The follow-up to
Going to a Go-Go probably disappointed the teenagers, offering only a few up-tempo dance songs and mostly consisting of odds and ends. It boasted only one pop Top 40 hit, Holland-Dozier-Holland's "(Come Round Here) I'm the One You Need," and never came together the way their classic LPs had. In fact, only four of the songs were
Smokey Robinson originals, in part because
the Miracles had been so busy on the road. Ivy Jo Hunter, Frank Wilson, and Norman Whitfield took up the slack and contributed material up to par, like the album's other chart entry, Wilson's "Whole Lot of Shaking in My Heart (Since I Met You)." The Miracles also did better than other Motown acts with crossover material; their two
Burt Bacharach covers, "Walk on By" and "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself," are convincing performances, thanks to
Robinson's familiarity with the range required by pop songs. Besides the singles, the other two interesting songs here are their B-sides, both written and produced by the group. Both "Save Me" and "Oh Be My Love" are simply average compositions, but
the Miracles make them both winners with thoughtful, caressing performances. ~ John Bush