Motown attempts to cash in on
the Miracles' hit "Mickey's Monkey" by releasing an album of dance tunes, resulting in a fair to middling collection. "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying," with its call and response opening, shuffling beat, and hot sax break by
Thomas "Beans" Bowles, is a gem, as is the
Bo Diddley-inspired title cut about a cat named Mickey from out of town.
Smokey's self-written "Groovy Thing" is nice filler, but nothing spectacular. Their renditions of dance classics made popular by others --
Major Lance,
the Orlons Chris Kenner,
the Isley Brothers,
the Contours -- are not as compelling as the originals. The huge cartoon character portraying a goofy-looking monkey named Mickey on the cover made this LP a favorite with kids. ~ Andrew Hamilton