Motown Soul Music

Marv Tarplin (guitar). The story is that it was Marv Tarplin working and working the guitar riffs that eventually evolved into the song. And those riffs are some of the most famous in pop music history. The Miracles released the song as a single on Motown’s Tamla label in 1965, backed with “A Ford in the Road.” “The Tracks of My Tears” went to #16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B Chart in 1965. In the U.K., it took a while to catch on, but it went to #9 in 1969. The song was also on their 1965 album Going to a Go-Go. It’s some of the best of Sixties soul music.

The song has been recognized by many organizations. This includes Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; the RIAA and The National Endowment for the Arts of Songs of the 365 Greatest Songs of the 20th Center; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The song is also preserved in the National Recording Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress as culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.

Of course, over the years, there have been many covers, with versions by Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Rivers, Aretha Franklin, Go West, and Colin Blunstone, to mention a few.

For the track, there were Smokey Robinson (lead vocals) and Marv Tarplin (guitar) with background vocals from Claudette Rogers Robinson, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Bobby Rogers. Instrumentation was provided by the Motown session musicians The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Here are the lyrics to “The Tracks of My Tears” by The Miracles:

People say I’m the life of the party
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I’m blue
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place

If you look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I’m having fun
Although she may be cute

She’s just a substitute
Because you’re the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears

I need you, need you
Outside I’m masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up

I wear since my break up with you
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace T
he tracks of my tears, baby, baby.
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace…

For other songs by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles: “I Second That Emotion.” “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Shop Around” (these are on Pass the Paisley’s sister site The Daily Doo Wop).

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.