The Miracles' Original Version
This song's origins are born from real-life heartbreak and personal tragedy . Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson wrote, produced, and sings lead on "More Love", which he considers one of his most personal compositions. Robinson wrote the song for his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. Claudette had been a member of the Miracles since 1957, but retired from touring in 1964 after a series of miscarriages.She had a total of 8 miscarriages, which forced her off the road, never to tour with The Miracles again, though she continued to record with them. On one occasion, the Robinsons had a set of twins that were stillborn. According to Smokey Robinson:
"After she had a miscarriage would always tell me she was sorry she had let me down. I would explain that she had not let me down because she was there, she was alive; I wanted the babies, but I didn't know them. I wrote 'More Love' to let her know how I felt about her."
Unlike most other Miracles songs, the track for "More Love" was recorded by Los Angeles session musicians, instead of in Detroit, Michigan by Motown session band The Funk Brothers and Miracles guitarist Marv Tarplin.
Smokey and Claudette Robinson would eventually have two healthy babies, both named after aspects of the Motown corporation: A boy,Berry (after Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr.) and a girl, Tamla, after the Miracles' record label, Tamla ( A Motown Records subsidiary).
More Love peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and was a Top 10 Billboard R&B hit,peaking at number five. The song's "B" side, Swept For You Baby,, was also a popular regional hit, and has inspired cover versions by The Sylvers, The Blenders, and The Tamlins (as Sweat For You Baby).
Read more about this topic: More Love (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Song)
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