"Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" (Tamla 54048), was a 1961 R&B song by Motown Records group

The Miracles The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential group ...

released on the label's Tamla Records subsidiary. It was taken from '' Cookin' with The Miracles'', the group's second album, and was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and

Ronald White Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse ''Rögnvaldr'', Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald. or possibly from Old English '' Regenweald''. In some cases ''Ronald'' is an Anglicised form of ...

. It entered the Billboard Pop and R&B listings that year, and reached #52 and #11 respectively. Similar to the group's first million-selling hit single, "

Shop Around "Shop Around" is a song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. It was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. It became a smash hit in 1960 when originally re ...

", this song is an "advice" record. Whereas on the earlier tune Smokey, as the song's narrator, received advice from his mama, who told him "You better Shop Around", this time it is Smokey who is giving life's advice to his own son, telling him about the trials and errors in the search to find true love in the song's preface: *''If ever I have a son in life''
''I'll call him in one day''... *''And sit him down upon my knee''
''And here is what I'll say....'' In his trademark poetic fashion, as the doting father, Smokey continues... *''You might lose your lover...''
''People do sometimes...''
''But it won't make sense for you...''
''To sit around cryin'...
''Don't you know that when you fall in love, sometimes...''
''You're gonna have to lose...''
''Well, it may take years, but you're gonna shed some tears...'cause''
''Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues.'' The other Miracles, Bobby, Ronnie, Pete, and Claudette, provide their backing harmonies to punctuate Smokey's vocals on the chorus and elsewhere, using classic

call and response Call and response is a form of interaction between a speaker and an audience in which the speaker's statements ("calls") are punctuated by responses from the listeners. This form is also used in music, where it falls under the general category of ...

vocals on the song's bridge. The song was laden with heavy strings throughout, and was actually, despite its modest chart placing, very important in establishing the Miracles' sound and fan base, proving that they were far from being "one hit wonders". It kept their name on the charts, and Motown's name in the trade papers, ('' Billboard'', '' Cash Box'', etc.). It also established the beginnings of what later came to be known as "The Motown Sound", and featured a level of sophistication not found on previous Miracles' singles releases. The Miracles' importance to Motown during this earlier period cannot be overstated, as they were the label's first group, and the only act on the label to enjoy a consistent string of chart hit records during the company's critical early years, 1959-1964. This song was arranged by famed Chicago-based conductor/arranger Riley C. Hampton. This was the first time an outside arranger was employed on a Motown release. Ironically, while ''Everybody's Got to Pay Some Dues'' was one of The Miracles' best early hits, it is also one of the least acclaimed: only one cover version is known...by fellow Motown artist,

Marv Johnson Marvin Earl Johnson (October 15, 1938 – May 16, 1993) was an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist. He was influential in the development of the Motown style of music, primarily for the song " Come to Me," which was the first record iss ...

, who recorded a version in 1967. It wasn't even included in the group's first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits from the Beginning. It has, however, since been included in their ''35th Anniversary Collection'' box set, and a few other Miracles compilations, including the group's 2009 2 -disc compilation release, The Miracles–Depend On Me: The Early Albums .

Personnel: The Miracles

* Smokey Robinson *

Claudette Robinson Claudette Annette Rogers Robinson ( Rogers; born June 20, 1938) is an American singer, best known as a member of the vocal group The Miracles from 1957 to 1972. Her brother Emerson "Sonny" Rogers was a founding member of the group, which befor ...

Bobby Rogers Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Miracles to t ...

* Pete Moore *

Ronnie White Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1939 – August 26, 1995), usually referred to as Ronnie White, was an American singer, best known as the co-founder of The Miracles and its only consistent original member. White was also known for bringing Stevi ...

Marv Tarplin Marvin Tarplin (June 13, 1941 – September 30, 2011) was an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group's original members and co-wrote several of their bigges ...

External links

References

''Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues'' -Song Review-from the "Motown Junkies" website
{{authority control The Miracles songs Tamla Records singles 1961 songs Songs written by Smokey Robinson Songs written by Ronald White Song recordings produced by Berry Gordy