Point It Out Explained

Point It Out
Type:single
Artist:The Miracles
Album:A Pocket Full Of Miracles
B-Side:Darling Dear
Released:November 18, 1969
Genre:Soul/pop
Length:2:38
Label:Tamla
T 54189
Producer:Smokey Robinson,Al Cleveland
Prev Title:Abraham, Martin & John
Prev Year:1969
Title2:Darling Dear
Next Title:Who's Gonna Take The Blame
Next Year:1969

"Point It Out" is a 1969 recording by Motown Records R&B group The Miracles (AKA "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles") on that label's Tamla subsidiary (Tamla 54189).[1] This mid-tempo song was a national Billboard Top 40 Pop hit, reaching #37 on the Hot 100, and was a Top 10 R&B hit was well, reaching #4.[2] [3] It was taken from their album "A Pocket Full Of Miracles", and was written by Miracles members William "Smokey" Robinson and Marv Tarplin, along with Motown staff songwriter Al Cleveland.

Background

Robinson and Cleveland were the song's producers. It was recorded by the group on September 18, 1969. "Point It Out" has inspired a cover version by The Supremes and The Temptations. As with many Miracles hit tunes, "Point It Out" begins with Miracles member/co-composer Marv Tarplin's guitar, while Robinson, as the song's narrator, explains the sheer joy of being in a new love relationship with a special lady, one so special that he simply can't think of a reason for not loving her:

Unlike some Miracles songs, where the background vocalists' voices are partially obscured under the music, Miracles Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, and Claudette Rogers Robinson's voices are clearly audible in this song, giving it more of a "group" sound, their tight harmonies adding to the song's overall quality feel, while Robinson's trademark poetry and mastery with wordplay are clearly evident throughout. This song is the closest that The Miracles have come to pure Funk in any of their records.

The song's "B" side, Darling Dear, was also a hit, reaching #100 on the Billboard Pop chart that same year. It has inspired a cover version by The Jackson Five, who in their career, covered many Miracles tunes, including "Who's Lovin' You", "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need," and "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage". Both songs have appeared on several Miracles' "Greatest Hits" CD compilations, including their 35th Anniversary Collection box set.

Credits: The Miracles

Other Instruments

Chart performance

Chart (1969-70)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 37
US Best Selling Soul Singles (Billboard)4

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Point It Out.
  2. Web site: Point It Out - Smokey Robinson | Song Info | AllMusic. AllMusic.
  3. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles; The 35th Anniversary Collection Liner Notes, Pgs 58 & 62
  4. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 579.