"Here I Go Again" was a 1969 hit single by

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 ...

(aka ''Smokey Robinson and the Miracles''). It was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore, along with Motown staff songwriters

Al Cleveland Al Cleveland (born Alfred W. Cleveland; March 11, 1930 – August 14, 1996) was an American songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most popular co-compositions are 1967's "I Second That Emotion" and 1969's " Baby, Baby Don't Cry" performed by ...

and

Terry "Buzzy" Johnson Terry "Buzzy" Johnson (born Isaiah Johnson, November 12, 1938), is an American popular music singer, songwriter and music producer. Early career Johnson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up as a neighbor of The Orioles' Sonny Til and ...

, a member of the legendary R&B group

The Flamingos The Flamingos are an American doo-wop group formed in Chicago in 1953. The band became popular in mid-to-late 1950s and are known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You". They have since been hailed as one of the finest and ...

. The song was released on Motown Records'

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

label subsidiary. It was taken from their top-25 Pop album '' Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles'' from that year, and was the "B" side of their hit single, "

Doggone Right "Doggone Right" is a 1969 single recorded by The Miracles (aka Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) for the Tamla label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Marv Tarplin along with Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland and produced by Rob ...

". "Here I Go Again" was performed by the group on a 1969 telecast of the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

music-variety program, '' The Music Scene'', The original Miracles version appears on several of their "Greatest Hits" anthologies, with a live version appearing on their live album, '' Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957-1972''. The Miracles can also be seen performing "Here I Go Again" live on the DVD compilation, ''Music Scene - The Best of 1969-70'' (an out of print collection, but still available on certain collectors' websites)

Background

Moore and Johnson were the song's producers. A heart-rending ballad, Robinson, as the song's narrator, portrays a man falling deeply and hopelessly in love with a young woman, yet afraid to do so due to a bad previous relationship that ended in heartbreak and failure: :"''My heart said to me ... don't walk head-on into Misery ... Hey, with your eyes wide open, Can't you see ... A hurt's in store ... Just like before..." '' In the end, however, love wins out, outweighing his fears and apprehensions: "''Here I Go Again...walking into love...never thinking of the danger that might exist...disregarding all of this just for you...''". '' Cash Box'' described it as "very slow" and "shimmery" and "exquisitely produced and tailored to the soft-soul sounds."

Personnel: The Miracles

* Smokey Robinson – lead vocal, co-writer * Claudette Rogers Robinson – backing vocal * Pete Moore – backing vocal, co-writer, co-producer *

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 ...

– backing vocal *

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 ...

– backing vocal *

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

Other personnel

*Other instruments by

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 ...

Chart performance

"Here I Go Again" was also a Top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 37. It was a Top 20 hit on the R&B chart as well, peaking at number 15.

Cover Versions

*Chazz Dixon * Carey Bell *A.J. De Bravo, *Little Willie G. *

Oran "Juice" Jones Oran "Juice" Jones (born March 28, 1957) is an American retired R&B singer. Biography Early life Jones was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Harlem, New York City, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, servin ...

References

Allmusic.com

External links

''Here I Go Again'' by ''The Miracles'' (YouTube Video Performance)
{{authority control 1969 songs The Miracles songs Songs written by Smokey Robinson Songs written by Al Cleveland Songs written by Warren "Pete" Moore Songs written by Terry "Buzzy" Johnson