Smokey Robinson and the Miracles » Tracks
The Tears of a Clown (3:02)
134,819 plays (50,362 listeners)
“The Tears of a Clown” is a 1967 song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label, originally released on the 1967 album Make It Happen. The song was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in September 1970, where it became a number-one hit on the UK singles chart. Subsequently, Motown released “The Tears of a Clown” as a single in the United States as well, where it quickly became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles Chart. This song is an international multi-million seller and a 2002 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. The single’s success caused Miracles lead singer/producer/songwriter Smokey Robinson, who had announced plans to leave the act, to stay with the group until 1972.
Stevie Wonder and his producer Hank Cosby wrote the music for the song, and Cosby produced the instrumental track recording. Wonder gave Smokey Robinson the instrumental track as a Christmas present at the 1966 Motown Christmas party. Robinson, who remarked that the song’s distinctive calliope motif “sounded like a circus”, provided lyrics that reflected his vision and sang lead vocal. In the song, Robinson’s character, hurt by a lover who left him, compares himself to the characters in the opera Pagliacci, comedians/clowns who hide their hurt and anger behind empty smiles. Robinson had used the Pagliacci comparison before: the line “just like Pagliacci did/I’ll try to keep my sadness hid” also appears in the song “My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down)”, which Robinson wrote in 1964 for Motown artist Carolyn Crawford.
Stevie Wonder and his producer Hank Cosby wrote the music for the song, and Cosby produced the instrumental track recording. Wonder gave Smokey Robinson the instrumental track as a Christmas present at the 1966 Motown Christmas party. Robinson, who remarked that the song’s distinctive calliope motif “sounded like a circus”, provided lyrics that reflected his vision and sang lead vocal. In the song, Robinson’s character, hurt by a lover who left him, compares himself to the characters in the opera Pagliacci, comedians/clowns who hide their hurt and anger behind empty smiles. Robinson had used the Pagliacci comparison before: the line “just like Pagliacci did/I’ll try to keep my sadness hid” also appears in the song “My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down)”, which Robinson wrote in 1964 for Motown artist Carolyn Crawford.
Video
Added by lee57
Early Seventies classic.
Share Video
See 2 more
Related Tracks
-
Going to a Go-Go
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -
Ooo Baby Baby
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -
Someday We'll Be Together
Diana Ross and The Supremes -
Where Did Our Love Go
Diana Ross and The Supremes -
Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me
Gladys Knight & The Pips -
Jamie
Eddie Holland
Albums featuring this track
-
60's Soul Mix 2 (disc 2)
Various Artists Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
The No.1 Hits 1970
Various Artists Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Motown 25 #1 Hits From 25 Years (disc 1)
Various Artists Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
MissKittenKlaws wrote:
Great to hear again
-
Gabriel_Hentzy wrote:
great song!
-
longraphics wrote:
Smokey.... Tears of a Clown :( Great track...brings back many memories :)
-
Lempea wrote:
The battery is epic. The Funk Brothers are awesome.
-
Druid66 wrote:
He did this song so damned well the one time I heard him live - just sensational! Just noticed the harpsichord in the very back, what a nifty touch.
-
sirenonthe101 wrote:
i love this
-
HendrixFan42 wrote:
good song, but it really is just a more upbeat retread of "The Tracks of My Tears", which I think is superior and is one of the very best songs of the 60s, which is saying a long
-
Schwarzflausch wrote:
Ah! Meine Recherchen haben ergeben, dass es noch ne Ska-Variante gibt. Die is in der Tat auch nicht schlecht. Aber ich liebe Smokey, der leidet so schön. Daher mag ich diese Version lieber...
-
Schwarzflausch wrote:
Hmmm... ich kenn das Original gar nicht. :(
-
scottie301 wrote:
this sucks.
-
ShesaLoadedGun wrote:
= x
-
IRSARGE wrote:
no tears , you clown...!
-
imaginaryangie wrote:
And the craptastic version is back! Who on earth keeps doing this?? There should be commandments against such things. =(
-
Gadget3440 wrote:
This ain't the tears of a clown I know. It's ok, but is garbage compared to the original. I want the original.
-
P-Addy wrote:
What the buggery chuffnuts is this rubbish?!?
-
looknohair wrote:
DIG that bassoon!
-
imaginaryangie wrote:
Yay! It's back to the good version! Thank you Last!
-
smlpurple wrote:
I love these songs form smokey!
-
imaginaryangie wrote:
Smashatto pegged it. This track is balls. =( No me gusta!
-
m4salman wrote:
What is this?!?!
Listeners
-
Olmostded
Top Listener
-
IdiotAwesome
Top Listener
-
dgoshorn
Top Listener
-
Psychotoxical
Top Listener
-
BillyCupid
Top Listener
-
AceFaceUK
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
deano7498 added The Tears of a Clown to the playlist Motown Classics. yesterday afternoon
-
deano7498 added The Tears of a Clown to deano7498’s library. yesterday afternoon
-
mienikmati added The Tears of a Clown to their Loved Tracks. yesterday morning
-
MSusanne added The Tears of a Clown to the playlist Shakuhachi. Tuesday evening
-
SwirlingMind added The Tears of a Clown to his Loved Tracks. Monday morning
-
PhilipMitchell added The Tears of a Clown to PhilipMitchell’s library. Saturday evening
-
djsmoove added The Tears of a Clown to her Loved Tracks. Saturday morning
-
djsmoove added The Tears of a Clown to djsmoove’s library. Saturday morning
-
djsmoove added The Tears of a Clown to the playlist Soul songs. Saturday morning
-
MSusanne added The Tears of a Clown to the playlist Reggae. Friday evening
Related Journals
-
Creation: The Contoured Tears Of A Clown
by Jimbalaya |
18 Nov 2008 | Add comment
-
10,000 track
by Garcian |
11 Jun 2007 | 5 comments
-
Best Use of Oboe in a Pop Song
by wrki |
4 Jan 2006 | 1 comment
