Smokey Robinson And The Miracles – The Tears of a Clown (3:02)
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About This Track
“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.
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Albums featuring this track
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The Ultimate Collection
Smokey Robinson And The Miracles
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18 Greatest Hits
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The Tracks of My Tears
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Shouts
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i_love_mangos wrote:
The way he wrote songs ...... *sighs*
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retrowens wrote:
Can't say enough about this one! Easily one of my favorite Oldies and Motown songs of all time. Mega catchy!
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sari_kirsty wrote:
shake da bum bum <3
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johnnygoyen wrote:
A TRUE MOTOWN CLASSIC. As a Houston Radio DJ I cannot come close to counting how many times I played this one. Many Memories of Houston Radio! Best & Enjoy Last.FM
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Marjo47 wrote:
great I found it again, fav.
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abbeeyyy wrote:
<3
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kiteo wrote:
Classic intro.
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worldfallsdown wrote:
<3
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herrkliem wrote:
läuft immer auf arbeit
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promisedeyes wrote:
Classic soul! <3
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prominence_la wrote:
A classic - but The (English) Beat's version is so, so, awesome. Granted, I've never realized before how cool that bassline is.
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FICTON1 wrote:
super ... *,*
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thirdprofile wrote:
lyrical genius, one of the best songs ever written.
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BackNDaDay90 wrote:
Timeless.
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Turner_Ound wrote:
nice
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mrfootball70 wrote:
the tears of a clown..when no ones around
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moustachedbaron wrote:
Perfect!
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rome_is_rome wrote:
great song. I love the back-beat.
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PippaCainprimo wrote:
I want to dance
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jennica_med_c wrote:
Haha, my mum loves this song. No wonder, it's really catchy :)
Track Stats
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