Shop Around

"Shop Around"
"Shop Around"
Single by Captain & Tennille
from the album Song of Joy
B-side	"Butterscotch Castle"
Released	April 1976
Genre	Pop
Length	3:29
Label	A&M; 1817
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson; Berry Gordy;
Producer(s)	Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille
Captain & Tennille singles chronology

"Shop Around"
"Shop Around"
Single by The Miracles
from the album Hi... We're the Miracles
B-side	"Who's Lovin' You"
Released	September 27, 1960 (regional) ; October 15, 1960 (national)
Recorded	Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1960
Genre	Soul
Length	3:04 (Detroit version); 2:50 (National hit version);
Label	Tamla; T 54034
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson; Berry Gordy;
Producer(s)	Berry Gordy
The Miracles singles chronology

"Shop Around" is a song originally recorded by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. It was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. It became a smash hit in 1960 when originally recorded by The Miracles, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart, number one on the Cashbox Top 100 Pop Chart, and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was The Miracles first million-selling hit record, and the first-million-selling hit for the Motown Record Corporation. This landmark single was a multiple award winner for The Miracles, having been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006, inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of The 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, and honored by Rolling Stone as #500 in their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Miracles original version[]

Background[]

The original version of "Shop Around" by the Miracles (credited as "The Miracles featuring Bill 'Smokey' Robinson"), was released in 1960 on Motown's Tamla label, catalog number T 54034. The song, written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, depicts a mother giving her now-grown son advice about how to find a woman worthy of being a girlfriend or wife ("My mama told me/'you better shop around'").^[1] The original version of the song had a strong blues influence, and was released in the local area of Detroit, Michigan, before Gordy decided that the song needed to be re-recorded to achieve wider commercial appeal. At 3 a.m. one morning, the Miracles (Robinson, Claudette Rogers, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, and Pete Moore) recorded a new, poppier version of the song that became a major national hit. The original record label credits Bill "Smokey" Robinson as the writer, with Berry Gordy as producer. On the American Top 40 program of July 4, 1987, Casey Kasem reported that Gordy had previously rejected 100 songs by Robinson as "garbage" before accepting the 101st, "Shop Around," as "a hit."

The single was the first Motown record to be released in the UK, on Decca Records' London label. Pictured in the infobox is the subsequent EP release, coupling the "Shop Around" single with its follow-up, "Ain't It Baby". The two singles and the EP were the only Motown releases on the London label.

Reception[]

"Shop Around" was a big hit for the Miracles, becoming the group's first number 1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart, spending eight weeks at the top, and also hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, behind "Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk.^[2]^[3] "Shop Around" also reached No. 1 on the Cashbox magazine Top 100 pop chart and is also noted for being the first million-selling record for the Miracles and for the Motown Record Corporation,^[1] as well as a 2006 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. The B-side to "Shop Around", "Who's Lovin' You", also saw a plethora of covers, including a version by The Jackson 5 in 1969.

"Shop Around" inspired an answer record, "Don't Let Him Shop Around" by Debbie Dean. Dean's "Don't Let Him Shop Around" charted No. 92 on the Hot 100 in February 1961 and was Dean's only chart entry. Smokey Robinson later recorded a sequel song for his 1987 album One Heartbeat, entitled "It's Time to Stop Shopping Around".

Awards and accolades[]

The Motown Record Corporation's first million-selling hit record.
Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Motown Record Corporation's first Billboard number-one R&B hit. It held the No. 1 position on the Billboard R&B Chart for 8 consecutive weeks.^[4]
Ranked as No. 500 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".^[5]
Reached number one on the Cash Box magazine Pop chart.
The first Motown Records song to reach the top 5 on the Billboard pop chart (No. 2).
Honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll".

Track listings[]

"Shop Around" – 2:50
"Who's Lovin' You" – 3:06

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1960–61)	Peak position
Canada (CHUM)^[6]	11
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard R&B	1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100^[7]	1

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1961)	Rank
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 ^[8]	24
U.S. Cash Box ^[7]	25

Personnel[]

The Miracles

Smokey Robinson - lead vocals, writer
Marv Tarplin - guitar
Claudette Rogers Robinson - background vocals
Pete Moore - background vocals
Ronnie White - background vocals
Bobby Rogers - background vocals

Additional personnel^[9]

Berry Gordy - piano, writer, producer
The Funk Brothers - other instrumentation
- Joe Hunter - keyboards^[10]
- James Jamerson - bass^[11]
- Benny Benjamin - drums
- Ron Wakefield - tenor saxophone
- Mike Terry - baritone saxophone^[12]

Captain & Tennille version[]

Background[]

In 1976, the American pop music duo Captain & Tennille recorded their version of "Shop Around" for their second studio album, Song of Joy, issued on the A&M Records label. Toni Tennille changed the lyrics slightly so that they were sung from a woman's perspective. The "Shop Around" single was produced by the duo and featured the song "Butterscotch Castle" as its B-side.

Reception[]

Released as the second single of Captain & Tennille from the Song of Joy album, their version of "Shop Around" was a success. The single reached number 4 in Canada on the RPM singles chart and peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. While not out-charting The Miracles' original, their version became a gold record, and also topped the Billboard easy listening chart for one week in 1976.^[13]

Track listings[]

"Shop Around" - 3:29
"Butterscotch Castle" - 3:19

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1976)	Peak position
Australia (KMR)	37
Canada RPM Top Singles^[14]	4
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[15]	1
New Zealand (RIANZ)^[16]	32
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[17]	4
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary^[17]	1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100^[18]	6

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1976)	Rank
Canada ^[19]	64
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[20]	62
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary^[21]	37
U.S. Cash Box^[22]	26

Personnel[]

Toni Tennille - piano, vocals, background vocal
Daryl Dragon - guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Hal Blaine - drums, percussion
Gary Sims - bass vocal

References[]

Hits Of The Sixties: The Million Sellers by Demitri Coryton & Joseph Murrells, Batsford Ltd., 1990, ISBN 978-0713458510, (pg 43).

Notes[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 - The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 404.
^ "The Hot 100 Chart".
^ "Inductee explorer | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
^ CHUM Tribute Charts, January 30, 1961
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1961". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1960/Top 100 Songs of 1960". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 1: 1959-1961 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
^ "Obituary: Joe Hunter". 6 February 2007.
^ Jamerson, James (1989). Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson. ISBN 9780881888829.
^ Thornton, Jason H. 'The Andrew "Mike" Terry Story', There's That Beat! The Rare Soul Magazine, Issue 4, 2007, UK
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 45.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-03. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-06-19. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
^ New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart, 2 August 1976
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002, ISBN 978-0898201550
^ "Top 100 1976-06-26". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
^ Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-06-05.

External links[]

[pc25-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 - The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 404.

[3] "The Hot 100 Chart".

[4] "Inductee explorer | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.

[5] "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved 2008-06-19.

[6] CHUM Tribute Charts, January 30, 1961

[autogenerated1-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1961". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-12.

[8] "Top 100 Hits of 1960/Top 100 Songs of 1960". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.

[9] The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 1: 1959-1961 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records

[10] "Obituary: Joe Hunter". 6 February 2007.

[11] Jamerson, James (1989). Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson. ISBN 9780881888829.

[12] Thornton, Jason H. 'The Andrew "Mike" Terry Story', There's That Beat! The Rare Soul Magazine, Issue 4, 2007, UK

[13] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 45.

[14] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-03. Retrieved 2018-08-02.

[15] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-06-19. Retrieved 2018-07-09.

[16] New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart, 2 August 1976

[autogenerated1955-17] Jump up to: ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002, ISBN 978-0898201550

[18] "Top 100 1976-06-26". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-26.

[19] "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.

[20] "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-26.

[21] Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976

[22] "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-06-05.

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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 Captain & Tennille
Daryl Dragon Toni Tennille
Albums	Love Will Keep Us Together Song of Joy Come In from the Rain Dream Make Your Move Keeping Our Love Warm More Than Dancing The Secret of Christmas
Singles	"Love Will Keep Us Together" "The Way I Want to Touch You" "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" "Shop Around" "Muskrat Love" "Can't Stop Dancin'" "I'm on My Way" "You Never Done It Like That" "Do That to Me One More Time" "Happy Together (A Fantasy)" "Don't Call It Love"
Songs	"Disney Girls" "Cuddle Up" "God Only Knows" "I Write the Songs" "Wedding Song (There Is Love)"
Related topics	Discography Carmen Dragon The Beach Boys

Shop Around

Contents

The Miracles original version[]

Background[]

Reception[]

Awards and accolades[]

Track listings[]

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Year-end charts[]

Personnel[]

Captain & Tennille version[]

Background[]

Reception[]

Track listings[]

Chart performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Year-end charts[]

Personnel[]

See also[]

References[]

Notes[]

External links[]