List of songs written by Smokey Robinson

Last updated

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-
"Love Me All the Way" Kim Weston Barney Ales 8824-
"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-
"Lucky, Lucky Me" Marvin Gaye Hank Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Ivy Hunter ---
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 Crawford Janie 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 Tavari -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

Get Ready (The Temptations song) 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.

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.

Ill Be Doggone

"I'll Be Doggone" is a 1965 song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye and released on the Tamla label. The song talks about how a man tells his woman that he'll be "doggone" about simple things but if she did him wrong that he'd be "long gone". The song was written by Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore and Marv Tarplin, initially for The Temptations, who rejected the song.

The Tears of a Clown

"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.

My Guy

"My Guy" is a 1964 hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the song is a woman's rejection of a sexual advance and affirmation of her fidelity to her boyfriend, who is her ideal and with whom she is happy, despite his ordinary physique and looks. ("There's not a man today who could take me away from my guy").

"My Baby" is a 1965 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop hit in the United States, and a top 5 hit on the R&B charts.

Shop Around

"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

"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.

Being with You (song) 1981 single by Smokey Robinson

"Being with You" is a 1981 song recorded by American singer Smokey Robinson and is the title track from his Gold-certified album with the same name. 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.

Now let me tell you about a coincidental relationship between Smokey at #2 and Kim Carnes who's at #1 again this week. Kim's last hit was "More Love", her remake of an old Smokey Robinson hit. Well, Smokey liked Kim's version so much that he wrote her another song, but when Smokey's producer heard the demo, he told Smokey, "You oughta record it yourself!", and that's the song we just heard in the #2 position. And how ironic it is that Smokey's recording of the song he'd written for Kim Carnes has been kept out of the #1 spot by a Kim Carnes hit for 3 weeks running. - Casey Kasem, American Top 40

Cruisin (Smokey Robinson song) 1979 single by Smokey Robinson

"Cruisin'" is a 1979 single written, produced, and recorded by Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. One of Robinson's most successful singles outside of his work with The Miracles, "Cruisin'" hit number one on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 and was also a major Billboard Pop hit, peaking at number four the week of February 2, 1980. It was a Top Five hit on the Soul chart as well.

Floy Joy (song) 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.

Automatically Sunshine

"Automatically Sunshine" is a single written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single by Motown singing group The Supremes as the second single from their popular album Floy Joy in 1972.

Do It Baby

"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.

"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. It was written and composed by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland, the authors of the group's Top 10 million-selling smash, "I Second That Emotion", the previous year.

Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love

"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.

<i>Once in a While</i> (Johnny Mathis album) 1988 studio album by Johnny Mathis

Once in a While is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on May 23, 1988, by Columbia Records and found him returning to the practice of covering contemporary hits but also mixing in lesser-known songs already recorded by other artists along with a few new ones.

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.