"Point It Out" is a 1969 recording by

Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

R&B group

The Miracles The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential grou ...

(AKA "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles") on that label's Tamla subsidiary (Tamla 54189). This mid-tempo song was a national

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

Top 40 Pop hit, reaching #37 on the Hot 100, and was a Top 10 R&B hit was well, reaching #4.Smokey Robinson and The Miracles; The 35th Anniversary Collection Liner Notes, Pgs 58 & 62 It was taken from their album ''" A Pocket Full Of Miracles"'', and was written by Miracles members William "Smokey" Robinson and

Marv Tarplin Marvin Tarplin (June 13, 1941 – September 30, 2011) was an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group's original members and co-wrote several of their bigges ...

, along with Motown staff songwriter

Al Cleveland Al Cleveland (born Alfred W. Cleveland; March 11, 1930 – August 14, 1996) was an American songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most popular co-compositions are 1967's " I Second That Emotion" and 1969's "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" performed by ...

Background

Robinson and Cleveland were the song's producers. It was recorded by the group on September 18, 1969. "Point It Out" has inspired a cover version by

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successf ...

and

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

. As with many Miracles hit tunes, "Point It Out" begins with Miracles member/co-composer Marv Tarplin's guitar, while Robinson, as the song's narrator, explains the sheer joy of being in a new love relationship with a special lady, one so special that he simply can't think of a reason for ''not'' loving her: *''"You're the one that I'm crazy for'' *''And, every day it seems I love you more and more'' *''Now, if there's a reason why I shouldn't love you'' *''The way that I do, with a love that is true'' *''Somebody Point It Out...'' *''Point It Out to me"''. Unlike some Miracles songs, where the background vocalists' voices are partially obscured under the music, Miracles Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, and Claudette Rogers Robinson's voices are clearly audible in this song, giving it more of a "group" sound, their tight harmonies adding to the song's overall quality feel, while Robinson's trademark poetry and mastery with wordplay are clearly evident throughout. This song is the closest that The Miracles have come to pure Funk in any of their records. The song's "B" side, ''Darling Dear'', was also a hit, reaching #100 on the Billboard Pop chart that same year. It has inspired a cover version by

The Jackson Five The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most ...

, who in their career, covered many Miracles tunes, including "

Who's Lovin' You "Who's Lovin' You" is a Motown soul song, written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson. The song has been recorded by many different artists including The Miracles, who recorded the 1960 original version, The Temptations, The Supremes, Te ...

", "

(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" is a 1966 hit single by Motown group The Miracles, released on Motown Records' Tamla label. Unlike most Miracles songs, which were written and produced by the group themselves, "I'm the One You Need" wa ...

," and " The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage". Both songs have appeared on several Miracles' "Greatest Hits" CD compilations, including their ''35th Anniversary Collection'' box set''.''

Credits: The Miracles

* William "Smokey" Robinson * Claudette Robinson *

Warren "Pete" Moore Warren Thomas "Pete" Moore (November 19, 1938 – November 19, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter and record producer, notable as the bass singer for Motown group the Miracles from 1955 onwards, and was one of the group's original members. H ...

Bobby Rogers Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Miracles to t ...

Ronnie White Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1939 – August 26, 1995), usually referred to as Ronnie White, was an American singer, best known as the co-founder of The Miracles and its only consistent original member. White was also known for bringing Stevi ...

Other Instruments

The Funk Brothers The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The ...

Chart performance

References

External links

*''Smokey Robinson and The Miracles; The 35th Anniversary Collection'' Liner Notes, Pgs 58 & 62
It Out'' by ''The Miracles''-''Allmusic Guide'' Song Review
* {{Navbox Musical artist , name = The Miracles singles , title =

singles

discography Discography is the study and cataloging of published sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified music genres. The exact information included varies depending on the type and scope of the discography, but a discography entry ...

, background = group_or_band , group1 = 1950s , list1 = "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) , group2 = 1960s , list2 = " Way Over There" (1960){{· "

Shop Around "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 re ...

" (1960) /

" (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 "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, which became a 1962 Top 10 hit single for the Miracles. One of the Miracles' most covered tunes, this million-selling song received a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame Award. It has a ...

" (1962) / " Happy Landing" (1962) {{· "A Love She Can Count On" (1963) / "I Can Take a Hint" (1963) {{· "

Mickey's Monkey Mickey's is a brand of malt liquor made by the Miller Brewing Company. It has a 5.6% ABV. The brand was created by Sterling Brewery in Evansville, Indiana, which brewed it from 1962 through 1972. It is known for its bright green barrel-shaped, ...

" (1963){{· " I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" (1963){{· "

The Christmas Song "The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting by an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. The Nat King Cole Trio ...

" (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 "That's What Love Is Made Of" is a 1964 hit song by Motown's original vocal group, the Miracles, issued on the label's Tamla records subsidiary. It was taken from the group's album ''Greatest Hits from the Beginning'', but originally appeared on ...

" (1964){{· " Come On Do The Jerk" (1964){{· "

Ooo Baby Baby "Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It is a classic 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label. The song has inspired numerous other cover versions by other artists over the years, including c ...

" (1965){{· "

The Tracks of My Tears "The Tracks of My Tears" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning 1965 hit R&B song originally recorded by their group, The Miracles, on Motown's Tamla label. The Miracles' million-sel ...

" (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) {{· "

" (1966){{· " The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage"/" Come Spy with Me" (1967){{· " More Love" (1967){{· " I Second That Emotion" (1967){{· If You Can Want" (1968){{· "

Yester Love "Yester Love" (Tamla 54167) was a 1968 song by Motown Records R&B group The Miracles (aka "Smokey Robinson" and The Miracles) on its Tamla subsidiary label. It was recorded on December 18, 1967 (released on May 13, 1968), and was included on the ...

" (1968){{· " Special Occasion" (1968) {{· " Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (1969){{· "

Here I Go Again "Here I Go Again" is a song by British rock band Whitesnake. Originally released on their 1982 album, '' Saints & Sinners'', the power ballad was re-recorded for their 1987 self-titled album. The song was re-recorded again the same year in a ...

" (1969) / " Doggone Right" (1969) {{· "

Abraham, Martin & John "Abraham, Martin and John" is a 1968 song written by Dick Holler. It was first recorded by Dion, in a version that was a substantial North American chart hit in 1968–1969. Near-simultaneous cover versions by Smokey Robinson and the Mirac ...

" (1969){{· "Point It Out" (1969) / "Darling Dear" (1969) , group3 = 1970s , list3 = "Who's Gonna Take the Blame" (1970){{· "

The Tears of a Clown "The Tears of a Clown" is a song written by Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder and originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla Records label subsidiary of Motown, first appearing on the 1967 album '' Make It H ...

" (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) Motown singles 1969 songs Songs written by Marv Tarplin Songs written by Smokey Robinson Songs written by Al Cleveland The Miracles songs Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson