The Tracks of My Tears - Cover Versions

Cover Versions

"The Tracks of My Tears" is not among the seven Miracles' tracks to reach the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100, and the highest charting pop version of the song was the 1967 cover version by Johnny Rivers which reached number 10.

Aretha Franklin recorded the song for her Soul '69 album from which it was issued as a single although as the B-side. Franklin's version of "The Weight", became the favored track with "Tracks of My Tears" peaking at number 76 Pop and number 21 R&B.

"Tracks of My Tears" became a pop Top 40 hit for the third time, when the version recorded by Linda Ronstadt for her 1975 album Prisoner in Disguise, was issued as that album's second single. The track was not one of Ronstadt's biggest hits peaking at #25 ("Tracks of My Tears" reached #11 on the C&W chart in tandem with its B-side: the Emmylou Harris duet: "The Sweetest Gift"). Conversely, Ronstadt would score one of her biggest hits with her 1978 single "Ooo Baby Baby" which was a remake of the Miracles' hit single release precedent to "The Tracks of My Tears". Ronstadt and Smokey Robinson performed both "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Ooo Baby Baby" on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special broadcast on May 16, 1983.

In 1993, Go West reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart with "Tracks of My Tears". In that country, after the Miracles' original had reached the UK Top Ten in 1969, the song has been a minor chart item via the Linda Ronstadt remake (number 42 in 1976) and a 1982 version by Colin Blunstone which reached number 60.

The Jackson 5 recorded the song for Steeltown Records in 1968, and it was to be part of an 11 track studio album but remained unreleased until The Steeltown Sessions was released in 2008. Others who have recorded the song include:

• Pat Kelly (1969)
• Dean Martin (1970)
• Gladys Knight & the Pips - B-side of single "If I Were Your Woman" (1970)
• The Pharaohs - The Awakening (1972)
• Bryan Ferry - These Foolish Things (1973)
• Graeme Strachan - (1976)
• The Mighty Diamonds - (1977)
• The Flying Pickets - Live at the Albany Empire (1982); an a cappella version
• Big Country - B-side of single "Chance" (1983)
• Carmel - The Drum is Everything (1984)
• Dogbowl & Kramer - Hot Day in Waco (1994)
• La Toya Jackson - Stop in the Name of Love (1995)
• Patty Griffin with Billy Mann (1996); a live recording on Detroit's 93.9, The River
• Peter André - Time (1997)
• Mietta - La Mia Anima (1998)
• Billy Bragg (2002) on his album, England, Half-English. In "Tears of My Tracks", a man laments selling his vinyl record collection. Bragg had previously recorded a version of "The Tracks of My Tears" that was issued, along with other demos, b-sides, and rarities, on the second disk of the re-released Talking with the Taxman about Poetry.
• Gavin DeGraw (2004)
• Michael McDonald - Motown Two (2005)
• Mica Paris - Soul Classics (2005)
• Human Nature - Reach Out: The Motown Record (2005)
• Ben Mills - The X Factor (UK Series 3) (2006)
• Boyz II Men - Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA (2007); also released as the first single from the album
• Dolly Parton - Backwoods Barbie (2008)
• Adam Lambert - American Idol Season 8 (2009) When he sang the song during the competition Smokey gave him a standing ovation.
• Rod Stewart - Soulbook (2009); this version features Smokey Robinson.
• UB40 - Labour of Love IV (2010)
• Paul McDonald - American Idol 10 (2011) Paul sang the song during Motown week (Top 11) during the competition.
• Devin Velez - American Idol Season 12 (2013) Devin sang the song during Motown Week (Top 8). He was eliminated the same week.

It has also been notably covered by: Soul Asylum, Billy Bragg, Susan Cadogan, The Contours, Martha and the Vandellas, The Mighty Diamonds, Q-Tip, Dianne Reeves, Brenda Russell, Mongo Santamaría, and Paul Young.