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"FORK IN THE ROAD"
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
by:
* Smokey Robinson
* Pete Moore
* Ronnie White
- -------------------------------------
Seems like love should be easier to bear,
But it's such a heavy load.
Worldwide travels, you ain't been nowhere,
'Till you've traveled down love's road.
Although I may be just a stranger,
Lovers, let me warn you there's a danger
Of a fork in love's road.
Beware,
The danger's there..ooooh.
One way is for those who go alone.
That way tempts the fool like me.
But lovers, don't try to make it on your own,
You don't want this misery.
Oh, I did not see the sign,
OOO, before I left my love behind,
At the fork in love's road
Beware,
The danger's there..oooh.
If there is something that you don't see eye to eye,
You better think before you tell your love goodbye,
'Cause your paths may never cross again,
Oooo, make sure you take the same bend,
At the fork in love's road,
Beware,
The danger's there,
If you really care,
Oh, oh, oh...beware...
--William "Smokey" Robinson
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NIGHTRAIN REVIEWS THE SONG
"FORK IN THE ROAD"
by: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
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I have always loved "FORK IN THE ROAD" as well
(just in case yall couldn't guess....lol)
But just wait till you hear this LIVE version that just came out!!!
It's badd
and Smokey is CLEARLY at the...
"TOP OF HIS GAME"
(and OH MY, what a "game" that is, isn't it?)
It's a "game", that clearly...
SMOKEY ROBINSON IS the MASTER OF...
(isn't it?)
The song starts out with those same, VERY SOFT ever present SOLO guitar tones of Marv Tarplin.
Then Smokey starts going into his damn...
***ZONE***
"SEEMS LIKE LOVE SHOULD BE EASIER..."
and then you hear some woman from the audience start...
***SCREAMING OUT HER MIND***
apparently she has fainted, because the SCREAMING stops.....lol
(perhaps she has been ecorted out of the Roostertail, by local medical personel?)
This is simply a MAJESTIC SONG that I can't figure out why I am writing about so much, because the simplicity of it's message and the BRILLIANCE of the musicians and singers allow it to speak for itself.
I dunno if it's the baddest slow jam of ALL TIME?
Maybe I should just leave the answers to questions like that in the hands of "rock critics"?
After all THEY are better qualified to discuss the music of Smokey Robinson and make judgements on his "genuis" than I am?
(but it's gotta be close)
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SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES ON THE CLASSIC SOUL SITE
(The Super Badd Azz Mo Fo Smokey Robinson and the Miracles website)
Concert Review: SMOKEY ROBINSON @ VAN WEZEL in SARASOTA,FL
(All I can say is DAAAAMMMMMNNNN!!!!)
 SMOKEY was in town!!! Fortunately I had the night off and got to attend. I went as a "reviewer" for Soul-Patrol and not as a fan. That didn't take long to change.
So often we go to shows with a certain level of anticipation and expectation. Hey....it's SMOKEY. With all the hits and the history, it's going to be a good show. WRONG!!!! This was a GREAT show. He came out "clean". Gold glitter suit walking out to the vamp leading into "Going to a Go Go". Even had some cute little "honeys" in "Go-Go" outfits, dancing as was done "back in the day".
Great opening, the band was smooth and tight; grove was happening, as expected. "I Second That Emotion" was next and again, happening. Groove on, and Smokey was sounding better than I remembered him a few years ago here. He got the audience involved with "You Really Got a Hold on Me". The "room" was in! NOW!!! It was as though he decided get to laying some "Smokey" down.
He had the "honeys" come back out and do a little dancing along side of him while he delivered "Quiet Storm". You get the feeling now of a production stage show as the girls did their routine as Smokey crooned. This is where I began to notice not only was he sounding cleaner than I'd ever heard him, but he was more vocally athletic than I'd ever heard him. I was beginning to get really amazed, and THEN........with a similar intro to the Linda Ronstandt arrangement, he went into "OOO Baby, Baby". All I can say is DAAAAMMMMMNNNN!!!! He absolutely milked it. At this point, it became a bit more difficult to watch this show as a "reviewer" and not as a fan. I have heard many live versions of Smokey sing this classic, but this was unbelievable. MILKED IT, y'all!!!
Beyond "Basement Blue Light Party". It came off so well, even 'he' said, "We should have done that FIRST"!!!
He did a little monologue; talking about Motown and a medley of some songs he wrote for The Temptations, bringing the tempo back up a notch, and of course, concluding with "My Girl". Then, with a brief story about Stevie Wonder with an imitation and hit "Tears of a Clown". The crowd is rolling! I can see on the house monitors that they were on board big time. They lowered the lights, rolled down a projection screen and played a video introducing his "Timeless Love" album from last year. Smokey returned to the stage with a "Combo" now on stage him in a white Tux Dinner Jacket, easing out on the stage to "Fly Me To The Moon". This was VEGAS!!! He even threw in some Spanish Lyrics on "Night and Day". At the end of this particular segment I even told Smokey's Road Manager that this show belongs in Vegas on a regular basis. Smokey did another
"Ease", and returned in a Black satin outfit with "glitters" and opened the final segment with "Being with you" (threw a little Spanish in that one too).
At this point he did a medley of some of his compositions. I was pleased that he included "More Love" in the medley (that's "MY" favorite and would have been VERY disappointed if he didn't do at least a piece of it). But the "OH No he's NOT!!" was the opener of the segue, "Who's Loving You". This I didn't expect and again...DAAAAAMMMMMNNN!!!! TOW IT UP!!!!
"Just to see her" followed. Some of the stage crew bought into his "walk off" as though it was the end of the show. I said, "He can't get out of this building without doing "The Tracks Of My Tears" and "Cruisin' ". Show nuff, with a deserving spotlight and intro of the great Marv Tarplin playing the Intro, he did "Tears" and closed with a audience participation "Cruising' ".
Here's the deal! If you hear Smokey is coming to your town....and you DON'T
go......consider that you have missed something!!! At the risk of stating the obvious...not only is this man a Legend...not only will you hear the sound track of the 60's,along with his most recent project of "Timeless Love", but you will have missed the opportunity to examine Greatness!!!! I walked out of this show with the same feeling I had after seeing Johnny Mathis. I just witnessed....GREATNESS!!!!
According to his road manager, they will be touring. DON'T MISS THIS!!! You WILL be sorry if you do. That is if you would like to get a look at what Greatness looks and sounds like.
--Earl Gregory
CD Review: Billy Griffin - "Like Water"
When it comes to Billy Griffin, I am extremely biased (so I may as well tell you that up front). In my opinion, he is one of the most underrated and under recognized artists in the history of Soul music.
Here are some of the facts that you need to know about Billy Griffin:
Motown
"Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin)" (1973) R&B: #26 US: #56
"Give Me Just Another Day" (1973) R&B: #47 US: #111
"Do It Baby" (1974) R&B: #4 US: #13
"Don't Cha Love It" (1974) R&B: #4 US: #78
"Gemini" (1975) R&B: #43 US: #101
"Love Machine - Pt. I" (1975) R&B: #5 US: #1 UK: #3
"Night Life" (1976) R&B: #60
Columbia
"Spy for Brotherhood" (1977) R&B: #37 US: #104
"I Can Touch the Sky" (1977)
"Mean Machine" (1978) R&B: #55
How many other artists do you know of who sang lead on ten charting hits that get as little respect as...
"Mr. oh I can't remember his name but he is the guy who took smokey robinson's place"...(click here to read the rest of the review....)
**INTERVIEW - Claudette Robinson
I finally got to meet Claudette Robinson of the Miracles, and she couldn't have been nicer to me (yes that is a picture of Claudette and I....lol). This is someone I have had a crush on since I was about 13 years old, and meeting her in person was truly exciting for me!!! I talked with her for quite a while. And as I talked with her, I knew that there was simply no way that I would be able to focus enough in order to sit down and do a taped interview with her, I was simply too "goo goo eyed"....lol
She is today (at whatever her age is) simply stunning.
And more importantly as you will hear in the interview she did with Kevin Amos, shes one of the most articulate and intelligent entertainers that you will ever meet.
Soul-Patrol's Kevin Amos interviews R&B Foundation Board Member Claudette Robinson about Artist Rights, Why are the Miracles not in the RRHOF, Pre Civil Rights Conditions, & the R&B Foundation.
Take a listen at the following link and let me know what you think...
Claudette Robinson Interview
--Nightrain
**CD Review: Smokey Robinson's "Timeless Love"
(Jazz/Standards)
Forty-four years ago - that's right - Mr. Robinson first recorded several of the tunes on his latest album. Mr. Robinson still retains his tenor/falsetto voice and still demonstrates control although his voice does have a lower register - and this is a good thing. Having just listened to his 1962 versions of "Speak Low" and "I've Got you Under My Skin," I'm happy too say that the Smokey Robinson of 2006 is able to capture greater emotion from these recordings, which is something he did not display in 1962. In particular, "Under My Skin" really has a nice arrangement and vocal! Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, without question, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald could and did elevate these so-called "easy listening songs" to legendary status.
It's good, no, it's great to hear Smokey Robinson has the necessary sensitivity to convey the story, the message so important for this kind of quality (no rap allowed) music. However, with some songs Mr. Robinson seems to simply go through the motions. So, in this regard, it would have been great if Mr. Robinson re-captured the emotional content and vocal sensitivity from songs he's actually written like, "Even Tho," and "Gone Again," and "Sad Time," from his "Touch The Sky" album. Or, without question, "Daylight and Darkness" from the "Warm Thoughts" album. But don't let the aforementioned observations stop you from buying his latest album. Buy it. Sit back and relax, and listen to the absolute smoothest crooner around! Thanks, Smokey for a wonderful album!
--Trip Reynolds
**Smokey Robinson (solo & w/Miracles) - Definitive Collection
(Classic Soul)
You will be pleased to know that I did listen to the new Smokey Robinson CD called "Definitive Collection". It's basically a compilation of Smokey's solo hits, a few Miracles classics and two brand new Smokey Robinson solo cuts. One of them is badd (Fallin') and the other one is just ok (My World). I suspect that Fallin' will end up being played on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio :) This is a good CD for someone who is relatively new to Smokey because it presents a nice overview of his career and brings you right up to today with the inclusion of some brand new studio material from Smokey.
CD Review: Smokey Robinson And The Miracles: "The Live Collection"
 Now here is the one your boy "nightrain" will truly go WILD over....
SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES:
"THE LIVE COLLECTION"
(on HIP-O Select)
This is not a CD for someone who is "new" to Smokey. This is a CD for the person who wants to take a deep exploration into the live performances of one of the best live performers in the history of Black music! It's truly an artifact of a moment captured in time
Remember a few years ago when Harry put "Going To A Go Go" and "Away We A Go Go" on the same CD, plus threw in some previously unreleased material??
(this CD is just as badd as that one was)
It's actually a two CD set that contains two LIVE albums:
- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1957-1972)
- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (LIVE)
I own both of these LP's and I brought them when they first came out. In fact I STILL have them both (and they are in raggedy shape....lol) I have scanned in images from both to create some of the graphics which appear on the Soul-Patrol website...I have listened to BOTH of these LP's at least a thousand times :) And I long ago committed to memory every damn note of both
I'll tell yall, right now I am listening to the live version of "BAD GIRL", from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1957-1972) a song that won't even play on my LP copy anymore, the damn grooves are seriously worn out...lol. Those two LP's of mine will never be played again. The sound quality of this two CD set is impeccable. And it's like I am hearing the song for the very first time. Smokey just plain KILLS THIS SONG.
You can hear the females screaming in ecstasy
No
I mean...
:::S*C*R*E*A*M*I*N*G:::
Now I don't wanna get too graphic here, but listening to this live rendition of "BAD GIRL"...(u know damn well that the seats of those screaming females are wet.....lol)
This song is the epitome of what a slow jam is supposed to be. In fact I just hit the repeat button...lol
There are MANY KILLER LIVE VERSONS of both songs made famous by the Miracles as well as by other artists (ex: check Smokey's monster version of Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By", from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles LIVE)
The Miracles Live is awesome. It's the Miracles at the height of their powers, in live performance. Smokey's the star, but they really are a group on stage. Claudette joins the Miracles on stage when they sing "BAD GIRL".
This too will end up on Soul-Patrol.Net radio as an entire program because it's some serious history. If it doesn't, "nightrain" willl kill me for sure....lol After all he is the creator of the:
SupaBaddAzzMoFoSmokeyRobinson&theMiraclesWebpage
(which I guess he will have to now update....)
The CD ends with our friend young Billy Griffin joining the Miracles on stage in a rousing version of "Going To a Go Go"
Hell I'm going to get me a glass of wine and start this damn CD over again....
--Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
LISTEN TO SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES - "THE LIVE COLLECTION" (featuring the classic "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - 1957-1972").
Click on the image above to listen and
listen to MIRACLES: I LOVE YOU SECRETLY
(w/Billy Griffin on lead)
You will hear THREE VERSIONS of this great song on this broadcast, along with a few other 70's Miracles songs taken from the brand new 'Miracles: Love Machine, the 70's collection' CD.
'Miracles: Love Machine, the 70's collection' ,Billy Griffin, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Gaye, Don't Cha Love It, I Love You Secretly, Do It Baby
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE (and been afraid they didn't love you back?)
Go ahead and take a listen
http://www.soul-patrol.net/mir_70.ram
Click on the image above to listen and
listen to GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE
GO-GO the choice cuts and the previously unheard gems from the vaults of Motown which are included on the GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE GO-GO, CD reissue, we are going to present the material as a 4 part concept album…that I'll call "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 360 degrees of love".
NIGHTRAIN'S SMOKEY
MEMORIES
"NIGHTRAIN SINGS SMOKEY
"
"BABY BABY DON'T CRY" - A TRUE
STORY
NIGHTRAIN'S SMOKEY
DISCOGRAPHY
WHEN SMOKEY SINGS - A TRIBUTE
TO SMOKEY
CD REVIEW:
SMOKEY ROBINSON & MIRACLES :
GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE GO-GO
Now I suppose that many of you out there would wonder why I should get so excited about this NEW RELEASE???
I mean, after all, it's not like this is a new concept???
These two CLASSIC LP's have been paired before as "two fer's" AT LEAST twice before.
I brought them as a "two fer" back in the 1970's on 8-track and then once again in the early 1990's on CD.
In reviewing this CD I find myself in a similar position as I was in reviewing the Jimi Hendrix VOODOO CHILD COLLECTION last year.
Many people already own these songs in one or more media formats (8-track, cassette, LP's, 45's, CD's, etc).
Why should you buy this "two fer" now?
There are two groups of people who should buy this CD release.
1. People who are HARD CORE Smokey Robinson & the Miracles fans (folks who have damn near all of the words to his songs memorized)
2. People who are new to the lyrical genuis (better described as "the game") of Smokey Robinson
Obviously I am in the first group :)
Click on the image above to listen and
listen to GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE
GO-GO the choice cuts and the previously unheard gems from the vaults of Motown which are included on the GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE GO-GO, CD reissue, we are going to present the material as a 4 part concept album…that I'll call "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 360 degrees of love".
* PEOPLE IN GROUP ONE
The reasons why people in this group will want this CD are:
- Because of the SONIC QUALITY of the recording
- Because of the 3 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED bonus tracks (including the LIVE version of "Fork in the Road", which is AWESOME!!!!!!)
* PEOPLE IN GROUP TWO
This "two fer" is a PERFECT way to introduce you to the lyrical genuis of Smokey!
On these two LP's, Smokey Robinson is at the very pinnicale of both his songwriting and vocal powers.
It's a perfect way to discover, perhaps for the first time, just how POWERFUL the songs are and just how underated he is in this respect.
* On a single CD you get about 12 MONSTER slow jams that not only would fill up a hot/steamy ghetto house party dance floor in the 1960's/1970's (or perhaps even today???). Taken as a whole, these songs almost in and of themselves literally define the "slow jam genre", all performed by the MASTER (Smokey Robinson) at his vocal peak!
* On a single CD you get 14 mid tempo songs, all
mostly written by Smokey (there are two VERY TASTY COVERS). One of the
most interesting things to me about Smokey's "mid tempo songs" is that
the lyrical content is just as
WICKED as the outright "slow
jams" . Many times folks who are only casually into Smokey tend to skip the mid tempo joints, because they want the slow jams. This is a CRITICAL ERROR.....
* Once the "new Smokey fan" gets the CD, it becomes
CRITICAL to listen to the songs OVER AND OVER. This way you will be able
to really get the "
word
mastery " that Smokey uses in these songs. At that point you will be able to begin to recognize the "pattern", which ultimately forms what I lovingly refer to as...
"Smokey Robinson's 360 DEGREES OF LOVE"
Once you make your initial identification of this lyrical pattern, then you will truly understand....
"the game at which Smokey is the lyrical master of"
Bob Dylan understood it
("rock critics", completely missed it)
And that is why this CD is worth buying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyhow...
Here is the track listing for...
SMOKEY ROBINSON & MIRACLES :
GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE GO-GO
(enjoy it with someone you LOVE)
Click on the image above to listen and
listen to GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE
GO-GO the choice cuts and the previously unheard gems from the vaults of Motown which are included on the GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE GO-GO, CD reissue, we are going to present the material as a 4 part concept album…that I'll call "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 360 degrees of love".
1. Tracks Of My Tears
2. Going To A Go Go
3. Ooo Baby Baby
4. My Girl Has Gone
5. In Case You Need Love
6. Choosey Beggar
7. Since You Won My Heart
8. From Head To Toe
9. All That's Good
10. My Baby Changes Like The Weather
11. Let Me Have Some
12. Fork In The Road
AWAY WE GO-GO
13. Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart
14. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
15. (ComeRoundHere) I'm The One I Need
16. Save Me
17. Oh Be My Love
18. Can You Love A Poor Boy
19. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
20. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
21. Baby Baby
22. Walk On By
23. Swept For You Baby
24. More More More Of Your Love
BONUS TRACKS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
25. It's Fantastic
26. Goin Out Of My Head
27. A Fork In The Road (live at the Roostertail)
Click on the image above to listen and
listen to GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE
GO-GO the choice cuts and the previously unheard gems from the vaults of Motown which are included on the GOING TO A GO-GO/AWAY WE GO-GO, CD reissue, we are going to present the material as a 4 part concept album…that I'll call "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 360 degrees of love".
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