Song Clearance Sheet
5 sources citedYou’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Soul1960s118BPM
UnconfirmedKey
Tempo/key via Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Smokey Robinson), no dispute found — a B-side turned hit (a recurring Motown pattern), later covered by The Beatles.
Quick Facts
Released1962
GenreSoul, R&B, Motown
LabelTamla / Motown Records
ProducerSmokey Robinson
Recorded atHitsville U.S.A., Detroit
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Smokey Robinson
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Motown/Tamla; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A much-covered standard, famously by The Beatles (1963); same B-side-turned-hit Motown pattern as “Please Mr. Postman.”
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Same group and Smokey Robinson (this batch)
Same recurring B-side-becomes-hit Motown pattern (this batch)
Smokey Robinson also wrote that Temptations #1 (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Smokey Robinson (William Robinson)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A B-side that flipped to a hit — the Motown pattern
Robinson wrote it in a New York hotel, inspired by Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me,” aiming for an unusually candid, conflicted sentiment. Like “Please Mr. Postman” (this batch), it was released as a B-side and only became the hit after DJs flipped the record over from the intended A-side “Happy Landing.” No lyrics reproduced.
American Songwriter / Songfacts · read it →
Mutual admiration with The Beatles
The Beatles cut a cover as the first track for “With the Beatles” (1963), with Lennon and Harrison sharing lead. Robinson has said he loved their version, and Berry Gordy gave the band a reduced publishing rate — a deliberate call, since having the era’s biggest band cover Motown songs was hugely valuable exposure.
The Beatles Bible · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Covered by The Beatles (1963)
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itThe Beatles
Who to Contact
YH
Smokey Robinson (Motown/Tamla)
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 5 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 17/18)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass