"I'll Try Something New" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and originally released in 1962 by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. Their version was a Billboard Top 40 hit, peaking at #39, and just missed the Top 10 of its R&B chart, peaking at #11. The song was released later as a joint single by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations, also becoming a charting version on the Billboard 100 pop singles chart, peaking for two weeks in April 1969 at number 25.[1][2]
"I'll Try Something New" | ||||
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Single by The Miracles | ||||
from the album I'll Try Something New | ||||
B-side | "You Never Miss a Good Thing" | |||
Released | April 9, 1962 | |||
Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1961–1962 | |||
Genre | Soul, pop | |||
Length | 3:00 | |||
Label | Tamla T 54059 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Smokey Robinson | |||
Producer(s) | Smokey Robinson Berry Gordy | |||
The Miracles singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"I'll Try Something New" by The Miracles on YouTube | ||||
"I'll Try Something New" | ||||
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Single by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations | ||||
from the album Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations | ||||
B-side | "The Way You Do the Things You Do" | |||
Released | February 20, 1969 | |||
Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studios A & B); 1968 | |||
Genre | Soul, pop | |||
Length | 2:25 | |||
Label | Motown M 1142 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Smokey Robinson | |||
Producer(s) | Frank Wilson Nickolas Ashford Smokey Robinson Deke Richards | |||
Diana Ross & the Supremes singles chronology | ||||
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The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
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Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations track listing | ||||
11 tracks
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Audio | ||||
"I'll Try Something New" by Diana Ross and the Supremes & The Temptations on YouTube | ||||
In the song, the narrator (Smokey Robinson) describes how if he feels that if his first attempt at trying to show his lover affection was not good enough, then he'd try something new to keep their love alive:
I will build you a castle with a tower so high it reaches the Moon. I'll gather melodies from birdies that fly and compose you a tune. Give you lovin' warm as Mama's oven, and if that don't do, then I'll try something new.
The Miracles issued the original version of the song in 1962, and with wife and fellow Miracles member Claudette's voice clearly audible in the chorus (hey Venus...). Smokey and Motown founder Berry Gordy produced the song with an Oriental feel to it, with unusually lush-for-the-period orchestration and sweeping strings, showcasing The Miracles' harmonies and Robinson's production style.
The Miracles' original version peaked number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts[3] and number 11 on the R&B singles chart. It became the title track from their 1962 album, I'll Try Something New.
Chart | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 39 |
U.S. Billboard R&B Singles Chart | 11 |
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
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Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] | 16 |
US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 25 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[6] | 8 |
US Cashbox Top 100[7] | 21 |
US Cashbox R&B[8] | 16 |
US Record World 100 Top Pops[9] | 19 |
US Record World Top 50 R&B[10] | 14 |
In 1966, R&B artist Spyder Turner covered the song as an excerpt of his hit cover of the Ben E King song "Stand by Me". Several years later, in 1969, the group's Motown label-mates The Supremes and The Temptations released a duet version that became a hit reaching number 25 on the Hot 100 and number 8 on the R&B chart. Disco/pop group A Taste of Honey also covered the song 20 years later, in 1982 peaking at number 41 on the Hot 100 and number 9 on the R&B chart.
The Temptations singles discography | |
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Singles | |
Related articles |