Going to A Go-Go / Away We A Go-Go
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 theTemptationsandMarvin Gaye(Robinson was also a Motown label VP),Going to a Go-Gowas 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 fellowAway We Go-Goouttake of the lounge standard "Goin' Out of My Head," and a glorious, impassioned 1966 live rendition of "A Fork in the Road."--Jerry McCulley