INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Smokey Robinson "Ooo Baby Baby" (03-05-65)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Smokey Robinson "Ooo Baby Baby" (03-05-65)

"Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It is a classic 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label. The song has inspired numerous other cover versions by other artists over the years, including covers by Ella Fitzgerald, Todd Rundgren, The Escorts, The Five Stairsteps, Linda Ronstadt, and many others. The Miracles' original version of "Ooo Baby Baby" is listed as number 266 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

A slow, remorseful number, "Ooo Baby Baby" features Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson lamenting the fact that he cheated on his female lover, and begging for her to overlook his mistakes and please forgive him. The song's highly emotional feel is supported by the Miracles' tight background vocal harmonies, arranged by Miracles member and song co-author Pete Moore, and a lush orchestral string arrangement that accents The Funk Brothers band's instrumental track.

Cash Box described it as "a medium-paced, low-down, pop-r&b ode about an unfortunate gal whose singin’ the blues since she lost her guy."

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Miracles' original version of this song as #266 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is one of the Miracles' most-covered tunes.

On the 2006 Motown DVD The Miracles' Definitive Performances, Pete comments on the song's creation: "In the songs that Smokey and I wrote together, Smokey and Berry kinda left the background vocals to me. And this song "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", which was one of The Imperials' bigger hits.... When I heard that song, as far as the background (harmonies) were concerned and how (they were structured), I wanted to get the same kind of feeling with Smokey's vocal. So I called Bobby, Ronnie, and Claudette over, and we did the backgrounds for it. I kinda had that particular song in mind...so I wanted to get the same kind of feeling with 'Ooo Baby Baby'."

John Lennon was a huge fan of Smokey Robinson; he borrowed the "I'm Crying" part in this song for The Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus".[citation needed]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Chart (1965)     Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[4]     17
US Billboard Hot 100[5]     16
US Billboard R&B     4
US Cash Box Top 100 [6]     18
    
Year-end charts
Chart (1965)     Rank
US Billboard Hot 100 [7]     93

 

Personnel

 
The Miracles

    William "Smokey" Robinson – writer, producer, lead vocals
    Pete Moore – writer, vocal arrangements, background vocals
    Claudette Rogers Robinson – background vocals
    Ronnie White – background vocals
    Bobby Rogers – background vocals
    Marv Tarplin – guitar