Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears of a Clown (Clip)

[williamg2552]

When SMOKEY ROBINSON, BOBBY ROGERS, PETE MOORE, RONNIE WHITE , CLAUDETTE ROGERS, and MARV TARPLIN came together, THAT is when The Miracles became THE MIRACLES. ( not GRICE,WICKER, EMERSON "SONNY ROGERS, or CLARENCE HUMBLE" DAWSON.

[williamg2552]

It's just like The Temptations. Are people like Richard Street,Kell Osborne,James "Pee-Wee" Crawford, Vernard Plain, and Arthur Walton considered "Original" Temptations because they were with The Pre- Tempts groups, The Primes and The Distants ? No, because they weren't even CALLED The Temptations back then . It wasn't until the lineup of OTIS WILLIAMS, MELVIN FRANKLIN,PAUL WILLIAMS, EDDIE KENDRICKS, and ELBRIDGE BRYANT that The Temptations became THE TEMPTATIONS.

[williamg2552]

Also, I'm very aware that DAWSON, GRICE, and SONNY ROGERS were in the original group. BUT they weren't known as The MIRACLES back then. They started as The FIVE CHIMES , then the MATADORS. When they became The Miracles , those 3 were history, and cousins Bobby and Claudette Rogers were in. They , as well as Tarplin were all in the group by 1958...and all 3 were listed as original group members on the liner notes of The Miracles' first album...not the departed members.

[williamg2552]

This issue has come up before, so I did research on it. Marv joined The Miracles in 1958...not 1960. Go to Google , and put in the words, " Marv Tarplin 1958". See for yourself.

[MotownMaster]

this song is actually from 1967, it was on their LP "Make It Happen" Tamla 276, a D.J in England played it one day in 1970 and the song became a hit so it was released as a single

[Tvidify]

@ The end of the video

REEEEEEEEEMMIIIIIIIXXXXXX!!!!!

[cichlid16]

@Tvidify LMAO

[AlexTemp3]

thumbs up if you watched this because of coming home

[Levicobx]

Awesome music !! Let's all go back in that time machine to the 70s when music was special ~~~

[TheBazza1957]

great lyrics smokey,thanks to stevie wonder for the music!

[roydamanna]

This is by far my favorite 70ties song together with the Baby's - Isn't it time, Bellamy Brothers - Let your love flow and CCR - Have you ever seen the rain.

Why are these songs never one the radio anymore? Why everything today has to be CRap and stupid same-girl voice pop music?

I hate these times and wished the old days came back! Eventho I was only born in 1982 I have very good memories on this song as I always heared it in the car when we went on vacation. 10/10

[steveconn]

Great bassline and drum-fills you can't really hear on this clip.

[AlovesMJ]

love the old footage! And look at them babies! so cute

[tigertai7]

Smokey is amazing and Motown in general is so good !!! What happened to music? Rap and Pop music these days sucks sooooo bad !!!

[pelverud]

This is the greatest pop song of all time! Strawberry Fields comes closs but that's it. If you don't like it eat a gun now because you do not deserve to be on this earth. (Yeah that means you too dpiddly or what the ever you call yourself. NOTHING you have ever done can lick the balls of this tune. That includes your children.

[JedHowe]

Growing up in Detroit in the 60's this was my favorite Motown Group. There Is Nobody like Smokey...

[myfeeling4you]

dig that low down bassoon sound baby, he's the man

[djRonPackard]

another classic that I edited over 20 years ago for ETV Network (ET VideoLink). Thanks for posting it.

[RImusclebear]

This song is based on an opera. Other than Leontine Price, black people son't get it!!!!

[SPORTSNUTIM]

This my favorite song of Smokey Robinson's cannot listen to enough. : )

[ClearwaterMK2]

3 ppl mistook this for a justin bieber song.

[TheMsRosabelle]

@ClearwaterMK2 how can anyone be stupid enough to mistake a class act like Smokey Robinson with that little untalented brat???

[ClearwaterMK2]

@TheMsRosabelle Exactly

[BISHOP9917711]

Dam you Piddy!!!!!!

[DylanOkyere]

@BISHOP9917711 How can you like a sad song like this !!

[BISHOP9917711]

@DylanOkyere

I'm saying I came to this song from p diddy's new track and it sucks.

[problem49]

Back in the day no band in the world could command a stage like the Motown roster. Oh how I miss them.

[MrLandings]

I Can see why diddy hates this song...

[Richboye23]

song people just need to b quiet i love this song

[123abc78641]

horrible sooong deeeeepresising



[imnotworthy22]

awesome song and great voice

[sugaroftheshack]

The back up singers don't LOOK that sad...just sayin'...

[SlaughterTheFrail]

Only Smokey could have such depressing lyrics and make it so happy and upbeat.

[ralegh51]

come on the mods!!!!!

[jenlor1]

Smokey rules!

[TheBlackdenver]

just a nice song could not be any better

[MrNathan791]

classic smokey and miracles.

[chamaera]

classic.........Always.



[richmonksgtr]

This is one of the rarest types of songs. Those which simply cannot be improved upon. The lyrics are beautiful, meaningful and brilliant. The music and band are tighter than tightness itself, and Smokey's singing and especially the Vocal Melody are Perfection. Somebody help me: Can I get a Witness?!

[JupiterSKin]

@richmonksgtr The ULTIMATE song ever written...EVER!!

[6400az]

@richmonksgtr

Yes, your right. When you hear it performed elswhere it never sound like this, not even close. The song is great, but you also have to consider the band and the musicianship. The ever present moans of the Bari Sax throughout the track............ Listen to the part @2:25 !

[magovenor]

@richmonksgtr Very well stated, except the perfection line, but it's very good!

[davao2001]

this is PERFECT MUSIC. Love it!

From Holland: thank you Smokey Robinson and the Miracles!

[jimmyjamzit1]

"...There's some sad things known to man but ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown when there's no one around..."  Man is He so right!!!

[MannMan2001]

This was rock. This was soul.  This was Motown !

[vaccarovj]

the REAL name of this song "The Little Drummer Boy"

[kickassfan]

simply looved it

[55949erfan]

This clip looks like it can be tribute to smokey if he dies ughhh

[davao2001]

PERFECT song!

[lorret90]

what can you say about this....all time classic..

[Orrscore]

Brilliant and timeless

[Vallelyya]

2:11

The man is smooth <33

[pita4851]

Tears of a Clown, when there is no one around,I need u ,put on a show,loney room I cry. Old school Luv Smokey/Miracles, Smile & Peace

[chaztheLM]

good bassoon :)

[gomle3]

Bass player hits wrong note at

2:08

[iorioriorio]

forgot how kool this CAT WAS!....seen him in the early 70's on soul train..wondered about how they would all survive in the 80's and there he was!! au courant indeed

[SeeYaBassoon]

I <3 that there is a bassoon in this :)

I play bassoon :)

LucyXX

[exbronco1980]

what about light shining out of a wound of a clown?

[Israeltekhelet]

Wow what good memories

[Glorify27]

A great MOTOWN CLASSIC!!

[lisette28]

Wondreful chanson here..one of yur best ones evre..smooth,velvet tones as always..an hope to see concert someday Lisettexox

[Umskiddy]

skytrax1, what on earth were you thinking of??

I was about to witness one of the coolest walk ons by The Miracles and you ruined it by covering them up with other clips. What a shame -otherwise a brilliant post.

[RothisVH]

LOL

I didn't know George Jefferson was in the Miracles.

[williamg2552]

That's Ronnie White. He died of Leukemia back in' 95. Don't speak ill of the dead.

[kiddiequeenofmotown]

what? theres no george jefferson in the Miracles. what have U been smoking?

[thestevo46]

wow,smokey,life,family,fame,i know,it was never easy baby,regrets,feelings,money,bu­t you were heard here in glasgow,scotland,and pretty much all over the world,everybody loves you,so,its not so bad,i know you took heroin,you beat that,it was because you wanted to find the girl you kept singing too,if she would come to you,emptyness,is not nice

[matrags]

Where can I get some of those high waisted trousers lol.

[MrBlues2jazz]

They have these people called tailors. they can anything you want from back in the day. including those short waist jackets. I wore them back in the 60s.

[myfeeling4you]

What a cool vid, classics never die !!!

[davao2001]

Smokey, it was great to hear you talking on Michael Jackson's funeral.

Thanks!

[oaksyboy44]

What a classic,thanks for uploading this.

[lucyma230]

Cenntenial Middle School played this song in the JR.Lilac parade on May 9 2009

[williamg2552]

Since most of you may be from a different generation ...and dont know the individual names of THE MIRACLES like us old folks ....let me school you. THE MIRACLES vocal group actually consisted of SIX ORIGINAL MEMBERS . (not just Smokey). At 1:37: L to R: RONNIE WHITE, PETE MOORE, CLAUDETTE ROGERS-ROBINSON , (the former Mrs. Smokey Robinson), her then hubby,SMOKEY ROBINSON, and her cousin, BOBBY ROGERS. The sixth original member is MARV TARPLIN (pictured at 0.56 top center).

[MotownMaster]

@williamg2552 Marv is not an original member, they added him in late 1960 when Smokey borrowed him from The Primettes (Supremes) and never gave him back, The Miracles Motown line up was from 1958 on, Claudette replaced her brother Sonny Rogers when the group was called The Matadors, this group started as The 5 Chimes in 1954, Smokey, Pete, Donald Wicker,James Grice and a cat they called Humble were the ORIGINAL members, NOW WHO GOT SCHOOLED?? and im only 27 lol

[williamg2552]

If the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME still stubbornly refuses to induct THE MIRACLES after they just got a star on THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME (2 months ago) they are going to look really STUPID. Especially when groups with FAR FEWER accomplishments get inducted year after year. Only people that have reached the PINNACLE of show-biz success are even CONSIDERED for a star. THE MIRACLES DESERVE INDUCTION MORE THAN MOST THAT HAVE GOTTEN IT. THEIR SUCCESS LAUNCHED THE ENTIRE MOTOWN RECORD LABEL !!

[Earthlinked]

I agree - ain't no doubt about it!!! If the Miracles are not in - then Motown is just another small label!!!

[ASFLLM]

Used to listen to this while on guard duty during basic at Fort Polk, LA in 1970 on a portable radio with an earphone at 2am. Great then and great now.

[efienizer]

great song, smokey robinson is awesome

[Vallbaby]

Lyrics that stand the test of time. Simply the best. I own the best of and I love it.

[williamg2552]

OTHER groups are cool....BUT THE MIRACLES RULE !!

[gasman396]

you did an excellent job with this!!!!!

[ddesign63]

Nothin' but CLASSSSSSSSSS!

PEACE

[Wisterialodge]

a poet  and singer

[kaynwil]

Wow! This was great to watch! I haven't really seen many clips of Smokey and to have so many in one place and just seeing him in every day situations and hanging out. So kewl! Thanks for posting!

[problem49]

Smokey makes it looks so easy, what a brilliant artist.

[ThankfulForLife52]

Love Motown music! Thanks Tricia!!

[fonzie1217]

click on, smokey robinson tribute artist, the new lead singer of the miracles.

[lax8751]

Sheer Talent!

[baconsplace]

possibly the only MASSIVE hit record that features a bassoon lead.

[baconsplace]

Possibly the only MASSIVE pop song that features a bassoon lead

this song with its driving drum and engine train, the funk brothers, strikes Deep into the soul.

[dmax5678]

i love and respect everything motown but i'm laughing my ass off at the guy with the FRO + BALD SPOT LOL

[wh0m33]

to tie together Leafin and OhioPlayer's comments, Stevie gave the musical part to smokey at a christmas party and asked smokey to provide the lyrics. smokey listened and said that the music reminded him of a circus. In an interview on VH1 smokey said the idea about the lyrics came from the opera featuring Pagliacci.

[SaphireDisc]

this is a great memorial to Smokey

[felixicon]

very well done

[chunk1969]

and speaking of rap...which i call crap...the way people went through the motown products...were educated and trained as adults and then performers with ton's and ton's of something totally lost today....and the word is CLASS.

[LeafInTheStream]

This classic 70s hit was actually released in 1967! Originally it was only an album track, and went nowhere. Three years later a Motown executive in the UK wanted a follow-up to the re-release of The Miracles' "Tracks Of My Tears", and found this song in their back catalogue with the word 'Tears' in it. Everyone involved with the Miracles were surprised when it topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

[chunk1969]

its cool when someone actually knows what they're talkin about...this beat and melody is probably my fav. smokey hit..it really drives along at a nice clip....i love it.

[rickydfcc77]

Just a footnote to your quote, LeafinTheStream....The 1970 version is different from the LP version in that the song was recut with a different drummer and slowed down just a smidgeon. I remember hearing the 45 version and marveling at the energy of this song, but when I heard the album version, it just didn't measure up. Sadly, no one seems to have the 45 version but me. I know they used it on "Bandstand" in 1971. Does anyone have this?

[ohioplayer]

I dont know if this has been mentioned before, but stevie Wonder came up with the catchy "circus" part of this song.

[etrax2000]

do you have the smokey tv special with the supremes fom 1970 ?

[mal334455]

Ahhhhhh...takes me back to the 70s...what a great decade and what a great song fron Smokey

[standardsandswing]

Love Smokey, the song and the video is tight, showing him, the band, and his family over time. Motown blows away rap.

[fonzie1217]

click on alphonse sings smokey. he's the new lead singer of the miracles

[allykat84]

love it

[violatenor26]

I agree 100%, freddy!

[freddystubbs3001]

God blessed this man with the ability to not only write, but sing. He does not have the greatest voice of all time, but he was the Keith Sweat of that era. He found one groove with his voice and just WORKED IT TO DEATH. He CAN sing, but he does his thing. You listen to every song he ever sang on and you know what you are gonna get and you cannot wait to hear that voice.

[archangelVV]

WOW!

[dallas1963]

i really enjoyed this video...i like the old film clips

[musicforanyone]

a killer this tune....ad more of these on u tube..

[Quiltsalad]

Great song and video.

Thanks soooo much for posting this.

[MotherMoonie]

This song reminds me of my Grandfather. I miss him so much.

[euphoria713]

I love the bassoon in the backround!

[11krs1]

i dont think anyone has got the soul to make music like this anymore, especially the dickhead generation that walk the streets these days! dead legs the lot of them. a classic song from a golden era!

[wotinblooblazes]

Buster Keaton-Benny Hill-Govinda?

[sean1849]

Why can't they make music like this anymore?!

[sean1849]

Why can't they make music like this anymore?!

[sean1849]

Why can't they make music like this anymore?!

[DarkDutchman]

Please sean1849, stop repeating the same thing all the time.

And there are several reasons why they don't make this kind of music anymore and one of them is because it's allready been made.

[eagleeyes65]

congrats....you're a dumbass!!

[williamg2552]

*THE MIRACLES* One of GREATEST SINGING GROUPS OF ALL TIME have been TOTALLY IGNORED by the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ...OVER 50 CHART HITS,4 SONGS IN THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME ....3 SONGS IN ROLLING STONES LIST OF THE 500 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME , INDUCTEES INTO THE VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME AND WINNERS OF RHYTHM & BLUES FOUNDATION'S PIONEER AWARD AND THE BMI AWARD FOR SONGWRITING (all members except Claudette)...but not good enough for RRHOF INDUCTION ?? GO FIGURE.

[wills52b]

superb good times recalled

[snuffyindahouse]

Showmanship, great music and lyrics. It don't get much better than this. You Go Smokey!

Where did our music go?

[redjasmine91]

lyRiiCs iiN thiiS s0nG arE aws0mE!!! juSt liiKe ne-Yos! Ne-yo iiZ thE cl0esTesT we wiilL geT t0 muSiiq liiKe thiiS!

[lovelace101]

Thanks for the pics & movies of Smokey. They brought back good memories.

[ahp13]

Love rytm going as a locomotive and lyics, voice playing along. Awesom

[tellit2]

Nice clip ,thankyou