The Miracles discography

The Miracles discography
Studio albums25
Live albums3
Compilation albums7
Singles57

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 10 of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen charted within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven reaching the top ten and two – 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" (Part 1) – reaching #1. A third song, the million-selling "Shop Around", reached #1 on the Cash Box magazine 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 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.[1] At #32, the Miracles are the highest-ranking Motown group on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time".[2] They also have the distinction of having more songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame than any other Motown group.[3] All releases were on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label unless otherwise indicated.

In the 1960s, Motown Record Corporation, like many independent labels, did not register sales figures through the RIAA, the organization that certifies and awards Gold Records. So it is difficult to determine the full number of Miracles songs and recordings that sold a million or more records. Also, with the passing of decades of time, some songs that did not sell a million records initially may have indeed done so over the years. However, several reference works, such as the books Hits of the '60s: The Million Sellers by Demitri Coryton & Joseph Murrells,[4] as well as The Book of Golden Discs by Joseph Murrells,[5] point out that the Miracles had several million-selling records during their career, including "Shop Around" (1961), "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going To A Go-Go", (single and album) (1965), "I Second That Emotion" (1967), "Baby Baby Don't Cry" (1969), "The Tears of a Clown"* (1970), "Do It Baby" (1974), "Love Machine"* (1975), and the platinum album City of Angels (1975). This is quite probably an incomplete list, since Miracle Pete Moore stated on his corporate website, that the Miracles actually had 12 million-selling records to their credit by 1967, including 1965's "Ooo Baby Baby".[6]

Albums

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The Miracles

[edit]
Tamla (Motown) releases
Year Album Peak chart positions
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
1961 Hi... We're the Miracles
Cookin' with the Miracles
1962 I'll Try Something New
1963 The Fabulous Miracles 118
The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage 139
Christmas with The Miracles
The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey 113
1964 I Like It Like That
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

[edit]
Tamla (Motown) releases
Year Album Peak chart positions
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
1965 Going to a Go-Go 8 1
1966 Away We a Go-Go 41 3
1967 Make It Happen
(re-issued as The Tears of a Clown in 1970)
28 3
1968 Special Occasion 42 1
1969 Smokey Robinson & the Miracles LIVE! 71 7
Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 25
Four in Blue 78 3
1970 What Love Has...Joined Together 97 9
A Pocket Full of Miracles 56 10
The Season for Miracles (Christmas album)
1971 One Dozen Roses 92 17
1972 Flying High Together
(last studio album with Smokey Robinson)
46 31
1972 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972
(live; final concert/double album)
75 14
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

The Miracles (with Billy Griffin)

[edit]
Tamla (Motown) releases
Year Album Peak chart positions
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
AUS
[8]
1973 Renaissance 174 33
1974 Do It Baby 41 4
1975 Don't Cha Love It 96 7
City of Angels 33 29 81
1976 The Power of Music 178 35
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
Columbia releases
Year Album Peak chart positions
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
1977 Love Crazy 117 31
1978 The Miracles
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilations

[edit]
Motown releases
Year Album Peaks
US
[7]
1965 Greatest Hits from the Beginning (double-album) 21
1968 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 7
1974 Anthology
(re-released in 1986, 1995 and 2002 with different track-listings)
97
1977 Greatest Hits (with Billy Griffin)
1994 The 35th Anniversary Collection [9][10]
1998 The Ultimate Collection
1999 Lost and Found: Along Came Love (1958–1964)
2002 Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology
2009 Depend on Me: The Early Albums
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

[edit]

The Miracles

[edit]

First (pre-Motown) releases

[edit]
Year Titles (A-side, B-side) Peak chart positions Album
US R&B
[7]
1958 "Got a Job"
b/w "My Mama Done Told Me"
5 Greatest Hits from the Beginning
"I Need Some Money"
b/w "I Cry"
1959 "I Need a Change"
b/w "All I Want Is You"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Tamla (Motown) releases

[edit]
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
CAN
UK
[11]
1959 "It"
b/w "Don't Say Bye Bye"
Non-album tracks
"Bad Girl"
b/w "I Love Your Baby"
93 Greatest Hits from the Beginning
"The Feeling Is So Fine"
b/w "(You Can) Depend on Me" (from Hi, We're the Miracles)
Non-album track
1960 "Way Over There"
b/w "(You Can) Depend on Me" (second version)
94 Hi, We're the Miracles
"Shop Around"
b/w "Who's Lovin' You"
2 1
1961 "Ain't It Baby"
b/w "The Only One I Love"
49 15 Cookin' with the Miracles
"Mighty Good Lovin'" / 51 21 Non-album track
"Broken Hearted" 97 Cookin' with the Miracles
"Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues"
b/w "I Can't Believe"
52 11
"What's So Good About Goodbye" / 35 16 I'll Try Something New
"I've Been Good to You" [A]
1962 "I'll Try Something New"
b/w "You Never Miss a Good Thing" (from Cookin' with the Miracles)
39 11
"You've Really Got a Hold on Me"
b/w "Happy Landing"
8 1 The Fabulous Miracles
1963 "A Love She Can Count On" / 31 21
"I Can Take a Hint" [B]
"Mickey's Monkey"
b/w "Whatever Makes You Happy" (from The Fabulous Miracles)
8 3 Doin' Mickey's Monkey
"I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying"
b/w "Such Is Love, Such Is Life" (from The Fabulous Miracles)
35 17
"The Christmas Song"[C]
b/w "Christmas Everyday"
Christmas with the Miracles
1964 "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You"
b/w "Heartbreak Road" (from The Fabulous Miracles)
59 12 Non-album track
"I Like It Like That"
b/w "You're So Fine and Sweet" (Non-album track)
27 10 37 Greatest Hits from the Beginning
"That's What Love Is Made Of"
b/w "Would I Love You"
35 9
"Come On Do the Jerk"
b/w "Baby Don't You Go" (Non-album track)
50 22 Greatest Hits Vol. 2
1965 "Ooo Baby Baby"
b/w "All That's Good"
16 4 17 Going to a Go-Go
"The Tracks of My Tears"
b/w "A Fork in the Road"
16 2 5 9[D]
"My Girl Has Gone"
b/w "Since You Won My Heart"
14 3
"Going to a Go-Go" / 11 2 44
"Choosey Beggar" 35
1966 "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)"
b/w "Oh Be My Love"
46 20 53 Away We a Go-Go
"(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need"
b/w "Save Me"
17 4 12 13[E]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

[edit]

(Same members, name changed to spotlight lead singer)

Tamla (Motown) releases
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
CAN
UK
[11]
1967 "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage"
b/w "Come Spy with Me" (Non-album track)
20 10 36 Make It Happen
"More Love"
b/w "Swept for You Baby" (from Away We a Go-Go)
23 5 8
"I Second That Emotion"
b/w "You Must Be Love" (from Make It Happen)
4 1 13 27 Greatest Hits Vol. 2
1968 "If You Can Want"
b/w "When the Words from You Heart
Get Caught Up in Your Throat" (Non-album track)
11 3 17 50 Special Occasion
"Yester Love"
b/w "Much Better Off"
31 9 28
"Special Occasion"
b/w "Give Her Up"
26 4 29
1969 "Baby, Baby Don't Cry"
b/w "Your Mother's Only Daughter" (from Special Occasion)
8 3 8 Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
"Here I Go Again" / 37 15 53
"Doggone Right" 32 7 40
"Abraham, Martin and John"
b/w "Much Better Off" (from Special Occasion)
33 16 56
"Point It Out" / 37 4 38 A Pocket Full of Miracles
"Darling Dear" 100
1970 "Who's Gonna Take the Blame"
b/w "I Gotta Thing for You" (Non-album track)
46 9 79
"The Tears of a Clown"
b/w "Promise Me" (Non-album track)
1 1 7 1 One Dozen Roses
1971 "I Don't Blame You at All"
b/w "That Girl"
18 7 11
"Crazy About the La La La"
b/w "Oh Baby Baby I Love You"
56 20 67
"Satisfaction"
b/w "Flower Girl" (from A Pocket Full of Miracles)
49 20 74
1972 "We've Come Too Far to End It Now"
b/w "When Sundown Comes" (from One Dozen Roses)
46 9 Flying High Together
"I Can't Stand to See You Cry"
b/w "With Your Love Came"
45 21
1976 "The Tears of a Clown"
b/w "The Tracks of My Tears"
34[F] Anthology
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

The Miracles (with Billy Griffin)

[edit]
Tamla (Motown) releases
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
CAN
AUS
[8]
UK
[11]
1973 "What Is A Heart Good For"
b/w "Wigs and Lashes"
Renaissance
"Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin)"
b/w "Wigs and Lashes"
56 26
"Give Me Just Another Day"
b/w "I Wanna Be with You" (from Renaissance)
[G] 47 Do It Baby
1974 "Do It Baby"
b/w "I Wanna Be with You" (from Renaissance)
13 4 21 96
"Don't Cha Love It"
b/w "Up Again" (from Do It Baby)
78 4 45 Don't Cha Love It
1975 "Gemini"
b/w "You Are Love" (from Do It Baby)
[H] 43
"Love Machine" – Part 1
b/w Part 2
1 5 11 89 3 City of Angels
1976 "Night Life"
b/w "Smog"
60
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
Columbia releases (as "The Miracles featuring Billy Griffin")
Year Titles (A-side, B-side) Peak chart positions Year
US
[7]
US R&B
[7]
UK
[11]
1977 "Spy for Brotherhood"
b/w "The Bird Must Fly Away"
[I] 37 Love Crazy
"I Can Touch the Sky"
b/w "Women (Make the World Go 'Round)"
1978 "Mean Machine"
b/w "The Magic of Your Eyes (Laura's Eyes)"
55 Miracles
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Videography

[edit]

DVD release

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ Peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
  2. ^ Peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
  3. ^ Released only as a promo single.
  4. ^ Chart position is from 1969.[11]
  5. ^ Peaked at number 37 in the UK on original issue in 1966. 1971 reissue peaked at number 13.[11]
  6. ^ Re-released in the UK in 1976.[11]
  7. ^ Peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
  8. ^ Peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
  9. ^ Peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "MOTOWN LEGENDS TODAY: TAMLA MOTOWN NEWS". Funandmusic.biz. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Reed, Coley. "Rolling Stone: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Ranker.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  3. ^ List of Miracles awards and achievements – Grammy Hall of Fame.
  4. ^ Murrells, Joseph; Coryton, Demitri (1990). Hits of the '60s: The Million Sellers (illustrated ed.). Batsford. ISBN 9780713458510.
  5. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ "WBMM the Miracles Facts". Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "The Miracles – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ "Amazon.com: The 35th Anniversary Collection: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: Music". Amazon. 1994. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  10. ^ "iTunes – Music – Smokey Robinson and The Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection (Box Set) by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles". iTunes. February 22, 1994. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "MIRACLES – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "British certifications – Miracles". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 28, 2022. Type Miracles in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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