This great collection should be permanently available. It is impossible to overstate the influence of Smokey Robinson to the Motown Sound and to sixties music (and beyond!) in general.

The sound of these disks is very good. The booklet has some great photos, material about the history of the group, and information about each recording.

The only thing that I keep wondering is why people insist that the great sounding bassoon on "Tears of a Clown" is a baritone sax. Folks, that is a BASSOON!

There are a few Miracles anthologies on the market. None are as good as this 1995 release. Quite frankly, I cannot believe that this two-disc compilation is not still generally available! Whoever is responsible should see that a new supply is put on the market as soon as possible.

Not only does it give you, with the 50 tracks included, original versions of some 39 of their 46 charted Billboard Hot 100 hits, there are several B-sides, a couple of previously unreleased cuts [tracks 14 on disc one and 6 on disc two], a live version of Going To A Go-Go [track 24 on disc two] to go along with the hit version [track one], and one of their first records done for the End label in 1958 - Got A Job - which was an "answer" song to the smash # 1 Get A Job that year by The Silhouettes.

The insert contains several great photographs of the group, comprehensive background information written by David Ritz, and a complete discography of the contents showing label numbers/LP details, and the performances on the pop/R&B charts. And the sound quality is unsurpassed.

If only all "best of" compilations were this good.

I dont care what others say about The Supremes,Temptations, or other Motown groups,the MIRACLES were the greatest group to ever come out of Motown.PERIOD!! Why ? for one thing,they were the FIRST MOTOWN GROUP.It was their success that paved the way for all the others. Had they not been sucessful, there would have been NO MOTOWN,and none of those other groups would have been found fame ,or at least not to the extent which they did.They also had Motown's first million-selling record "Shop Around".THE MIRACLES put MOTOWN ON THE MAP!! During the company's critical early years- 1959-1964- they were BY FAR Motowns TOP GROUP,(despite what certain reviewers have written}with TOP 10 pop hits in 1961,'62,AND '63,the STAR ATTRACTION of the legendary MOTORTOWN REVUES,and the only group that was bringing any serious money into the company!!Yet,while all the others were inducted, AS GROUPS,into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME,THE MIRACLES were ignored. They chose to induct only SMOKEY.What a shame and insult to Motown's First Group. The TEMPTATIONS ? great singers and dancers to be sure,but what most Temptations fans won't tell you is that 9 of their first 12 hits were actually written by The MIRACLES !! not just Smokey,THE WHOLE GROUP !! Don't believe it ? just look at the writing credits on the Tempts GREATEST HITS album !THE SUPREMES ? They wouldn't have even GOTTEN on Motown if not for Smokey !!Stevie Wonder? He was discovered by Miracles member RONNIE WHITE !! MARVIN GAYE,MARY WELLS,& THE MARVELETTES? Yeah,they wrote their stuff too.The MIRACLES were responsible, either directly or indirectly,for the success of just about EVERY EARLY ARTIST on the MOTOWN LABEL!! In fact ,of the five leading Motown groups ( Supremes, Temptations,4 tops,Miracles,J-5 }The MIRACLES were the ONLY ones that wrote their own material !! Hopefully one day ,the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME will induct them ALL,SMOKEY,BOBBY,RONNIE,PETE, MARV & CLAUDETTE ,not just SMOKEY , as they did.Want to know why they deserve it? Just listen to this CD.Then read the writing credits. It will prove that SMOKEY wasn't the ONLY serious talent in this group !!

Anyone who remembers the music of the late 50's and the sounds of the soul era must have this album. Smokey and the Miracles take you from the highs to the lows...alternately clapping and crying. Although not all of thes songs were tremendous hits, you'll remember them from somewhere.

One of the greatest CD's to purchase to bring back memories of the 60's. Needs to be in every music lovers library. Excellent!