shop around

Smokey and the Miracles gave Motown their first million selling single along with some questionable advice. Robinson says that the song flowed out of him in twenty minutes. He originally wrote it for Barrett Strong, but Berry Gordy convinced him to record it himself. When he came up with a new, more commercial arrangement for the song, Gordy called the group in the middle of the night to rerecord it and ended up playing piano on the session. The original record label credits Bill "Smokey" Robinson as the writer, with Berry Gordy as producer. Not only was it the first Motown single to move a million units, it was the first top ten hit for the label, making it to number two on the Billboard pop chart and number one on the Cashbox chart.

http://www.smokeyrobinson.com/

When I became of age,

My mother called me to her side.

She said, "Son your growing up now,"

Pretty soon you'll take a bride."

And then she said,

"Just because you've become a young man, now,

There's still some things that you don't understand, now.

Before you ask some girl for her hand, now,

Keep your freedom for as long as you can, now."

My mama told me, "You better shop around.

(Shop, shop around.)

Woh, yeah, you better shop around."

(Shop, shop around.)

Ah-ah-ah,

"There's some things that I want you to know, now,

a-Just as sure as the wind's gonna blow, now.

The women come and the women gonna go, now.

Before you tell 'em that you love 'em so, now."

My mama told me, "You better shop around,

(Shop, shop around.)

Woh, yeah, you better shop around."

(Shop, shop around.)

"a-Try to get yourself a bargain, son,

Don't be sold on the very first one.

a-Pretty girls come a dime a dozen,

a-Try to find you one who's gonna give you true lovin'.

Before you take a girl and say, 'I do.' now.

Make sure she's in love with you, now."

My mama told me, "You better shop around.

Oh-oh-hey-ey-hey-ey,

"Try to get yourself a bargain, son,

Don't be sold on the very first one.

a-Pretty girls come a dime a dozen,

a-Try to find you one who's gonna give you true lovin'.

Before you take a girl and say, 'I do.' now.

Make sure she's in love with you, now.

Make sure that her love is true, now.

I hate to see you feelin' sad and blue, now."

My mama told me, "You better shop around."

(Shop, shop around.)

Ah-ha, don't let the first one git'cha.

Oh, no, 'cause I don't wanna see her wit'cha.

Ah-ha, before you let her hold you tight,

a-Yeah, yeah, make sure she's alright.

Ah-ha, before you let her take your hand, my son,

[Fade.]

Understand, my son.

Be a man, my son.

I know you can, my son.

I love ya...

The original version was more bluesey and was a local hit in Detroit.

Debbie Dean was the first white female artist on Motown and her first single was this response version of and to the song called 'Don't Let Him Shop Around'. It made it to ninety two in the top one hundred.