Most of Motown's roster consisted of Detroit acts unearthed at local talent shows; here as elsewhere, Smokey Robinson's Miracles set the pattern. When Robinson first approached Gordy late in 1957, most of the group was still in high school; three years later, when "Shop Around" hit, the Miracles' oldest member was barely 21.

During the next ten years, however, the Miracles became a seasoned troupe, while Robinson became one of the most prolific and popular producer/songwriters in the Motown stable. In person, the Miracles' performances were erratic, depending on the state of Smokey's fragile falsetto…. In the studio, on the other hand, Robinson knew few rivals, composing and producing … torchy soul/pop hits….

Smokey was his own best interpreter, and the Miracles remained one of Motown's most consistent groups throughout the Sixties. At the outset, their chief asset was the anguished eroticism conveyed by Robinson's pristine falsetto (listen to...