The first album here and by far the most successful of the two, Going to a go-go, was originally released in America in 1965, though it didn't appear in Britain until early 1966. Smokey co-wrote all the songs except My baby changes like the weather, a song co-written by Hal David though I don't remember hearing this song elsewhere. Four singles were released in Britain and America, these being Ooh baby baby, The tracks of my tears, My girl has gone and the title track. All of them charted in America, both in the R+B charts (where they all made the top five) and the pop charts (where they all made the top twenty but none made the top ten). None of them charted in Britain at the time, though a 1969 re-issue of The tracks of my tears made the British top ten.
The second half of this twofer comprises Away we a go-go, released in 1966 in America, but held until 1967 in Britain. Only two singles were released from it, these being Whole lot of shaking in my heart and Come round here I'm the one you need. Neither of them charted in Britain, nor did they make the top forty in the main American pop charts, though both made the top fifty and they did better in the R+B charts. Most of the other songs are originals, though there are covers of two songs made famous by Dusty Springfield (You don't have to say you love me, I just don't know what to do with myself), a cover of Beauty is only skin deep (Temptations) and a cover of Walk on by. Can you love a poor boy (co-written by Ivy Joe Hunter and Stevie Wonder) is probably also a cover.
If you enjoy the music of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and wish to explore what else the group has to offer besides the obvious hits, this is a great twofer to listen to.
