Going to a Go-Go (song)

"Going to a Go-Go"
"Going to a Go-Go"
Single by The Rolling Stones
from the album Still Life
B-side	"Beast of Burden" (Live)
Released	June 2, 1982
Recorded	December 1981
Genre	Rock
Length	3:10
Label	Rolling Stones
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson; Pete Moore; Bobby Rogers; Marvin Tarplin
Producer(s)	The Glimmer Twins
The Rolling Stones singles chronology

"Going to a Go-Go"
"Going to a Go-Go"
Single by The Miracles
from the album Going to a Go-Go
B-side	"Choosey Beggar"
Released	December 6, 1965
Recorded	Hitsville USA (Studio A): August 17, 1965
Genre	Soul/pop
Length	2:50
Label	Tamla; T 54127
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson; Pete Moore; Bobby Rogers; Marvin Tarplin
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson; Pete Moore
The Miracles singles chronology

"Going to a Go-Go" is a 1965 single recorded by The Miracles for Motown's Tamla label.

The Miracles' original version[]

Smokey Robinson sings lead on "Going to a Go-Go", which he co-wrote with fellow Miracles Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers, and Marv Tarplin. Moore, Rogers, Ronnie White, and Smokey Robinson's wife Claudette Robinson provide backing vocals for the song, an up-tempo dance song inviting people of all walk of life to attend a go-go party. Miracles Robinson and Pete Moore were the song's producers. In the Motown DVD release Smokey Robinson And The Miracles: The Definitive Performances, Miracles member and co-writer Bobby Rogers commented that this song was inspired by the success of the "Go-go" clubs that grew in popularity throughout the United States in the 1960s.While at first a regional phenomenon, the success of this Miracles song ignited a nationwide fad for go-go music in America.^[4]

Issued in December 1965, "Going to a Go-Go" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States the following spring. In addition, the single peaked at number-two on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and was The Miracles' fifth million-selling record.^[5]

"Going to a Go-Go" is featured on the Miracles' album of the same name, which proved to be their highest-charting LP of all-original material. The album reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in early 1966, peaking at number eight, and reached #1 on the Billboard top R&B albums chart. In 2003, the Miracles' Going To A Go-Go album was ranked number 271 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

One of the tracks from the Going to a Go-Go LP, "Choosey Beggar", was issued as the single's b-side, and was also a hit, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard R&B chart.

The opening drum intro was sped up and copied by Showaddywaddy on the group's self penned debut single "" in 1974.

Personnel[]

The Miracles

Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, producer
Marv Tarplin – 12-string lead guitar
Bobby Rogers – background vocals, co-writer
Ronnie White – background vocals
Pete Moore – background vocals, co-writer, vocal arranger
Claudette Rogers Robinson – background vocals

Other instrumentation by The Funk Brothers^[6]

Eddie Willis – rhythm guitar
Earl Van Dyke – piano
James Jamerson – bass
Benny Benjamin – drums
Eddie "Bongo" Brown – percussion
Jack Ashford – tambourine

The Rolling Stones live version[]

"Going to a Go-Go" was covered by The Rolling Stones on their 1982 album Still Life. Released as the album's first single, the Stones' version "Going to a Go-Go" reached number 26 in the British charts and number 25 in the United States. Both the single and the album were released in the middle of the European tour of the band in 1982. Other versions of the song are included on the band's Live at Leeds and Hampton Coliseum live albums.

Personnel[]

Mick Jagger – lead vocals
Keith Richards – guitar, background vocals
Ronnie Wood – guitar
Bill Wyman – bass
Charlie Watts – drums

Other instrumentation

Ian Stewart – piano
Ian McLagan – keyboards, background vocals
Ernie Watts – saxophone
The Glimmer Twins – producers

Charts[]

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	4
Ireland (IRMA)^[10]	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	24
Norway (VG-lista)^[13]	5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[14]	18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[15]	9
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	26
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	25

Other covers[]

The song was also a UK top 50 hit in 1975 by The Sharonettes.^[18]

Phil Collins recorded a cover during the sessions of his 2010 album Going Back.

The Miracles' "Going To A Go-Go" was referenced by Arthur Conley in his 1967 hit tune, "Sweet Soul Music".

Other sources[]

Demitri Coryton; Joseph Murrells (1990). Hits Of The Sixties: The Million Sellers. Batsford Ltd. p. 131. ISBN 978-0713458510.
Motown/Universal DVD: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances (1963-1987)

References[]

^ Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection. pg. 61. 1994.
^ Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection. Volume 2: Track 21. pg. 55. 1994.
^ "discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
^ John Bush. "Going to a Go-Go - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
^ "Hits Of The Sixties: The Million Sellers"- by Demitri Coryton & Joseph Murrells (pg 131)
^ Liner notes. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5: 1965, Hip-O Select – B0006775-02, USA, 04 Aug 2006
^ "Austriancharts.at – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6557." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Going to a Go Go". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Rolling Stones: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "The Sharonettes - Going To A Go-Go (Vocal)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

External links[]

The Miracles - "Going to a Go-Go" (1965) video at YouTube
List of cover versions of "Going to a Go-Go" at SecondHandSongs.com

[1] Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection. pg. 61. 1994.

[2] Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: The 35th Anniversary Collection. Volume 2: Track 21. pg. 55. 1994.

[3] "discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.

[4] John Bush. "Going to a Go-Go - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-29.

[5] "Hits Of The Sixties: The Million Sellers"- by Demitri Coryton & Joseph Murrells (pg 131)

[6] Liner notes. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5: 1965, Hip-O Select – B0006775-02, USA, 04 Aug 2006

[sc_Austria_The_Rolling_Stones-7] "Austriancharts.at – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Flanders_The_Rolling_Stones-8] "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-9] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6557." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Ireland2_The_Rolling_Stones-10] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Going to a Go Go". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Rolling_Stones-11] "Dutchcharts.nl – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_New_Zealand_The_Rolling_Stones-12] "Charts.nz – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Norway_The_Rolling_Stones-13] "Norwegiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Sweden_The_Rolling_Stones-14] "Swedishcharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Rolling_Stones-15] "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Going to a Go Go (Live)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Rolling_Stones-16] "Rolling Stones: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Rolling_Stones-17] "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[18] "The Sharonettes - Going To A Go-Go (Vocal)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

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show v t The Miracles (1955–1964) / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1965–1972) / The Miracles (1973–2011)
Smokey Robinson Ronnie White Pete Moore Bobby Rogers Claudette Robinson Marv Tarplin Billy Griffin Donald Griffin Carl Cotton Mark Scott Dave Finley Sydney Justin Alphonse Franklin Tee Turner
Studio albums	Hi... We're the Miracles (1961) Cookin' with the Miracles (1961) I'll Try Something New (1962) The Fabulous Miracles (1963) Christmas with The Miracles (1963) The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey (1963) I Like It Like That (1964) Going to a Go-Go (1965) Away We a Go-Go (1966) Make It Happen (The Tears of a Clown) (1967) Special Occasion (1968) Time Out for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1969) Four in Blue (1969) What Love Has Joined Together (1970) A Pocket Full of Miracles (1970) (1970) One Dozen Roses (1971) Flying High Together (1972) Renaissance (1973) Do It Baby (1974) (1975) City of Angels (1975) (1976) (1977) (1978)
Live albums	The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage (1963) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles LIVE! (1969) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972 (1972)
Compilations	Greatest Hits: From the Beginning (1965) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1968) Anthology (1974) Anthology '86 (1986) Anthology: The Best of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1995) The Ultimate Collection (1998) Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology (2002) Depend On Me: The Early Albums (2009)
Singles	"Bad Girl" "Way Over There" "Shop Around" "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" "What's So Good About Goodbye" "I've Been Good to You" "I'll Try Something New" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"/"Happy Landing" "A Love She Can Count On" "Mickey's Monkey" "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" "I Like It Like That" "That's What Love Is Made Of" "Come On Do the Jerk" "Ooo Baby Baby" "The Tracks of My Tears" "A Fork in the Road" "My Girl Has Gone" "Going to a Go-Go" "Choosey Beggar" "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)" "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" "More Love" "I Second That Emotion" "If You Can Want" "Yester Love" "Special Occasion" "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" "Here I Go Again" "Doggone Right" "Abraham, Martin and John" "Point It Out" "The Tears of a Clown" "I Don't Blame You at All" "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" "Give Me Just Another Day" "Do It Baby" "Love Machine"
Videography	The Definitive Performances (1963–1987) (2006)
Related	Discography Cover versions of Miracles songs Awards and achievements The Miracles Sing Modern

show v t The Miracles singles discography
1950s	"Got a Job" (1958) "Your Love (Is All I Need)" (1958) "I Cry" (1958) "I Need a Change" (1959) "It" (1959) " Bad Girl" (1959) "The Feeling Is So Fine" (1959) / "(You Can) Depend on Me" (1959)
1960s	"Way Over There" (1960) "Shop Around" (1960) / "Who's Lovin' You" (1960) "Ain't It Baby" (1961) "Mighty Good Lovin'" (1961) / Broken Hearted" (1961) "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" (1961) "What's So Good About Goodbye" (1961) / "I've Been Good to You" (1961) "I'll Try Something New" (1962) "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962) / "Happy Landing" (1962) "A Love She Can Count On" (1963) / "I Can Take a Hint" (1963) " Mickey's Monkey" (1963) "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" (1963) "The Christmas Song" (1963) "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" (1964) "I Like It Like That" (1964) "That's What Love Is Made Of" (1964) "Come On Do the Jerk" (1964) "Ooo Baby Baby" (1965) "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965) / "A Fork in the Road" (1965) "My Girl Has Gone" (1965) "Going to a Go-Go" (1965) / "Choosey Beggar" (1965) "Whole Lot of Shakin' in My Heart (Since I Met You)" (1966) "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" (1966) "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" (1967) "More Love" (1967) "I Second That Emotion" (1967) "If You Can Want" (1968) "Yester Love" (1968) "Special Occasion" (1968) "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (1969) "Here I Go Again" (1969) / "Doggone Right" (1969) "Abraham, Martin and John" (1969) "Point It Out" (1969) / "Darling Dear" (1969)
1970s	"Who's Gonna Take the Blame" (1970) "The Tears of a Clown" (1970) "I Don't Blame You at All" (1970) "Crazy About the La La" (1971) "Satisfaction" (1971) "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" (1972) "I Can't Stand to See You Cry" (1972) "Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin)" (1973) "Give Me Just Another Day" (1973) "Do It Baby" (1974) "Don't Cha Love It" (1974) "Gemini" (1975) "Love Machine" (1975) "Night Life" (1976) "Spy for Brotherhood" (1977) "I Can Touch the Sky" (1977) "Mean Machine" (1978)

show v t The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger Keith Richards Ronnie Wood Brian Jones Ian Stewart Mick Taylor Charlie Watts Bill Wyman Tony Chapman Ricky Fenson Carlo Little Dick Taylor
Video releases	Let's Spend the Night Together (1983) Video Rewind (1984) Stones at the Max (1992) Sympathy for the Devil (1994) Voodoo Lounge Live (1995) The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996) Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98 (1998) Four Flicks (2003) Toronto Rocks (2004) A Bigger Bang: Special Edition (2005) The Biggest Bang (2007) T.A.M.I. Show (2010) Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (2010) Some Girls: Live in Texas '78 (2011) Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones Live At The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 (2012) Sweet Summer Sun: Live in Hyde Park (2013) Hampton Coliseum (Live 1981) (2014) L.A. Friday (2014) Live at the Tokyo Dome (2015) Live at Leeds (2015) Totally Stripped (2016) Havana Moon (2016) Voodoo Lounge Uncut (2018) Steel Wheels Live (2020)
Documentaries	Charlie Is My Darling (1966) The Stones in the Park (1969) Gimme Shelter (1970) Cocksucker Blues (1972) 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989) Stripped (1995) Shine a Light (2008) Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (2009) Stones in Exile (2010) Crossfire Hurricane (2012) Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America (2017)
Tours	British Tour 1963 1964 tours 1965 tours 1966 tours European Tour 1967 American Tour 1969 European Tour 1970 UK Tour 1971 American Tour 1972 Pacific Tour 1973 European Tour 1973 Tour of the Americas '75 Tour of Europe '76 US Tour 1978 American Tour 1981 European Tour 1982 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour Voodoo Lounge Tour Bridges to Babylon Tour No Security Tour Licks Tour A Bigger Bang Tour 50 & Counting 14 On Fire Zip Code Tour América Latina Olé Tour 2016 Fall 2016 US Tour No Filter Tour
Associated places	Redlands Stargroves Nellcôte The Wick Downe House The Mick Jagger Centre Stones Fan Museum
Related articles	Discography Songs Awards and nominations Concert tours Jagger–Richards Nanker Phelge Rolling Stones Records Promotone Altamont Free Concert The Rolling Stones' Redlands bust Rolling Stones Mobile Studio The Rolling Stones: An Illustrated Record Andrew Loog Oldham Eric Easton Allen Klein John Pasche Instruments played Stone Country: Country Artists Perform the Songs of the Rolling Stones Tongue and lips logo
Category

show v t The Rolling Stones singles
Decca (UK) and London (US) singles	"Come On" "I Wanna Be Your Man" / "Stoned" "Not Fade Away" / "Little by Little" "It's All Over Now" "Tell Me" / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" "Time Is on My Side" "Little Red Rooster" "Heart of Stone" "The Last Time" / "Play with Fire" "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" / "The Spider and the Fly" "Get Off of My Cloud" / "I'm Free" "As Tears Go By" "19th Nervous Breakdown" / "As Tears Go By" "Paint It Black" / "Stupid Girl" "Mother's Little Helper" / "Lady Jane" "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" "Let's Spend the Night Together" / "Ruby Tuesday" "We Love You" / "Dandelion" "In Another Land" "She's a Rainbow" / "2000 Light Years from Home" "Jumpin' Jack Flash" "Street Fighting Man" / "No Expectations" "Honky Tonk Women" / "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Rolling Stones Records/Atlantic singles	"Brown Sugar" / "Bitch" / "Let It Rock" "Wild Horses" / "Sway" "Tumbling Dice" / "Sweet Black Angel" "Happy" / "All Down the Line" "Angie" / "Silver Train" "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" / "Dancing with Mr. D" "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" / "Dance Little Sister" "Fool to Cry" "Hot Stuff"
Rolling Stones Records singles	"Miss You" / "Far Away Eyes" "Beast of Burden" / "When the Whip Comes Down" "Respectable" / "When the Whip Comes Down" "Shattered" "Emotional Rescue" "She's So Cold" / "Send It to Me" "Start Me Up" "Waiting on a Friend" / "Little T&A" "Hang Fire" / "Neighbours" "Going to a Go-Go" (live) / "Beast of Burden" (live) "Time Is on My Side" (live) / "Twenty Flight Rock" (live) "Undercover of the Night" "She Was Hot" "Too Much Blood" "Harlem Shuffle" "One Hit (To the Body)" "Mixed Emotions" "Rock and a Hard Place" "Almost Hear You Sigh" "Highwire" / "2000 Light Years from Home" (live) "Ruby Tuesday" (live) / "Play with Fire" (live) "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live)
Virgin singles	"Love Is Strong" "You Got Me Rocking" "Out of Tears" "I Go Wild" "Like a Rolling Stone" (live) / "Black Limousine" / "All Down the Line" "Wild Horses" (live) / "Live with Me" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live) "Anybody Seen My Baby?" "Saint of Me" / "Gimme Shelter" (live) "Out of Control" "Don't Stop" / "Miss You" (remix) "Streets of Love" / "Rough Justice" "Rain Fall Down" "Biggest Mistake" / "Before They Make Me Run" (live) "Laugh, I Nearly Died"
Universal singles	"Plundered My Soul" / "All Down the Line" "No Spare Parts" / "Before They Make Me Run" "Doom and Gloom" "One More Shot" "Just Your Fool" "Living in a Ghost Town" "Scarlet"
ABKCO singles	"I Don't Know Why" / "Try a Little Harder" "Out of Time" / "Jiving Sister Fanny"
Other countries	"Let It Bleed" / "You Got the Silver" (Japan) "Rocks Off" / "Sweet Virginia" (Japan) "Star Star" / "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" (France, Germany)