The Miracles – Renaissance

"The Miracles"....Now I know it it seems out of place to review this group after they took over the world with founding member and ultimate songwriter and producer "Smokey Robinson", but as I stated before, I am wired very differently, I just can't help myself...So with "Smokey" going solo, "Warren "Pete" Moore", "Ronnie White", and co-founder "Bobby Rogers" were joined by a very young but very gifted singer in "Billy Griffin"...."Renaissance" was their debut together, and it was a very good one...With "Smokey" being executive producer as well providing liner notes in promoting the album, it would seem as if "Billy" was singing with the group since day one...I will admit that the album is not a complete effort, but the weak moments are very few....One of the best songs in "Don't Let It End ('Til You Let It Begin)" (produced by Fonce Mizell and Freddie Perren), is a very good introduction in this era....It also highlights the group with trading vocals between the members (They didn't do that much with "Smokey")...."Wigs And Lashes" (also produced by Mizell and Perren) is a smooth uptempo joint that will have your head bob...."I Love You Secretly", produced by "Marvin Gaye" is a fantastic slow jam (even though it sounds like "Marvin" putting his business in the streets.... Again)......"I Don't Need No Reason" produced by Frank Wilson and Leonard Caston, is also fantastic, even though it is way too short in my opinion (clocking in at a mere 2:10).....The last song worth mentioning is "Nowhere To Go", with it's smooth melody and once again the vocal interplay.....The rest of the album is filler, but that's not saying much, because of the songs mentioned earlier being so good....The next few years would tell the story of "The Miracles", not just as artists but soon as producers as well...This also proves that "Smokey" was right.....They didn't need him to be successful.......