List of songs written by Smokey Robinson

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This is a list of songs written by Smokey Robinson .

Chart hits and other notable songs written by Smokey Robinson

YearSong [1] Original artist [1] Co-writer(s) with Robinson [1] U.S. Pop [2] U.S. R&B [3] UK Singles Chart [4] Other charting versions, [1] and notes
1959"Bad Girl" The Miracles Berry Gordy Jr. 93--
1960"Who's the Fool" Singin' Sammy Ward Berry Gordy Jr.-23-
"Shop Around"The MiraclesBerry Gordy Jr.21-1976: Captain & Tennille, #4 US
"Who's Lovin' You"The Miracles6619-1967: Brenda and the Tabulations, #66 US, #19 R&B
1961"Don't Let Him Shop Around" Debbie Dean Berry Gordy Jr., Loucye Gordy Wakefield 92--
"Ain't It Baby"The MiraclesBerry Gordy Jr.4915-
"Broken Hearted"The MiraclesBerry Gordy Jr.97--
"After All"The Miracles---
"Mighty Good Lovin'"The Miracles5121-
"Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues"The Miracles Ronald White 5211-
1962"What's So Good About Goodbye"The Miracles3516-
"The One Who Really Loves You" Mary Wells 82-
"I'll Try Something New"The Miracles3911-1969: Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations, #25 US, #8 R&B
1982: A Taste of Honey, #41 US, #9 R&B
"You Beat Me to the Punch"Mary WellsRonald White91-
"Your Heart Belongs to Me" The Supremes 95--
"Way Over There"The MiraclesBerry Gordy Jr.94--
"You Threw a Lucky Punch" Gene Chandler Ronald White, Don Covay 4925-
"Two Lovers"Mary Wells71-
"Operator"Mary Wells---
"You've Really Got a Hold on Me"The Miracles81-1972: Gayle McCormick, #98 US
1978: Eddie Money, #72 US
"Happy Landing"The MiraclesRonald White---
1963"Laughing Boy"Mary Wells156-
"Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right"Mary WellsBerry Gordy Jr.100--
"A Love She Can Count On"The Miracles3121-
"I Want a Love I Can See"The Temptations---
"Your Old Standby"Mary Wells Janie Bradford 408-
"A Breathtaking Guy"The Supremes75--
"What's So Easy for Two Is So Hard for One"Mary Wells298-
"As Long As I Know He's Mine" The Marvelettes 473-
1964"He's a Good Guy (Yes He Is)"The Marvelettes5518-
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" The Temptations Bobby Rogers 111-1978: Rita Coolidge, #20 US
1985: Hall & Oates with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks, #20 US, #40 R&B, #58 UK
1990: UB40, #6 US, #49 UK
"(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You"The Miracles5912-1968: Chuck Jackson, #94 US
"My Guy"Mary Wells1151972: Petula Clark, #70 US
1972: Mary Wells, #14 UK (reissue)
1980: Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol, "My Guy - My Girl", #63 US, #76 R&B, #39 UK
1982: Sister Sledge, #23 US, #14 R&B
1985: Amii Stewart & Deon Estus, "My Guy - My Girl", #63 UK
"I'll Be in Trouble"The Temptations3322-
"I Like It Like That"The Miracles Marv Tarplin 2710-
"You're My Remedy"The Marvelettes4816-
"Baby, Baby I Need You"The Temptations---
"That's What Love Is Made of"The MiraclesBobby Rogers, Pete Moore 359-
"Come On Do the Jerk"The MiraclesMarv Tarplin, Bobby Rogers, Ronald White5022-
1965"My Girl"The TemptationsRonald White11431965: Otis Redding, #11 UK
1968: Otis Redding, #36 UK (reissue)
1968: Bobby Vee, #35 US
1970: Eddie Floyd, #43 R&B
1980: The Whispers, #26 UK
1980: Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol, "My Guy - My Girl", #63 US, #76 R&B, #39 UK
1985: Amii Stewart & Deon Estus, "My Guy - My Girl", #63 UK
1986: The Temptations, #92 UK (reissue)
1988: Suave, #20 US, #3 R&B
1992: The Temptations, #2 UK (reissue)
"That Day When She Needed Me" The Contours -37-
"My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)"Carolyn CrawfordJanie Bradford, William "Mickey" Stevenson -39-
"When I'm Gone" Brenda Holloway 2512-
"I'll Be Doggone" Marvin Gaye Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin81-
"Ooo Baby Baby"The MiraclesPete Moore164-1967: The Five Stairsteps, #63 US, #34 R&B
1977: Shalamar, #59 R&B
1978: Linda Ronstadt, #7 US, #77 R&B
1987: Romeo, #67 R&B
1989: Zapp, #18 R&B
"It's Growing"The TemptationsPete Moore18345
"Operator"Brenda Holloway7836-
"The Tracks of My Tears"The MiraclesPete Moore, Marv Tarplin162-1967: Johnny Rivers, #10 US
1969: Aretha Franklin, #71 US, #21 R&B
1969: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, #9 UK (reissue)
1975: Linda Ronstadt, #25 US, #42 UK
1982: Colin Blunstone, #60 UK
1987: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, #82 UK (reissue)
1993: Go West, #16 UK
"A Fork in the Road"The Miracles---1982: Rebbie Jackson, #40 R&B
"Since I Lost My Baby"The TemptationsPete Moore174-1982: Luther Vandross, #17 R&B
"You've Got To Earn It"The Temptations Cornelius Grant -22-1971: The Staple Singers, #97 US, #11 R&B
"First I Look at the Purse"The ContoursBobby Rogers5712-
"Ain't That Peculiar"Marvin GayeMarv Tarplin, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore81-1969: George Tindley, #35 R&B
1972: Fanny, #85 US
1975: Diamond Reo, #44 US
1983: Stevie Woods, #54 R&B
1984: Mari Wilson, #78 UK
"My Girl Has Gone"The MiraclesRonald White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin143-
"My Baby"The TemptationsRonald White, Pete Moore134-
"Don't Look Back"The TemptationsRonald White8315-1978: Peter Tosh, #81 US
1979: Teena Marie, #91 R&B
"Choosey Beggar"The MiraclesPete Moore-35-
"Going to a Go-Go"The MiraclesPete Moore, Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin112441975: The Sharonettes, #46 UK
1982: The Rolling Stones, #25 US, #26 UK
"From Head to Toe"The Miracles---1982: Elvis Costello & the Attractions, #43 UK
1966"Don't Mess with Bill"The Marvelettes73-
"One More Heartache"Marvin GayePete Moore, Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin294-
"Get Ready"The Temptations291-1969: The Temptations, #10 UK (reissue)
1970: King Curtis, #46 R&B
1970: Rare Earth, #4 US, #20 R&B
1971: Syl Johnson, #34 R&B
1972: Donnie Elbert, #51 UK
1979: Smokey Robinson, #82 R&B
"You're the One"The Marvelettes4820-
"Take This Heart of Mine"Marvin GayePete Moore, Marv Tarplin441656
1967"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"The Marvelettes132-1980: Grace Jones, #87 R&B
"The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesMarv Tarplin2010-
"Come Spy with Me"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesMarv Tarplin---
"More Love"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles2313-1980: Kim Carnes, #10 US
"I Second That Emotion"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Al Cleveland 41271969: Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations, #18 UK
1978: Thelma Jones, #74 R&B
1982: Japan, #9 UK
1989: 10db, #18 R&B
1989: Alyson Williams, #44 UK
"My Baby Must Be a Magician"The Marvelettes178-
1968"If You Can Want"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles11350
"Girls Girls Girls" Chuck Jackson Al Cleveland--59
"Yester Love"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesAl Cleveland319-
"Here I Am Baby"The Marvelettes4414-
"Special Occasion"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesAl Cleveland264-
"Malinda" Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers Al Cleveland, Terry Johnson 4816-
"He's My Sunny Boy"Diana Ross & the Supremes---
1969"Baby, Baby Don't Cry"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesAl Cleveland, Terry Johnson83-
"I'm Gonna Hold On As Long As I Can"The Marvelettes76--
"The Composer" Diana Ross & the Supremes2721-
"Doggone Right"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesAl Cleveland, Terry Johnson327-
"Here I Go Again"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesPete Moore, Al Cleveland, Terry Johnson3715-1987: Oran "Juice" Jones, #45 R&B
"Who's Loving You" The Jackson 5 -1- B-side of "I Want You Back" listed on R&B chart
1992: The Jackson 5, #48 R&B (live version)
2009: The Jackson 5, #36 UK (reissue)
2011: The Jackson 5, #83 UK (reissue)
"Point It Out"Smokey Robinson & the MiraclesMarv Tarplin, Al Cleveland374-
1970"The Tears of a Clown"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Stevie Wonder, Hank Cosby 1111976: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, #34 UK (reissue)
1979: The Beat, #6 UK
"Still Water (Love)" The Four Tops Frank Wilson 114101982: O'Bryan, #23 R&B
1971"I Don't Blame You At All"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles18711
"Crazy About the La La La"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles5620-
"Satisfaction"Smokey Robinson & the Miracles4920-
1972"Floy Joy" The Supremes 1659
"Automatically Sunshine"The Supremes812110
"Your Wonderful, Sweet, Sweet Love"The Supremes5922-
1973"Happy (Love Theme from Lady Sings the Blues)" Bobby Darin Michel Legrand 67--1983: Michael Jackson, #52 UK
"Sweet Harmony"Smokey Robinson4831-
"Baby Come Close"Smokey RobinsonMarv Tarplin, Pamela Young 277-
1974"Just My Soul Responding"Smokey RobinsonMarv Tarplin--35
"It's Her Turn to Live"Smokey RobinsonMarv Tarplin8229-
"Virgin Man"Smokey Robinson5612-
"I Am, I Am"Smokey Robinson566-
1975"Baby That's Backatcha"Smokey Robinson261-
"The Agony and the Ecstasy "Smokey Robinson367-
1976"Quiet Storm"Smokey Robinson6125-1999: Mobb Deep, #35 R&B
"Open"Smokey RobinsonPamela Young, Marv Tarplin8110-
1977"Theme from Big Time"Smokey Robinson-38-
1978"Why You Wanna See My Bad Side"Smokey RobinsonJanie Bradford-52-
"Daylight and Darkness"Smokey Robinson Rose Ella Jones 759-
"Shoe Soul'"Smokey Robinson Mike Sutton, Brenda Sutton -68-
1979"Cruisin'"Smokey RobinsonMarv Tarplin44-1995: D'Angelo, #53 US, #10 R&B, #31 UK
2000: Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow, #109 US, #1 AC, #1 Australia, #1 New Zealand
1980"Let Me Be the Clock"Smokey Robinson314-
"Heavy on Pride (Light on Love)"Smokey Robinson-34-
1981"Being with You"Smokey Robinson211
"You Are Forever"Smokey Robinson593176
1982"More on the Inside"The Temptations-82-
1983"I've Made Love to You a Thousand Times"Smokey Robinson-8-
"Touch the Sky"Smokey Robinson-68-
1984"And I Don't Love You"Smokey Robinson-3390
"I Can't Find"Smokey Robinson-41-
1986"Hold On to Your Love"Smokey RobinsonStevie Wonder-1183
1987"What's Too Much"Smokey Robinson Lonnie Kirtz, Ivory Stone, Homer Talbert 7916-
1988"Love Don't Give No Reason"Smokey Robinson Steve Tavani -3189
1991"Double Good Everything"Smokey Robinson9123-
1992"I Love Your Face"Smokey Robinson-57-
"Rewind"Smokey Robinson-56-
1999"Easy to Love"Smokey Robinson-67-

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Ready (The Temptations song)</span> Song by The Temptations

"Get Ready" is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson, which resulted in two hit records for the label: a U.S. No. 29 version by The Temptations in 1966, and a U.S. No. 4 version by Rare Earth in 1970. It is significant for being the last song Robinson wrote and produced for the Temptations, due to a deal Berry Gordy made with Norman Whitfield, that if "Get Ready" did not meet with the expected degree of success, then Whitfield's song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", would get the next release, which resulted in Whitfield more or less replacing Robinson as the group's producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shop Around</span> 1960 song recorded by The MIRACLES

"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 two 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooo Baby Baby</span> 1965 song by The Miracles

"Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It was a 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tracks of My Tears</span> 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 as No. 50 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", among many other awards. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the Miracles' original recording of "The Tracks of My Tears" as "The Greatest Motown Song of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Being with You (song)</span> 1981 Single by Smokey Robinson

"Being with You" is a 1981 song recorded by American singer Smokey Robinson. The song spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart from March to early May 1981 and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, behind "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes, his highest charting solo hit on the Billboard pop charts. It also reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floy Joy (song)</span> 1971 single by The Supremes

"Floy Joy" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single in December 1971 by popular Motown female singing group The Supremes.

"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.

"What's So Good About Goodbye" was a 1961 hit single recorded by R&B group The Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label, later included on their 1962 album I'll Try Something New. The single was the Miracles’ second Top 40 Pop hit, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States during the winter of 1962, and a Top 20 R&B hit as well, peaking at number 16 on Billboard's R&B singles chart.

"The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" is a 1967 song recorded by the American R&B group The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Marv Tarplin and produced by Robinson, it is noted for being the first single to bill the group as "Smokey Robinson" & the Miracles, a billing already present on the group's albums by this time. Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore were the song's producers.

"I Don't Blame You At All" was a 1971 R&B song by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was composed by Miracles lead singer, William "Smokey" Robinson, produced by Robinson and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, and was taken from their album, One Dozen Roses. This song was actually the follow-up hit to their #1 smash, "The Tears of a Clown", and reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, charting at #18, and the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #7. It was also a Top 20 hit in the UK, reaching #11 on the British charts that year. It is also noted as the group's last Top 20 pop hit before Smokey Robinson's departure from The Miracles the following year, and was performed by the group on Dick Clark's American Bandstand on an episode dated July 10, 1971.

"Your Old Standby" is a song written by Motown songwriters Smokey Robinson and Janie Bradford and released as a single by Motown star Mary Wells in 1963. The record marked her third top forty pop single to come out in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebony Eyes (Rick James song)</span> 1983 song by Rick James and Smokey Robinson

"Ebony Eyes" is a song recorded by American singers Rick James and Smokey Robinson for the Gordy (Motown) label. It was released in November 1983 as the third single from James' seventh studio album Cold Blooded. The song was produced and arranged by James. It peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy (Michael Jackson song)</span> 1973 single by Michael Jackson

"Happy" is a song written by Michel Legrand and Smokey Robinson and first recorded by Bobby Darin. The song was first released as a single by Bobby Darin on November 23, 1972, peaking #67 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was his last single to hit the chart. The song was included on his posthumous Motown LP Darin: 1936–1973.

"Here I Go Again" was a 1969 hit single by The Miracles. It was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore, along with Motown staff songwriters Al Cleveland and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, a member of the legendary R&B group The Flamingos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do It Baby</span> 1974 single by The Miracles

"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.

"Come On Do the Jerk" was a 1964 song recorded by R&B group the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label subsidiary. It was co-written by Miracles members Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers and Smokey Robinson and drummer Donald Whited. 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 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.

We've Come Too Far to End It Now was a 1972 single by Motown Records R&B group The Miracles on its Tamla Label subsidiary (T54220F) and taken from their 1972 album, Flying High Together, the group's final studio album with original lead singer Smokey Robinson. This song charted at #46 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and reached the Top 10 of its R&B chart, peaking at #9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love</span> 1972 single by The Supremes

"Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, recorded in October 1966 by Kim Weston. Her recording was not issued at the time as she left the label over a dispute over royalties in 1967. Weston's original version was first released in 2005.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Songs written by Smokey Robinson, MusicVF.com. Retrieved 8 September 2014
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN   0-89820-155-1.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research.
  4. Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. ISBN   0-00-717931-6.