"The Tracks of My Tears" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning 1965 hit R&B song originally recorded by their group, The Miracles, on Motown's Tamla label. In 1967, Johnny Rivers covered the song and his version was a number 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Linda Ronstadt recorded a hit cover of her own in 1975 that reached number 25 on the Hot 100 chart. Numerous other artists have recorded the song over the years.
The Miracles original version
Background
"The Tracks of My Tears" was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. In the five-LP publication The Motown Story, by Motown Records, Robinson explained the origin of this song in these words: "'Tracks of My Tears' was actually started by Marv Tarplin, who is a young cat who plays guitar for our act. So he had this musical thing , you know, and we worked around with it, and worked around, and it became 'Tracks of My Tears'." Tarplin's guitar licks at the song's intro are among the most famous in pop music history. "The Tracks of My Tears" was a number 2 hit on the Billboard R&B chart, and it reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. On initial release in the UK in 1965 it did not chart, but like several other Motown singles reissued there in 1969, it became a Top Ten hit in the summer, reaching No. 9, credited to "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles". This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling record. The Miracles can be seen performing "The Tracks of My Tears" on their 2006 Motown DVD release, The Miracles' Definitive Performances.
In 1975, Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version of "The Tracks of My Tears" for her studio albumPrisoner in Disguise that became a pop Top 40 hit in the US. The single was produced by Peter Asher and issued on Asylum Records as that album's second single. Ronstadt's version of the song was a success peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 11 on the Billboard C&W chart in tandem with its B-side: the Emmylou Harris duet "The Sweetest Gift", and number 42 in 1976 on the UK Singles Chart. Conversely, Ronstadt would score one of her biggest hits with her 1978 single "Ooh Baby Baby" which was a remake of the Miracles' hit single release precedent to "The Tracks of My Tears". Ronstadt and Smokey Robinson performed both "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Ooh Baby Baby" on the special broadcast on May 16, 1983.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Other versions
In 1967, "The Tracks of My Tears" was covered by Johnny Rivers. His version of the song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Aretha Franklin recorded the song for her Soul '69 album from which it was issued as a single although as the B-side. Franklin's version of "The Weight", became the favored track with "Tracks of My Tears" peaking at number 76 Pop and number 21 R&B.
Shirley covered the song in 1977, reaching #20 in Australia.
In 1993, English pop duoGo West reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, number 38 on the Icelandic Singles Chart and number 82 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart with "Tracks of My Tears".
In 2000, American singer Pru sampled "The Track of My Tears" for her single "Candles", which was released from her self-titled debut album. The lyrics and instrumental for "Candles" were directly inspired by The Miracles' single.
In 2012, Swedish DJ Avicii sampled the song. While he played it in sets and it can be found on YouTube under the title "Tracks of my Tears", he never officially released the remix.
