Doin' Mickey's Monkey

AMG Review of Doin' Mickey's Monkey

Andrew Hamilton
All Music Guide

Motown attempts to cash in on the Miracles' hit "Mickey's Monkey" by releasing an album of dance tunes, resulting in a fair to middling collection. "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying," with its call and response opening, shuffling beat, and hot sax break by Thomas "Beans" Bowles, is a gem, as is the Bo Diddley-inspired title cut about a cat named Mickey from out of town. Smokey's self-written "Groovy Thing" is nice filler, but nothing spectacular. Their renditions of dance classics made popular by others -- Major Lance, the Orlons Chris Kenner, the Isley Brothers, the Contours -- are not as compelling as the originals. The huge cartoon character portraying a goofy-looking monkey named Mickey on the cover made this LP a favorite with kids.