(You Can) Depend on Me

This article is written like a encyclopedic style . (October 2009)

"(You Can) Depend on Me"
Berry Gordy, Jr.
The Miracles singles chronology
"The Feeling Is So Fine" / "(You Can) Depend on Me" (1959) "Way Over There" / "(You Can) Depend on Me" (1959) "Shop Around" (1960)

"(You Can) Depend on Me" (Tamla 54028), was a 1959 song by

, and Smokey still sings it, by request, in his live shows today.

A slow, intimate ballad number, with relatively sparse orchestration compared to much of their later work, "Depend On Me" starts with the singular guitar of Miracles member

, as the song's narrator, then takes it from there, singing to the woman he loves, promising her eternal devotion:

• If you....need a love like mine that you can depend on...
• When your whole world's closing in...and you need a friend...
• You can depend...
• On me .

Miracles Bobby Rogers, Claudette Rogers Robinson, Pete Moore, and Ronnie White, blend their voices into their trademark smooth harmonies to punctuate Smokey's vocals on the chorus and elsewhere.

”(You Can) Depend On Me” was first released in September 1959 as the b-side of “The Feeling Is So Fine”, which was quickly withdrawn.^[1] A re-recording of this song^[2] was issued as the b-side of the Miracles’ next single, 1960’s “Way Over There”, but it was the first version which appeared on Hi ... We’re The Miracles and most subsequent compilations.

"(You Can) Depend On Me" has inspired cover versions by fellow Motown artists

.

Personnel- The Miracles

• Smokey Robinson - Lead vocals.
• Bobby Rogers - Background vocals.
• Pete Moore - Background vocals.
• Claudette Robinson
  - Background vocals.
• Ronnie White - Background vocals.
• Marv Tarplin - Guitar.

Additional instruments

• The Funk Brothers

References

• You Can Depend On Me - by The Miracles- A Review,from the Motown Junkies website
  Wordpress.com

External links

• (You Can) Depend On Me- by The Miracles (alternate version) on
  YouTube
• All Music Guide