Smokey Robinson & the Miracles/The English Beat-inspired 'Tears of a Clown' Art Print Size:8x12" / 24x29.7cm A4 growing up as a teenager

growing up as a teenager in the 80s

'It's No Good' kicks off the Depeche Mode album 'Ultra' and it immediately kicks into a gut-kicking bass groove: so satisfying

I was only going to do one cover for it

'The Trick Is To Keep Breathing' is from Garbage's second album

All sorts of bands spun out from them afterwards

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles/The English Beat-inspired 'Tears of a Clown' Art Print Size:8x12" / 24x29.7cm A4 growing up as a teenagerAs a proud New Wave loving Gen Xer, I first heard 'Tears of a Clown' as a cover version by The Beat (aka The English Beat here in North America), but quickly learnt it was originally Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (co written by Stevie Wonder, too). Smokey clearly felt an affinity to the classical opera antihero clown Pagliacci, as an entertainer who hides his pain, rage, and sadness behind a mask of laughter and smiles this song is not the first