Going to Go-Go / Away We Go-Go [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Smokey Robinson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000063BON
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,361 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Most mid-'60s pop and R&B albums are like Hamburger Helper: a little meat and a lot of filler. But Smokey Robinson and the Miracles gratifyingly confound that notion on the first half of this two-album collection. Not surprisingly, it's also the first album to give vocalist-writer-producer Robinson star billing in his veteran band. Cut in the midst of producing chores for the Temptations and Marvin Gaye (Robinson was also a Motown label VP), Going to a Go-Go was something of a minor tour de force for Robinson, who cowrote all but one of the album's songs. Although its name refers to a partying dance craze (the origins of the infectious hit title track), it's an album largely centered around bittersweet, emotionally charged hits like "Tracks of My Tears" and "Ooo Baby Baby," as well as unusually strong cuts like "My Girl Has Gone" and "A Fork in the Road." By contrast, the second half here often sounds haphazard and less focused, as could be expected from a quickly produced sequel to a massive hit. Still, Robinson's glorious tenor illuminates even such standard fare as "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." Previously unreleased bonus tracks include the stereo mix of "It's Fantastic," a fellow Away We Go-Go outtake of the lounge standard "Goin' Out of My Head," and a glorious, impassioned 1966 live rendition of "A Fork in the Road." --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Digitally re-mastered reissue combines two domestically out-of-print albums together on one CD, 'Going To A Go-Go' (1965) & 'Away We A Go-Go' (1966). Packaged in a full color outer slipcase with original sleeve artwork. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE FIRST MOTOWN GROUP....AND STILL THE BEST !!!, July 28, 2006

By 

willgee (ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Going to Go-Go / Away We Go-Go (Audio CD)

With the passing of time, people tend to forget that in the years before The Temptations, the Supremes, & the Four Tops were even heard of, THE MIRACLES reigned as the number one MOTOWN group.Their hits actually BUILT THE LABEL, and their importance can not be overstated (although fans of some of the aforementioned groups try to UNDERSTATE IT from time to time). They also have the distinction of having had more two- sided hit singles than ANY OTHER MOTOWN GROUP. Too many people reviewing this , and other MIRACLES albums, tend to mistakenly and unfairly credit only SMOKEY for this group's success. They don't realize the tremendous TALENT posessed by ALL the members of the MIRACLES. ALL OF THEM WERE SONGWRITERS,AND HAD A SHARE IN WRITING THEIR MANY HITS.Look at the writing credits for the GOING TO A GO GO ALBUM. YOU'LL SEE ALL THEIR NAMES, NOT JUST SMOKEY'S. PETE MOORE , for example , was , FOR YEARS, the groups' uncredited vocal arrainger. In the early years , BOBBY ROGERS,RONNIE WHITE , AND EVEN CLAUDETTE were featured lead vocalists in the group just like Smokey. Miracle MARV TARPLIN'S fantastic guitar licks punctuated each hit, and he CO- WROTE many of them . AND ALL OF THE MIRACLES (except CLAUDETTE) have won the prestigious BMI award for songwriting . Can you say that about the Temptations, Supremes, or Four Tops ? THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME WAS DONE A GREAT DISSERVICE to this fantastic group by only inducting their lead singer , especially since other , more highly - praised MOTOWN groups who HAVE BEEN INDUCTED, never wrote A SINGLE LYRIC OF MUSIC !!! THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER GROUP LIKE THE MIRACLES. THEIR MUSIC LAUNCHED THE ENTIRE MOTOWN PHENOMONON !! And , the GOING TO A GO GO ALBUM ( A BILLBOARD TOP 10 POP SMASH ), WAS ONE OF THEIR ALL- TIME BEST !!!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still 'Go-Going' near 40 years later, February 25, 2004

By 

D.V. Lindner "D.V. Lindner" (King George, VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Going to Go-Go / Away We Go-Go (Audio CD)

For better or worse, when it appeared in the last days of 1965, The Miracles "Going to a Go-Go" LP raised expectations among Motown fans about the quality level we would anticipate from the company's album output from then on. And they succeeded at least as often as they failed. Tellingly, `Going to a Go-Go,' was the first Miracles LP to nudge it's way into the Top Ten album charts.

As it was, it was a mini-greatest hits in itself as it contained every one of their 1965 singles and their flip sides: "Ooo Baby Baby," "The Tracks of my Tears," "My Girl Has Gone," and the title song, along with (respectively) "All That's Good," "A Fork In The Road," "Since You Won My Heart," & "Choosey Beggar." "Beggar" and "Road" (especially) were so good they could have been `A' sides themselves. The LP tracks fit in very fine alongside these already familiar eight, particularly "In Case You Need Love" and "From Head to Toe." The hidden jewel was Frank Wilson's "My Baby Changes Like the Weather," which, from the title alone, echoes some of Smokey's own compositions that spoke directly to how wife Claudette's changeable Gemini personality could send him to clouds or devastate him with just a word or look. All the more reason why Smokey's delivery of the tune is so assured and evergreen even now. Yep, we played this album a lot - still do.

Maybe because the Miracles singles of '66 ("Whole Lot of Shaking..." & "I'm the One You Need") aren't quite as strong as `65s, "Away We A Go-Go" couldn't have been as strong as the preceding album either, and it wasn't. Still, hardcore Miracles fans weren't all disappointed because those singles ARE good, and the album contained great flips sides too: "Oh Be My Love," "Save Me," and "Swept For You Baby" which would eventually ride the B-side of "More Love." And we didn't have long to wait for another five-star Miracles album: "Make It Happen" would show up in August of '67. Investigate that one too after you buy this essential set.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Away We A Go-Go is Great, Too!, July 12, 2001

By 

tomfrompennsylvania (Greater Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Going to a Go-Go / Away We Go-Go (Audio CD)

I don't know about the other earlier reviewer from England, but he ought to have a 2nd listen. Away We A Go-Go is my 2nd favorite Smokey & The Miracles album, of original release. My 3rd all-time favorite Miracles' recording is the non-single, album track only "Can You Love A Poor Boy", written by one Stevie Wonder (!) to boot. "Swept For You Baby" also has A-side quality, and the whole album is very moving; and the covers are top-notch outstanding. They used to do "Walk On By" in their live shows way back when, too. "Save Me" is a greatest hit, sure enough. I love the arrangements, with more strings, but no sacrifice to the soul feel of its predecessor, "Going To A Go-Go", simply my favorite original soul album of all time. I respectfully and most strongly disagree with the Miracles fan from York; I say you cannot go wrong with this purchase. Buy it now, who knows if either of these two Smokey essentials will available again anytime soon. Not a bad track on either album. More than exquisite break-up song found here too: "Fork In The Road" on "Going..", and more great B-sides/should have been A-sides like "Since You've Won My Heart". Top-heavy, both, with musical riches.