Tears of a Clown

As I sipped on my morning coffee, Smokey Robinson’s iconic single filtered through the speakers of my local cafe. 

Tears of a Clown played a seminal role in my adolescence. Written by Stevie Wonder, Hank Cosby and Robinson, its heartfelt longing and tenderness never failed to bring a bittersweet smile to my lips. 

As Elton John attests in his new autobiography, John Reid, his former lover and business partner, was responsible for bringing the track into the spotlight.  

When the song was originally released in 1967 on Make It Happen, Berry Gordy — Motown’s mogul — didn’t see much promise in the track as a single, relegating it to the B-side of The Miracles’ third LP.

Three years on, Reid, heading up the London division of Motown, was looking for material to capitalize on the Miracles’ recent success in the UK. After re-listening to their back catalogue, a lightbulb sparked.

The single release soared to the top of the pops, prompting Detroit to follow suit, catapulting the R&B group back into the zeitgeist and forcing Robinson out of self-imposed retirement.

It’s easy to abandon our dreams when the end result doesn’t mirror our imagination. 

Yet we’d do well to remember that good ideas can take time to find their feet.

Patience and willpower go a long way to making our dreams soar.

Xo