THE MIRACLES/RECORDED LIVE ON STAGE TM 241 (-63) US MONO

Part of the Motown "Live On Stage" serie issued 1963 which also included artists as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Marvelettes and Mary Wells. In this case with performances recorded 1962 at Apollo in New York and Regal Theater in Chicago. This is the seventh album I'm posting by the group and the earliest so far. At the time they had their first million seller - "Shop Around" - and released another Billboard top ten - "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" - but as a black band at the time still struggling for wider acceptance. What you get here is a very tight and already experienced live combo - from lead vocals down to smallest part of the backing. All songs written by Robinson and so well performed if it weren't for the public noise and atmosphere it could have been a studio session. Audio is as good as expected from 1962 live takes made right on with a couple of mikes without further tampering. It's like an old snap-shot, somewhat unclear still as an original far more connective than any later re-make however embellished that may be. Favorite tracks - "A Love She Can Count On" and "I've Been Good To You". To my knowledge first released in US and Canada only. A couple of the cuts included on the UK 1963 Stateside "Recorded Live"sampler (SL 10065) together with other selections from the serie. Premiere US had label as shown here and thick sleeve with laminated front. (YZÄ*) (TÖMÖ*) (ÖXCÅ*) (SXÖM*) (LYBÖ*)