Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - One Dozen Roses (1971)

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - One Dozen Roses (1971)

Tracklist front / back album covers

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - One Dozen Roses

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Side one

"When Sundown Comes" (Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin)

"No Wonder Love's a Wonder" (Robinson, Tarplin, Al Cleveland)

"The Tears of a Clown" (Robinson, Hank Cosby, Stevie Wonder)

"Satisfaction" (Robinson)

"Crazy About The La La La" (Robinson)

"Cecilia" (Paul Simon)

Side two

"I Don't Blame You at All" (Robinson)

"That Girl" (Joe Hinton, Cosby, Candice Ghant)

"Faces" (Jack Goga)

"I Love You Dear" (Clay McMurray, John Glover, Pam Sawyer)

"Oh Baby Baby I Love You" (Robinson, Cleveland, Obie Benson)

"The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game" (Robinson)

 

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Band Members / Musicians

Smokey Robinson - lead vocals

Marv Tarplin - guitar

Ronnie White, Bobby Rogers, Warren "Pete" Moore, Claudette Robinson - backing vocals

One Dozen Roses is a 1971 album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, issued on Motown Records' Tamla label. The penultimate album before lead singer Smokey Robinson departed the group for a solo career, One Dozen Roses features the Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit single "I Don't Blame You at All". Also included is the group's number-one smash hit "The Tears of a Clown", which was also made available through the reissue of the 1967 Miracles LP Make It Happen as The Tears of a Clown. Both of these songs were also huge hits in England, reaching #11 and #1 respectively.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – One Dozen Roses (1971): Soulful Sophistication at Its Peak

Released in 1971, One Dozen Roses is a classic album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, one of Motown’s most enduring and influential acts. Known for blending soul, R&B, and pop sophistication, the album exemplifies the group’s seamless craftsmanship, elegant melodies, and heartfelt lyrics that made them household names during the golden era of Motown.

With One Dozen Roses, The Miracles continued to define the romantic soul sound of the early 1970s, combining Smokey Robinson’s silky vocals with lush arrangements, poignant lyrics, and impeccable production. The album bridges the classic Motown style of the 1960s with the evolving soul sounds of the 1970s, maintaining the group’s relevance in a competitive musical landscape.

Artist Background and Career Context

Smokey Robinson, born February 19, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, was the principal songwriter, producer, and lead singer of The Miracles. Formed in 1955, The Miracles became one of Motown Records’ flagship acts, responsible for hits like:

• “Shop Around” (1960)

• “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (1962)

• “Ooo Baby Baby” (1965)

Robinson’s lyrical elegance and emotive delivery established him as a defining voice of Motown and the soul genre. By 1971, he had been a key figure in shaping Motown for over a decade and had started mentoring younger artists while continuing to release hits with The Miracles.

One Dozen Roses represents the group’s mature period, combining romantic balladry, socially aware material, and contemporary soul grooves, reflecting both continuity and growth.

Musical Style and Sound

The album blends:

• Classic Motown soul

• Smooth R&B

• Romantic ballads

• Sophisticated horn and string arrangements

Smokey Robinson’s vocals remain the centerpiece, with harmonies from The Miracles supporting and enhancing the melodic textures. The production balances polished studio sound with the organic warmth of live instrumentation, a hallmark of early 1970s Motown recordings.

Instrumental highlights include vibrant bass lines, subtle percussion, and orchestrated strings, giving tracks a timeless elegance while remaining emotionally direct.

Tracklist Overview

1. One Dozen Roses

2. Here I Go Again

3. I Gotta Be

4. Something

5. Tears of a Clown (Live version sometimes included)

6. I Don’t Blame You at All

7. The Tears of a Clown (Original studio version)

8. When Sundown Comes

9. I’ll Try Something New

The album alternates between upbeat soul tracks and tender ballads, showcasing both musical versatility and thematic cohesion.

Standout Tracks

“One Dozen Roses”

The title track is a romantic gem, blending lush orchestration with Robinson’s signature emotive delivery. It epitomizes the love song craft that made him one of Motown’s most celebrated songwriters.

“I Don’t Blame You at All”

A mid-tempo track with clever lyricism and smooth harmonies, demonstrating the group’s ability to combine lyrical wit with melodic accessibility.

“Here I Go Again”

An upbeat, danceable number with classic Motown rhythm, featuring prominent horns, tight backing vocals, and infectious energy.

Lyrical Themes

The lyrics on One Dozen Roses explore:

• Love and romance

• Heartache and emotional reflection

• Commitment and reconciliation

• Joy and celebration of relationships

Robinson’s poetic sensibility elevates everyday romantic experiences into universal stories of human emotion, a defining feature of his songwriting.

Fun Facts & Trivia

• One Dozen Roses features Robinson’s signature falsetto and phrasing, still influential in contemporary R&B.

• The Miracles were one of the first Motown groups to experiment with orchestral arrangements, blending soul with lush instrumentation.

• This album demonstrates the group’s continued relevance even as Motown artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye began exploring more socially conscious material.

• “One Dozen Roses” was frequently performed live during Motown’s early 1970s tours.

• The album artwork and title reflect the romantic, heartfelt nature of the songs inside.

Did You Know?

• Smokey Robinson was also vice president of Motown Records at the time, balancing executive duties with his artistic career.

• The Miracles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, decades after this album’s release.

• The album’s title track has been covered by numerous artists in subsequent decades.

• Robinson’s songwriting influenced countless performers, from Boyz II Men to Adele.

• One Dozen Roses is often cited as an exemplar of the “Motown sound” at its most elegant.

Commercial Performance and Top-Selling Albums

While One Dozen Roses achieved moderate commercial success, it reinforced The Miracles’ status as enduring soul icons.

Top-selling and critically acclaimed albums by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles include:

• Going to a Go-Go (1965) – Included major hits like “The Tracks of My Tears”

• Away We a Go-Go (1966)

• City of Angels (1975)

• One Dozen Roses (1971) – Showcases mature songwriting and sophisticated production

The album contributed to the group’s long-term catalog appeal, particularly among Motown enthusiasts and soul collectors.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

One Dozen Roses exemplifies the smooth, emotionally intelligent side of Motown. It reinforced Robinson’s reputation as a master of love songs and harmonic sophistication, influencing subsequent generations of R&B, soul, and pop artists.

The album’s combination of orchestration, heartfelt lyrics, and tight vocal arrangements has made it a touchstone for those exploring the evolution of soul in the early 1970s.

Most Famous Songs by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

• The Tracks of My Tears

• Ooo Baby Baby

• You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me

• I Second That Emotion

• One Dozen Roses

• Tears of a Clown

While early hits define their commercial legacy, tracks from One Dozen Roses reflect the group’s artistic sophistication and enduring relevance.

Full Discography (Selected Studio Albums)

• Hi… We’re the Miracles (1961)

• Cookin’ with the Miracles (1961)

• The Fabulous Miracles (1963)

• Going to a Go-Go (1965)

• Away We a Go-Go (1966)

• Make It Happen (1967)

• Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)

• One Dozen Roses (1971)

• Flying High Together (1972)

• Renaissance (1973)

Band Timeline

• Formed: 1955, Detroit, Michigan

• Years active: 1955–1978 (Smokey Robinson lead)

• Status: Disbanded / Smokey pursued solo career

Keywords

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles One Dozen Roses 1971 album, One Dozen Roses review, Motown soul albums 1970s, Smokey Robinson discography, classic Motown love songs, early 1970s R&B albums