B-side "I Wanna Be With You" Genre R&B | Released August 1974 (1974) Label Tamla | |
Writer(s) Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian | ||
"Do It Baby" is a 1974 single recorded and released by the Motown R&B group The Miracles and marked the soul quintet's first top forty hit over a year and a half after the departure of the group's most important member, former leader Smokey Robinson and the inclusion of Billy Griffin, who took over Robinson's lead position in 1973.The song was taken from the album of the same name, and written by Motown staff songwriters Freddie Perren and Christine Yarian and produced by Perren.
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The song's production also was a far departure from the group's earliest sounds as they embraced a funkier production style. The single was released off of the group's 1974 album of the same name and reached the Billboard Pop Top 20, selling over one million copies.
"Do It Baby" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and The Top 10 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart in early 1974, peaking at #4, and would remain their biggest post-Robinson hit until the 1975 release of the now-disco classic, "Love Machine", which was one of the group's only two singles to reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100.
In addition to Billy Griffin, his brother, new Miracles member Donald Griffin, replaced original Miracle Marv Tarplin on guitar. Tarplin continued to tour and work with Smokey Robinson. This song has inspired cover versions by Jimmy Ponder, and Red Holt (of Young-Holt Unlimited). The Miracles can be seen performing Do It Baby on the Motown/Universal DVD release: The Miracles: The Definitive Performances (1963-1987).