#412 Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, 'Going to a Go Go' (1965)

Previously #273

Opening with one of the most heartbreaking songs ever to be released, never mind by Motown, but ever. “Deep inside I'm blue/So take a good look at my face/You'll see my smile looks out of place/If you look closer, it's easy to trace/The tracks of my tears.” Pretty intense, especially for a pop song and ESPECIALLY for 1965. The track has been preserved by the US Library Of Congress as an "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significance" to the National Recording Registry. The song has been chosen in multiple polls as one of the most important and influential songs of all time (amongst people that have selected it include Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Hal David and Jerry Leiber).

Later on in the record you have songs like ‘My Girl Has Gone,’ which, despite the title, inspire hope and reassurance. The album deals with heartbreak, depression, hope and inspiration. All led by Smokey Robinson’s high tenor voice, it’s classic R&B. It does exactly what it says on the box – it’s music you would have heard at a Go-Go in the mid 1960s – clubs frequented by African Americans playing popular music mostly of the funk and soul genres. Although it didn’t originate it, the title track popularised it and with that, sold a million records. An important album in the development of soul music, this album would go on to inspire so many musicians for years to come.

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