Song of the Day 5/7: The Miracles, “I’ve Been Good to You”

Smokey Robinson, composer of umpteen romantic soul classics, was sued yesterday by four former housekeepers who accuse him of sexual assault and rape, among a raft of other charges. He hasn’t officially responded, but when The Daily Mail managed to get the 85-year-old singer on the phone he told them, “I am appalled. I can’t speak about this right now.”

“I’ve Been Good to You” wasn’t one of Robinson’s hits. It was released as the B-side of “What’s So Good About Goodbye,” a 1961 single that reached No. 35 on the Hot 100; the B-side got enough notice that it made the Bubbling Under chart. It left a legacy, though. It was John Lennon’s favorite Motown tune, and he quoted its opening lines almost verbatim for “Sexy Sadie.”