While finishing my a.m. post tonight, responding to comments and checking email, this song was playing prominently inside my head. I was so sure I had never played this one here before, but when I checked, I had played it back in October 2018. Still, that was almost two years ago and if you’re like me, you’ve long since forgotten that I played it then, so … since it’s going to keep me awake tonight if I don’t share it here, I am … sharing it, that is.
Tonight’s song is either going to take you back … way back … else leave you scratching your head and saying, ‘huh?’ Go back, if you can, to 1962. I was eleven … how old were you? In ’62, the Beatles, the Stones, and the Turtles weren’t yet around, and the sound of the day, at least for most of us, was Motown. And there was none better than Smokey Robinson and his Miracles.
Smokey wrote and produced this one that was released in November 1962 under the Motown Tamla label. It zoomed to #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart in the U.S. It has been featured in at least 12 films and a television special, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.
Smokey Robinson said he was thinking about Sam Cooke’s Bring it on Home to Me (another great one, in my book) when he got the idea for this song. Cooke’s song finds the singer apologizing to his girl after casting her off, promising to treat her right if she comes back. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me is the same sentiment but with the roles reversed: the girl mistreats the guy, but he loves her unconditionally. Gender equality, even in the ’60s.
The Beatles recorded this in 1963 and performed it in their last movie, Let It Be. The Beatles were the first big British band to come to America and admit they were influenced by black music. Robinson admired this admission, and felt they helped black artists by covering their songs.
The quality of this video isn’t the best, but hey … it was 1962 … YouTube and digital photography hadn’t even been invented yet. There are more recent versions, but I felt this one had the most authenticity. And now I give you …
You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
The Miracles
I don’t like you, but I love you,
Seems that I’m always thinking of you.
Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly,
I love you madly, you really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me, baby,
I don’t want you, but I need you,
Don’t want to kiss you, but I need you.
Oh, oh, oh, you do me wrong now,
My love is strong now you really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me, baby,
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
I want to leave you, don’t want to stay here
Don’t want to spend another day here.
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now, I can’t Baby,
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
Songwriters: William Robinson Jr.
You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Filosofa's Word 
Mmmmm Smokey Joe ❤
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Okay, I throw this out for your consideration. Bonnie Bramlett singing this song on “Roseanne” in 1988. Please check it out. It stayed with me.
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THAT. WAS. AWESOME. Absolutely brought back memories, and was just all-’round great! Thank you, Michael!!!
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Welcome!
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Great tune. Smokey could sing anything, and is a great somgwriter, as well.
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That’s the truth … Smokey could sing anything and I would be entranced!
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Yes, of course, I like this. Thanks, Jill
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Always my pleasure, John!!!
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A lot of British Invasion bands recorded this song, including The Animals who hold a very special place in my heart, but my very favourite version was done by The Zombies on their first album called “Begin Here” in England and “The Zombies” in North America. On it they link the two songs you mentioned above: You Really Got A Hold On Me/Bring It On Home To Me so smoothly you think it is one song. It’s too bad record companies held artists to 2 – 3 minutes, because this one needed more time to make it even better.
I love Motown too, they surely left their mark on the music industry, but this one I go with The Zombies. IMO.
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Had I known that The Animals also recorded this, I would have included their version, for I do know how much you like them! I don’t think I recall The Zombies, but if I listen to some of their music, I might recognize them.
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The Zombies big hits of the time were She’s Not There and Tell Her No around 1964, and then Time of the Season in 1968. They were from England but apparently only had one there. Their records sold really well in Canada. I saw them in a revival show around 2005. They were still as good as ever.
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Ahhhh … Time of the Season … now I remember! I loved that one!
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They split up shortly after Time. Over time the album it came out on, “Oracle & Odessey” complete with the spelling error, has slowly been moving up the ranks as a critic’s masterpiece. So far I am not sure why, but I can’t focus on an album the way I could when I was younger. Ah, those were the days when even albums seemed too short. I wanted them all to be two hours long minimum.
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Yes, I read that … and then after the song became a hit, they tried getting back together sans one member, but it didn’t last long. I was never a fan of albums, for there were always some songs I didn’t care for on any given album.
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Ah, but some albums had all good songs, esp Moody Blues, Janis, Jimi, Animals (EB), Who, Beatles, and more.
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clayjonz claytoonz
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I subscribe to his blog, but unfortunately rarely find time to visit it.
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