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This week’s Song of the Week is Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ masterpiece “Tracks of My Tears.” The song was released on single in the US in July 1965, backed with “A Fork in the Road.” “The Tracks of My Tears” also opened the group’s album “Going to a Go-Go”, which was released in November 1965.

The Miracles were one of the first acts signed to Tamla Records, when it was formed in 1959 – it was soon reincorporated as Motown. By the time “Tracks of My Tears” was recorded, Smokey was vice-president of the company and the Miracles had several hits behind them, including “Shop Around”, “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Ooh Baby Baby.” Robinson had also penned big hits for other Motown legends, including The Temptations and Mary Wells.

Like many tracks of the classic Motown era, “The Tracks of My Tears” is a timeless recording. The song begins with one of the most memorable, albeit simple guitar riffs of all time, before the atmospheric backing vocals kick in ahead of Smokey’s subdued and restrained opening lead vocals. The song builds in intensity throughout as the singer communicates his loveless plight.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – “The Tracks of My Tears”

In 1986, “The Tracks of My Tears” reached a new generation with its memorable inclusion in the Oscar-winning movie “Platoon.”

In 2007, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It has also received “The Award Of Merit” from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Smokey Robinson sang “The Tracks of My Tears” with Lionel Richie and Chris Brown at the 49th annual Grammy Awards in 2007. He also duetted on the song with Stevie Wonder in 2009 during the excellent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Show at Madison Square Garden.

“The Tracks of My Tears” is featured on Rod Stewart’s 2009 album “Soulbook“, with Smokey joining Rod on the track.

Authorship

“The Tracks of My Tears” was written by Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore and Marvin Tarplin of “The Miracles.” Tarplin has said that Harry Belafonte’s calypso hit “The Banana Boat” song was the inspiration for the melody, noting that “It’s basically the same changes, but at another tempo with another type of feeling.” Robinson contributed most of the lyrics, but Moore added some key lines.

As a member of The Miracles and as a solo artist, Robinson wrote thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987. “The Tracks of My Tears” is arguably the best and most enduring of the lot.

Recording date/location

“The Tracks of My Tears” was recorded in the spring of 1965 at Hitsville USA (Studio A), 2648 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, Michigan. This is now the location of the Motown Historical Museum.

Musicians

The Miracles were:

• Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
• Marv Tarplin – guitar
• Claudette Rogers Robinson – background vocals
• Pete Moore – background vocals (vocal arranger)
• Ronnie White – background vocals
• Bobby Rogers – background vocals.

“The Tracks of My Tears” also featured contributions from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Motown’s legendary house band The Funk Brothers.

Chart performance

“The Tracks of My Tears” peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 29, 1965. It also reached number two on the Billboard R&B singles chart. After a gap of four years, the song was released in the UK in 1969 and reached number nine.

The album on which “The Tracks of My Tears” appeared, “Going To A Go-Go”, reached number eight on the Billboard albums chart (their best ever chart position) and number one on the Billboard R&B albums chart.

Covers

“The Tracks of My Tears” has been covered numerous times since the mid-60s, by artists as diverse as Dean Martin and Billy Bragg. Here’s three examples…

Johnny Rivers – “The Tracks of My Tears”

It’s strange to think that even though Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ original is now regarded as an all time classic, it was not the highest charting version of “The Tracks of My Tears” in the 1960s. Johnny Rivers’ version released in 1967 reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Johnny’s middle of the road, lower key effort is appealing enough, but doesn’t match the intensity of the great original.

Gladys Knight & The Pips – “The Tracks of My Tears”

Smokey Robinson’s fellow Motown stars, Gladys Knight & The Pips, included “The Tracks of My Tears” on the B-side of their single “If I Were Your Woman” in 1970. The arrangement is similar to The Miracles’ original, but Gladys Knight’s phrasing keeps it interesting.

Linda Ronstadt – “The Tracks of My Tears”

Linda Ronstadt hit number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her cover of “The Tracks of My Tears” in 1975 and also featured it on her Platinum-selling album “Prisoner in Disguise” in the same year. Her version retains the famous guitar intro, but has a more country feel than the original. She would go on to duet with Smokey Robinson on the song at the “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” special in 1983.

There will be a new Song of the Week on January 24.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ “The Tracks of My Tears” features on the album “Going to a Go-Go” and numerous compilation albums, including “Smokey Robinson & The Miracles” – The Definitive Collection.”

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Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Going to a Go-Go (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	N/A	Buy Now
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Definitive Collection (Blu-ray)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now