shop Around", reached #1 on the Cash Box magazine Top 100 Pop chart. The Miracles also scored 11 U.S. R&B Top 10 Albums, including 2-#1's. According to several websites, the Miracles are one of the most oft-covered groups in recorded history and the most covered Motown group ever. Their music and songs have influenced artists all over the world – in every major musical genre – over the last 50 years. At # 32, The Miracles are the highest-ranking Motown group on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time." They also have the distinction of having more songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame than any other Motown group.

Love Machine (The Miracles song) 1975 single by The Miracles

"Love Machine" is a 1975 single recorded by Motown group The Miracles, taken from their album City of Angels. The song was a #1 Pop smash on the Billboard Hot 100, and the biggest-selling hit single of The Miracles' career. This single was one of two Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 hits recorded by The Miracles with Billy Griffin as lead vocalist; the other is 1973's "Do It Baby". Griffin had replaced Miracles founder Smokey Robinson as lead singer in 1972. The song features a growling vocal by Miracle Bobby Rogers, with group baritone Ronnie White repeating "yeah, baby" throughout the song.

More Love (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song)

"More Love" is a 1967 hit single recorded by the American soul group The Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label. The single, included on the group's 1967 album Make It Happen, later reissued in 1970 as The Tears of a Clown. Kim Carnes' husky 1980 cover of the song hit the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 charts.

"Doggone Right" is a 1969 single recorded by 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 United States. It was also a Top 10 R&B hit, peaking at #7. "Doggone Right" was the A-side to the double-sided Miracles' hit single, Tamla T54183. "Here I Go Again", contrary to popular belief, was the "B" side, although both sides charted within the top 40 of the Hot 100.

"Take This Heart of Mine" is a song written by The Miracles members Warren "Pete" Moore, William "Smokey" Robinson and Marv Tarplin, produced by Robinson and released as a single by American soul singer Marvin Gaye, on Motown Records 'Tamla label in 1966.

William L. Griffin is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles in 1972.

Baby, Baby Dont Cry 1968 single by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

"Baby, Baby Don't Cry", released in December 1968, is a single recorded by The Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label. The composition was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, Motown staff writers Al Cleveland and Terry Johnson, a former member of The Flamingos. Robinson, Johnson, and Miracles member Warren "Pete" Moore were the song's producers.

<i>Renaissance</i> (The Miracles album) 1973 studio album by The Miracles

Renaissance was a 1973 album by R&B group The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label, noted as the first-ever album by the group not to feature original lead singer Smokey Robinson on lead vocals. Instead, his replacement, new lead singer, Billy Griffin, did the lead chores on this album.

My Baby Must Be a Magician 1967 single by The Marvelettes

"My Baby Must Be a Magician" is a 1967 song written and produced by Smokey Robinson and recorded by the Marvelettes.

Come On Do the Jerk was a 1964 song recorded by R&B group the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label subsidiary. The song was co-written by Miracles members Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers, Smokey Robinson, and Ronnie White. A single-only release, it did not appear on any original Miracles studio album, and was the group's last single release of 1964. Robinson and fellow Miracle Bobby Rogers were the song's producers. The song's flip side, "Baby Don't You Go", was also a popular regional hit but was not released on CD until The 35th Anniversary Collection in 1994. Both sides of this single received new stereo mixes for the 2002 compilation Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology.

<i>The Ultimate Collection</i> (The Miracles album) 1998 compilation album by The Miracles

The Ultimate Collection is a compact disc by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, released on Motown Records, catalogue 314530857-2, in February 1998. It is a collection of singles comprising many of the group's greatest hits, with liner notes written by Stu Hackel.

"Point It Out" is a 1969 recording by Motown Records R&B group The Miracles on that label's Tamla subsidiary. This mid-tempo song was a national Billboard Top 40 Pop hit, reaching #37 on the Hot 100, and was a Top 10 R&B hit was well, reaching #4. It was taken from their album "A Pocket Full Of Miracles", and was written by Miracles members William "Smokey" Robinson and Marv Tarplin, along with Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland.

<i>Do It Baby</i> (album) 1974 studio album by The Miracles

"Do It Baby" (TS334), was a 1974 R&B album by The Miracles issued on Motown's Tamla subsidiary label. It was noted as the second album by the group featuring new lead singer Billy Griffin, after the departure of original Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson two years earlier. This was the first-ever Miracles album which had absolutely no creative input from Robinson whatsoever. While the group's first album with Griffin, Renaissance, was critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful, "Do It Baby" was much more successful, reaching No. 41 on the Billboard pop albums chart and No. 4 of the Billboard R&B albums chart.

References

  1. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  348. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 404.
  3. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1974-11-09. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  4. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  5. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 9, 1974". Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 202. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. Bac-lac.gc.ca
  8. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN   0-89820-142-X.