"I Don't Blame You At All" was a 1971 R&B song 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 ...

(also known as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) 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. It was composed by Miracles lead singer, William "Smokey" Robinson, produced by Robinson 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 ...

, and was taken from their album, ''

One Dozen Roses ''One Dozen Roses'' is a 1971 album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, issued on Motown Records' Tamla label. The penultimate album before lead singer Smokey Robinson departed the group for a solo career, ''One Dozen Roses'' features the Top 2 ...

''. This song was actually the follow-up hit to their #1 smash, "

The Tears of a Clown "The Tears of a Clown" is a song written by Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder and originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla Records label subsidiary of Motown, first appearing on the 1967 album '' Make It H ...

", and reached the Top 20 of the '' Billboard'' Hot 100, charting at #18, and the Top 10 of the ''Billboard'' R&B chart, peaking at #7. It was also a Top 20 hit in the UK, reaching #11 on the British charts that year. It is also noted as the group's last Top 20 pop hit before Smokey Robinson's departure from The Miracles the following year, and was performed by the group on

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting '' American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 19 ...

's '' American Bandstand'' on an episode dated July 10, 1971.

Background

The song is a sad, mournful tune that belies its up-tempo nature, Smokey, as the song's narrator, tells a girl that he obviously wants (who does not reciprocate his feelings) that he doesn't blame her for "playing it cool" when she decides to call off the relationship. Lamenting the fact that his attraction to her covered the fact that she had just casual feelings for him, he sings: "I Don't Blame You At All" was the group's final big hit with Robinson, though the Miracles did continue to chart several times before his departure, with songs including "Satisfaction", "I Can't Stand To See You Cry", and "

We've Come Too Far to End It Now We've Come Too Far to End It Now was a 1972 single by Motown Records R&B group The Miracles (AKA 'Smokey Robinson & The Miracles') on its Tamla Label subsidiary (T54220F) and taken from their 1972 album, '' Flying High Together'', the group's fin ...

". This song has inspired a cover version by Rosetta Hightower, and appears on many Miracles' "Greatest Hits" album and CD compilations.

Personnel

;The Miracles * Smokey Robinson * Claudette Rogers Robinson * 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

;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 ...

Chart performance

References

External links

I Don't Blame You At All''-by The Miracles- on YouTube
{{The Miracles singles 1971 singles The Miracles songs Songs written by Smokey Robinson Motown singles Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson