"Happy Landing" is a 1962 R&B recording by Motown Records singing 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 groups ...

, issued on that label's Tamla Records subsidiary label (T54073). It was recorded in November 1962, and appeared on their album ''

The Fabulous Miracles ''The Fabulous Miracles'' is a 1963 album by The Miracles featuring the million-selling ''Grammy Hall of Fame'' hit, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", one of the group's most popular singles. It also features the chart hits "A Love She Can Count O ...

''. The group also recorded a live version of this song on their first live album, 1963's ''

The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage ''The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage'' is a 1963 live album by the Miracles, part of the early 1960s Motown "Live on Stage" series by various artists. The first of three live albums the group released during their career, it features R&B numbers ...

''.

Originally an "A" Side

Written by Miracles members

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief ...

and

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 ...

, ''Happy Landing'' was originally conceived as the "A" side of Tamla 54073, and was the first single issued from the album ''The Fabulous Miracles''. This song was popular in many regions of the country, but was not charting nationally, because American

disc jockey A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include Radio personality, radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music f ...

s, preferred and played the "B" side, ''

You've Really Got a Hold on Me "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, which became a 1962 Top 10 hit single for the Miracles. One of the Miracles' most covered tunes, this million-selling song received a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame Award. It has als ...

'', which went on to become one of

' most successful songs, their second million-seller (after ''

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 ...

''), and a 1998 ''

Grammy Hall of Fame The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...

'' inductee. The song, in addition to being on the aforementioned Miracles' albums, also appears on the group's 4-CD box-set ''35th Anniversary Collection'' and on their 2-CD set, '' The Miracles – Depend On Me: The Early Albums''. It has inspired a cover version by

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

Personnel

The Miracles

- lead vocals, co-writer, producer *

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 ...

- background vocals * Pete Moore - (absent due to military service) *

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 ...

- background vocals *

- background vocals, co-writer *

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 ...

- guitar

Additional instruments

The Funk Brothers The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Its members are considered among the most successful groups of stud ...

References

''"Happy Landing"''- by ''The Miracles'' - Song Review from the "Motown Junkies" website
*'' The Miracles–Depend On Me: The Early Albums'' liner notes, p. 12. *''Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection''

iner notes Iner or INER may refer to: * Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, or INER * Iner Souster FemBots are a Canadian indie rock band from Toronto formed in 1998. FemBots are known for their unique sound of combining instrumental everyday items, junk ...

Motown Records *''The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 2: 1962''

New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records {{authority control 1962 songs Songs written by Smokey Robinson Songs written by Ronald White Motown singles The Miracles songs Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson