I Don't Blame You at All

"I Don't Blame You At All" was a 1971 R&B hit by The Miracles (AKA Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was composed by Miracles lead singer, William "Smokey" Robinson,and produced by Robinson and Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, and was taken from their album, One Dozen Roses. This song was actually the follow-up hit to their #1 smash, "The Tears of a Clown", and reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, charting at #18, and the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #7. It was also a Top 20 hit in the UK, reaching #11 on the British charts that year. It is also noted as the group's last Top 20 pop hit before Smokey Robinson's departure from The Miracles the following year, and was performed by the group on Dick Clark's American Bandstand on an episode dated July 10, 1971.^[1][2]

In this sad, mournful tune, belying its up-tempo nature, Smokey, as the song's narrator, tells a girl that he obviously wants (that doesn't share his feelings) that he doesn't blame her for "playing it cool" when she decides to call off the relationship.

Lamenting the fact that his attraction to her covered the fact that she had just casual feelings for him, he sings:

"I dont blame you at all,'cause you played it cool
You don't owe me a thing 'cause I was a fool
I'm only paying the price
For a trip I took to Paradise
'Cause I looked into a pair of eyes, and what I thought was The Look Of Love
Was only hurt in disguise"

"I Don't Blame You At All" was the group's final big hit with Robinson, though the Miracles did continue to chart several times before his departure, with songs including "Satisfaction", "I Can't Stand To See You Cry", and "We've Come Too Far to End It Now". This song has inspired a cover version by Rosetta Hightower, and appears on many Miracles' "Greatest Hits" album and CD compilations.

Personnel: The Miracles

• Smokey Robinson
• Claudette Rogers Robinson
• Pete Moore
• Ronnie White
• Bobby Rogers
• Marv Tarplin

Additional instruments: The Funk Brothers

References

External links

• I Don't Blame You At All-by The Miracles- on YouTube

The Miracles
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 Pre-Miracles: Emerson "Sonny" Rogers James Grice Clarence Dawson
Production	Berry Gordy Smokey Robinson Pete Moore
Studio albums	Hi... We're The Miracles (1961) Cookin' with The Miracles (1961) I'll Try Something New (1962) The Fabulous 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) One Dozen Roses (1971) Flying High Together (1972) Renaissance (1973) Do It Baby (1974) City of Angels (1975)
Live albums	The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage (1963) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles LIVE! (1969) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957-1972 (1972)
Other albums	Christmas with The Miracles (1963)
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 (US/UK Top Twenty singles)	"Shop Around" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"/"Happy Landing" "Mickey's Monkey" "Ooo Baby Baby" "The Tracks of My Tears" "My Girl Has Gone" "Going to a Go-Go" "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" "I Second That Emotion" "If You Can Want" "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" "The Tears of a Clown" "I Don't Blame You At All" "Do It Baby" "Love Machine"
Videography	The Definitive Performances (1963–1987) (2006)
Discography	Albums Songs
Related articles	Motown Records List of cover versions of The Miracles songs
Book:The Miracles

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)
Book:The Miracles