CD
Two splendid vintage Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' albums for the price of one CD. Sprinkled among the 23 tracks are six bona fide hits: "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage," "More Love," "The Tears of a Clown," "Yester Love," "If You Can Want," and "Special Occasion." And there could have been more had "Soulful Shack" and Holland-Dozier-Holland's "It's a Good Feeling" been released and promoted as singles. A Stevie Wonder co-write, "After You Put Back the Pieces (I'll Still Have a Broken Heart)," is sheer, mellow brilliance. Slowies "You Must Be Love," "Much Better Off," and "Give Her Up" were popular B-sides; the latter is a scrumptious ballad with doo wop shadings that Martha & the Vandellas also recorded. This two-fer is as good a starting point for novice Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' fans as one of their greatest-hits collections. And diehards will savor the clean, digitally remastered versions of this great Motown group crooning love songs and calling you to dance in their prime. Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide