'Cookin' With The Miracles' is the groups second album I believe and it was made during a time when albums,not singles seemed to be a higher priority for Motown.Classic early Motown
dance numbers such as "Ain't It Baby","Everybody's Got To Pay Some Dues","Mama" and the bonus track "Mighty Good Lovin" are not songs commonly found on the big anthology sets.You'll actually want to get this album along with the same year' release 'Hi,We're The Miracles'-both could almost be part one and two of the other!

The Miracles' 2nd full length album, their second in 1961, is yet again another winner. The recipe again is nice doo-wop style harmony and a mix of ballad and more up tempo rock and soul. This 1994 cd re-release has some pretty good remastering considering that the album was 33 years old at the time of re-issue. The album itself is a rockin'good time and represents a great time in Rock `N Roll and Rhythm and Blues music. Smokey Robinson is a master songwriter and crafts some memorable songs here. I was not alive during the doo-wop era but really love that style of music, and Smokey and the Miracles are one of my favorite doo-wop acts. "Mama" is an upbeat rocker where Smokey sings about addressing his mother and telling her that he found a wonderful woman, and though they will struggle financially, they will make it. "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues" is a rich string laden number about what everyone will have to endure in relationships: pain and loss. I love that the 1994 cd issue has a bonus track from circa 1960-61: "Mighty Good Lovin'." "Mighty..." is a wonderful rock n roll/doo-wop jam with a nice guitar riff and uptempo vibe. Songs like this are why I love oldies. "Broken Hearted" is another string-rich number but with a slower, bluesy tempo. Smokey's voice is honey smooth here and displays a tender emotion about a relationship gone wrong. I love the "shoo doo bop bop's" and the heavenly harmony in "The Only One I Love," a sweet ballad with a slower tempo and guitar ridden beat. "Embraceable You" is a classy jazz standard/cover and is sweet and slow for your honey love. Cookin With The Miracles is definitely a highlight in Motown's catalogue. CD copies are hard to come across and are really expensive, but for soul collectors like me, are more than worth it. For what it's worth, for the budget minded, most of the songs, save for a couple tracks can be downloaded off of The Complete Motown singles 1959-1961, here on Amazon. But, I feel that the album is best experienced as a whole. If you do purchase it get ready for a delicious meal cooked by Chef Smokey and his Miracle cooking staff.