"Special Occasion" is a 1968 hit single recorded by

Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmant ...

R&B group Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, issued by its Tamla Records subsidiary and taken from the album of the same name. It was written and composed by Miracles lead singer

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 Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland, the authors of the group's Top 10 million-selling smash, " I Second That Emotion", the previous year.

Song background

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.

Reception

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' called it a "mid-speed song" with "extremely effective orchestration."

Chart performance

"Special Occasion" was a ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' Top 30 Pop hit, peaking at #26, and was a Top 10 R&B hit as well, peaking at #4.

Credits: The Miracles

Personnel

''lead vocals'' * Claudette Robinson ''soprano'' * Pete Moore ''bass vocals'' * Marv Tarplin ''guitar'' * Ronnie White ''baritone'' * Bobby Rogers ''tenor''

Other credits

* The Funk Brothers instruments

Cover versions

*"Special Occasion" has inspired a cover version by Jazz/R&B singer

Jim Gilstrap James Earl Gilstrap (born November 10, 1946)''U.S. Public Records Index'' Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010. is an American singer, considered one of the most prolific session musicians in the industry. He is best known for ...

. Its flip side, "Give Her Up", was a cover of a song Smokey had written for Martha & the Vandellas in 1963. "Give Her Up", like many Miracles' "B" sides, was also a popular regional hit.

References

External links

* {{The Miracles singles The Miracles songs Songs written by Smokey Robinson 1968 songs Motown singles Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson