In January 1961, Hitsville launched another new label called Miracle.

Miracle's first release was called "Don't Feel Sorry For me" by Jimmy Ruffin. It was self penned by Ruffin and produced by Raynoma . This was a major policy change because it was the first production to to be delegated by Berry Gordy since Hitsville opened it's doors..

Raynoma probably produced the second Miracle release too, which was by Little Iva & Her Band. Miss Ray certainly wrote "When I needed You" and was actually Little Iva herself.

Miracle's slogan tempted fate however by declaring "If It's A Hit It's A Miracle" and the label was disbanded within the year and after just twelve releases; two of which were by The Temptations, "Oh Mother Of Mine" and "Check Yourself". The latter was good enough to be covered at a later date.

The only success on Miracle, came from The Valadiers "(Greetings) This Is Uncle Sam", which made Pop #89.

Meanwhile back at Tamla, a female group called The Primettes had joined Hitsville from Lupine in December 1960. They changed their name by mutual agreement to The Supremes for their first release, "I Want A Guy", which was a pleasing number lead by Diane Ross. However, it was to be a frustrating time for Diane and the girls as they had to wait until August 1962 to see some chart action.

Debbie Dean was already known to Gordy when he released her answer song "Don't Let Him Shop Around" on the Motown label. Debbie was previously known as Penny, lead singer of Penny & The EKO's, who had a Gordy/Davis song released on Argo as  mentioned earlier. It was unusual to release an answer song on your own label but it must also have been unique to have the original group as your back-up singers! This was what happened however and the song reached Pop #92. Debbie was also in her early thirties when this came out.

The Miracle's follow ups to "Shop Around" performed reasonably well in the charts: "Ain't It Baby" reached R&B #15, Pop #49, and "Everybody's Got To Pay Some Dues" reached R&B #11 and Pop #52 in September. But it's surprising to note that a couple of their songs were being recorded in Chicago at this time.

No expense was spared on Mary Wells follow up to "Bye Bye Baby", when a small string section was added to the mix. It certainly did no harm as "I Don't To Take A Chance" performed well enough to reach R&B #9 Pop #33.

Marvin Gaye joined Hitsville some time after leaving The Moonglows. Gay as he was known at the time fancied himself as a supper club crooner and would have been happy to see "The Masquerade Is Over" pressed, albeit as a promo on Tamla. Five days later "Let You Conscience Be Your Guide" was released which was more in the R&B vein. An album of standards followed in "The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye" but it would be over a year before Gaye would breakthrough with the classic "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow".

Mickey Stevenson's production duties began with the follow-up to the Temptations "Check Yourself". It was called Oh Mother Of Mine", another uptempo offering featuring Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks. Stevenson worked with Andre Williams on this song a number of others in the ensuing months.

Robert Bateman came across a group of girls called The Marvelettes, when he was in Inkster one day. He brought them to Hitsville and persuaded Gordy to record them on "Please Mr Postman". Bateman had formed a song writing partnership with Brian Holland called Brianbert and this was to be the latter's second production for Hitsville, the first one being for the Satintones on Motown. "Postman" was recorded on a new three track machine which had been developed by Mike McLean, and remarkably it cruised to the top of both charts.

The Marvelettes follow-up, "Twistin Postman" also did well in December, achieving R&B #13, Pop #34.  The Marvelettes continued to record for Hitsville throughout the sixties.

During 1961, United Artists had released another four Marv Johnson 45's, but none of them charted. The label stopped releasing Gordy/Davis songs thereafter, but continued with Marv's career through to 1964. After a seven year gap, Marv re-joined Hitsville in 1966.

music: "Check Yourself" by The Temptations (Miracle12)

Continued