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.
Receptionedit
Cash Box called it a "mid-speed song" with "extremely effective orchestration."[2]
Chart performanceedit
"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]
"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
Referencesedit
^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol 8: 1968 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
^"CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 10, 1968. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 404.
^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)
special, occasion, miracles, song, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, special, occasion, miracles, song. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Special Occasion The Miracles song news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Special Occasion is a 1968 hit single recorded by Motown Records R amp 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 Special Occasion Single by Smokey Robinson amp the Miraclesfrom the album Special OccasionB side Give Her Up ReleasedAugust 1968GenreSoulpopLength2 17LabelTamlaT 54172Songwriter s Smokey RobinsonAl ClevelandProducer s Smokey RobinsonAl ClevelandSmokey Robinson amp the Miracles singles chronology Yester Love 1968 Special Occasion 1968 Baby Baby Don t Cry 1969 Contents 1 Song background 2 Reception 3 Chart performance 4 Credits The Miracles 4 1 Personnel 4 2 Other credits 5 Cover versions 6 References 7 External linksSong background editA 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 editCash Box called it a mid speed song with extremely effective orchestration 2 Chart performance edit Special Occasion was a Billboard Top 30 Pop hit peaking at 26 and was a Top 10 R amp B hit as well peaking at 4 3 Credits The Miracles editPersonnel 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 instrumentsCover versions edit Special Occasion has inspired a cover version by Jazz R amp B singer Jim Gilstrap Its flip side Give Her Up was a cover of a song Smokey had written for Martha amp the Vandellas in 1963 4 Give Her Up like many Miracles B sides was also a popular regional hit Video on YouTubeReferences edit The Complete Motown Singles Vol 8 1968 CD liner notes New York Hip O Select Motown Universal Records CashBox Record Reviews PDF Cash Box August 10 1968 p 10 Retrieved 2022 01 12 Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 404 VANDELLAS4U 2012 02 14 MARTHA and THE VANDELLAS give him up archived from the original on 2021 12 20 retrieved 2018 08 24 a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link External links editSpecial Occasion by The Miracles on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Special Occasion The Miracles song amp oldid 1065432723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
