Hi... We're the Miracles

Infobox Album |
Name = Hi... We're The Miracles
Type = Album
Artist = The Miracles


Released = June 1961
Recorded =
Genre = Soul
Length = 32:57
Label = Tamla
TM-220
Producer = Berry Gordy, Jr.
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ltavqj7bojha link]
This album = "Hi... We're The Miracles"
(1961)
Next album = "Cookin' with The Miracles"
(1961)

"Hi... We're The Miracles" is the first album by the Motown soul group The Miracles, released on Motown's Tamla label in the summer of 1961. The album features several songs which played an important role in defining The Motown Sound and establishing songwriters Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy.

The styles of the album tracks vary from the late doo-wop sound of "Who's Lovin' You" (later covered by The Temptations, the Jackson 5 as well as Terence Trent D'Arby) or "(You Can) Depend On Me", to the upbeat R&B of "Way Over There". Also featured is a rendition of Motown's first hit single, Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)". The album's biggest hit was the bluesy "Shop Around", which was released as a single in 1960 and peaked at number-one on the Billboard R&B singles chart and number-two on the pop singles chart (#1 pop, Cashbox) . "Shop Around" was the first R&B number-one single for both The Miracles and the Motown label. It was also the label's first million- selling hit single.

"Hi... We're The Miracles" features the Miracles' classic original lineup: Smokey Robinson, Ronald White, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin (mentioned on the back of the album, though not pictured on the front}, and Smokey's wife Claudette Rogers Robinson.

Track listing

"All selections produced by Berry Gordy, Jr.."

ide one

# "Who's Lovin' You"
# "(You Can) Depend On Me"
# "Heart Like Mine"
# "Shop Around"
# "Won't You Take Me Back"
# "'Cause I Love You"

ide two

# "Your Love"
# "After All"
# "Way Over There"
# "Money"
# "Don't Leave Me"

Cover Versions

This influential first album by The Miracles boasts several songs that have inspired numerous cover versions by other artists,such as the following: "Shop Around" - The Captain and Tennille, Don Bryant, The Astronauts, The Spinners, Allusions, and Georgie Fame, among numerous others. "After All"- The Supremes, and The Marvelettes. "Way Over There"- Edwin Starr, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The Royal Counts, New Man, and Eddie Adams Jr. "You Can Depend on Me" -The Temptations, The Supremes, Mary Wells, and Brenda Holloway . "Who's Loving You - The Temptations, The Supremes, The Jackson Five, Terence Trent-D'arby, Brenda and The Tabulations, John Farnham, Human Nature and En Vogue. "Hi...We're The Miracles" was released on CD by Motown Records in the early 1990's, but is now a valuable out of print collector's item.

Personnel: The Miracles

* Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White, Claudette Robinson: lead vocals
* Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White, Bobby Rogers, Warren "Pete" Moore, Claudette Robinson: background vocals
* Marv Tarplin: guitarist

Other Personnel

* The Funk Brothers: instrumentation
* Berry Gordy, Jr., producer