I've Been Good to You
"I've Been Good to You" is a 1961 R&B song by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released as the B-side of their Billboard Top 40 hit, "What's So Good About Goodbye", and was included on their album I'll Try Something New the following year. This sad, melancholy ballad charted #103 on the Billboard Pop chart. Despite its relatively modest chart placing, this song has been hugely influential, and is noted as Beatle John Lennon's favorite Miracles tune, and was the inspiration behind The Beatles' song, "Sexy Sadie". Written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, the song begins with the lyric, "Look what you've done...You've made a fool out of someone..." which Lennon later paraphrased in his song as, "What have you done...You've made a fool of everyone."
The song was performed live by the group on their album, The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage, and has inspired cover versions by Marshall Crenshaw, Joe Meek, The Temptones, Ray, Goodman & Brown (The Moments), The Ones, and fellow Motown artists, Brenda Holloway, and The Temptations. The Temptations' version would also be released as a "B" side and would chart at #124 on the Pop charts in 1967 (as well be released on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready). In addition to being on their first Live album, The Miracles' original version of "I've Been Good to You" actually appears on two other of their early 1960s albums; 1962's I'll Try Something New, and 1963's The Fabulous Miracles.
During a 2009 appearance by Robinson on the Internet/television show Live from Daryl's House, hosted by Daryl Hall, the duo performed "I've Been Good to You" (video on YouTube), among other songs. During some playful, improvisational singing at the end, Robinson sang, "I don't know where you came up with this song... I haven't heard it in so long..."
Personnel – The Miracles
Personnel – The Temptations
Additional instruments
References
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- Pre-Miracles: Emerson "Sonny" Rogers
- James Grice
- Clarence Dawson
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| Book:The Miracles |
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- Pre-Temptations: Kel Osbourne
- Wiley Waller
- James "Pee-Wee" Crawford
- Vernon Plain
- Arthur Walton
- Albert "Mooch" Harrell
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| Singles (US/UK Top 10) | |
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| Filmography | |
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| Discography | |
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- Book
- Category
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| 1960s | |
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| 1970s | |
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| 1980s |
- "Power" (1980)
- "Struck By Lightning Twice" (1980)
- "Aiming At Your Heart" (1981)
- "Oh What A Night" (1981)
- "Standing On The Top - Pt. 1" (1982)
- "More On The Inside" (1982)
- "Money's Hard To Get" (1982)
- "Love On My Mind Tonight" (1983)
- "Surface Thrills" (1983)
- "Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy)" (1983)
- "Sail Away" (1984)
- "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1984)
- "My Love Is True (Truly For You)" (1985)
- "How Can You Say That It's Over" (1985)
- "Do You Really Love Your Baby" (1985)
- "Deeper Than Love" (1985)
- "Touch Me" (1986)
- "I'm Fascinated" (1986)
- "A Fine Mess" (1986)
- "My Girl" (re-issue) (1986)
- "Lady Soul" (1986)
- "To Be Continued..." (1986)
- "Someone" (1987)
- "I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now" (1987)
- "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (re-issue) (1987)
- "Look What You Started" (1987)
- "Do You Wanna Go With Me" (1988)
- "All I Want From You" (1989)
- "Special" (1989)
- "Loveline" (1989)
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| 1990s |
- "Soul to Soul" (1990)
- "One Step At A Time (Remix)" (1990)
- "The Motown Song" (1991)
- "The Jones" (1991)
- "My Girl" (re-issue) (1992)
- "Hoops of Fire" (1992)
- "Error of Our Ways" (1994)
- "Silent Night" (1995)
- "Stay" (1998)
- "This is My Promise" (1998)
- "How Could He Hurt You" (1999)
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| 2000s | |
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| 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)
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| 1960s | |
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| 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)
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| Book:The Miracles |
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