Special Occasion (The Miracles song)

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1968 single by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

"Special Occasion"

Single by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
from the album  Special Occasion
B-side| "Give Her Up"
Released| August 1968
Genre|

* Soul
* pop

Length| 2:17
Label| Tamla
T 54172
Songwriter(s)|

* Smokey Robinson
* Al Cleveland

Producer(s)|

* Smokey Robinson
* Al Cleveland

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles singles chronology
| "Yester Love"
(1968)  | "Special Occasion"
(1968)  | "Baby, Baby Don't Cry"
(1969)

|
|

"Special Occasion" is a 1968 hit single recorded by Motown Records R&B group Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, issued by its Tamla Records subsidiary and taken from the album of the same name.[1] It was written and composed by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland, the authors of the group's Top 10 million-selling smash, "I Second That Emotion", the previous year.

## Song background

[edit]

A joyous up-tempo tune with a calypso influence, Smokey, as the song's narrator, celebrates the happiness of being in love with his new girl, comparing it with other "special occasions" one has in life, such as dressing up for a night on the town ("like when you dress up in your tie and tails"), graduation ("like when in school, you get your cap and gown"), or giving a "salute" to something special ("something that calls for a toast of champagne"). Miracle Marv Tarplin's outstanding guitar work is evident throughout, while the other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete and Claudette, punctuate the song's melodies with their tight harmonies on the chorus and elsewhere.

## Reception

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Cash Box called it a "mid-speed song" with "extremely effective orchestration."[2]

## Chart performance

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"Special Occasion" was a Billboard Top 30 Pop hit, peaking at #26, and was a Top 10 R&B hit as well, peaking at #4. [3]

## Credits: The Miracles

[edit]

### Personnel

[edit]

* Smokey Robinson lead vocals
* Claudette Robinson soprano
* Pete Moore bass vocals
* Marv Tarplin guitar
* Ronnie White baritone
* Bobby Rogers tenor

### Other credits

[edit]

* The Funk Brothers instruments

## Cover versions

[edit]

* "Special Occasion" has inspired a cover version by Jazz/R&B singer Jim Gilstrap. Its flip side, "Give Her Up", was a cover of a song Smokey had written for Martha & the Vandellas in 1963.[4] "Give Her Up", like many Miracles' "B" sides, was also a popular regional hit. Video on YouTube

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol 8: 1968 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
2. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 10, 1968. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 404.
4. ^ VANDELLAS4U (2012-02-14), MARTHA and THE VANDELLAS give him up, archived from the original on 2021-12-20, retrieved 2018-08-24`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

## External links

[edit]

* Special Occasion by The Miracles on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

The Miracles (1955–1964) / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1965–1972) / The Miracles (1973–2011)

* Smokey Robinson
* Ronnie White
* Pete Moore
* Bobby Rogers
* Claudette Robinson
* Marv Tarplin
* Billy Griffin
* Donald Griffin
* Carl Cotton
* Mark Scott
* Dave Finley
* Sydney Justin
* Alphonse Franklin
* Tee Turner

Studio albums|

* Hi... We're the Miracles (1961)
* Cookin' with the Miracles (1961)
* I'll Try Something New (1962)
* The Fabulous Miracles (1963)
* Christmas with The Miracles (1963)
* The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey (1963)
* I Like It Like That (1964)
* Going to a Go-Go (1965)
* Away We a Go-Go (1966)
* Make It Happen (The Tears of a Clown) (1967)
* Special Occasion (1968)
* Time Out for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1969)
* Four in Blue (1969)
* What Love Has Joined Together (1970)
* A Pocket Full of Miracles (1970)
* The Season for Miracles (1970)
* One Dozen Roses (1971)
* Flying High Together (1972)
* Renaissance (1973)
* Do It Baby (1974)
* Don't Cha Love It (1975)
* City of Angels (1975)
* The Power of Music (1976)
* Love Crazy (1977)
* The Miracles (1978)

Live albums|

* The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage (1963)
* Smokey Robinson & the Miracles LIVE! (1969)
* Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972 (1972)

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits: From the Beginning (1965)
* Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1968)
* Anthology (1974)
* Anthology '86 (1986)
* Anthology: The Best of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1995)
* The Ultimate Collection (1998)
* Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology (2002)
* Depend On Me: The Early Albums (2009)

Singles|

* "Bad Girl"
* "Way Over There"
* "Shop Around"
* "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues"
* "What's So Good About Goodbye"
* "I've Been Good to You"
* "I'll Try Something New"
* "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"/"Happy Landing"
* "A Love She Can Count On"
* "Mickey's Monkey"
* "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying"
* "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You"
* "I Like It Like That"
* "That's What Love Is Made Of"
* "Come On Do the Jerk"
* "Ooo Baby Baby"
* "The Tracks of My Tears"
* "A Fork in the Road"
* "My Girl Has Gone"
* "Going to a Go-Go"
* "Choosey Beggar"
* "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)"
* "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need"
* "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage"
* "More Love"
* "I Second That Emotion"
* "If You Can Want"
* "Yester Love"
* "Special Occasion"
* "Baby, Baby Don't Cry"
* "Here I Go Again"
* "Doggone Right"
* "Abraham, Martin and John"
* "Point It Out"
* "The Tears of a Clown"
* "I Don't Blame You at All"
* "We've Come Too Far to End It Now"
* "Give Me Just Another Day"
* "Do It Baby"
* "Love Machine"

Videography|

* The Definitive Performances (1963–1987) (2006)

Related|

* Discography
* Cover versions of Miracles songs
* Awards and achievements
* The Miracles Sing Modern

* v
* t
* e

The Miracles singles

Discography

1950s|

* " Bad Girl" (1959)

1960s|

* "Way Over There" (1960)
* "Shop Around" (1960) / "Who's Lovin' You" (1960)
* "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" (1961)
* "What's So Good About Goodbye" (1961) / "I've Been Good to You" (1961)
* "I'll Try Something New" (1962)
* "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962) / "Happy Landing" (1962)
* "A Love She Can Count On" (1963) / "I Can Take a Hint" (1963)
* " Mickey's Monkey" (1963)
* "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying" (1963)
* "The Christmas Song" (1963)
* "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" (1964)
* "I Like It Like That" (1964)
* "That's What Love Is Made Of" (1964)
* "Come On Do the Jerk" (1964)
* "Ooo Baby Baby" (1965)
* "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965) / "A Fork in the Road" (1965)
* "My Girl Has Gone" (1965)
* "Going to a Go-Go" (1965) / "Choosey Beggar" (1965)
* "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)" (1966)
* "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" (1966)
* "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" (1967)
* "More Love" (1967)
* "I Second That Emotion" (1967)
* "If You Can Want" (1968)
* "Yester Love" (1968)
* "Special Occasion" (1968)
* "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (1969)
* "Here I Go Again" (1969) / "Doggone Right" (1969)
* "Abraham, Martin and John" (1969)
* "Point It Out" (1969) / "Darling Dear" (1969)

1970s|

* "The Tears of a Clown" (1970)
* "I Don't Blame You at All" (1970)
* "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" (1972)
* "Give Me Just Another Day" (1973)
* "Do It Baby" (1974)
* "Love Machine" (1975)

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