Smokey Robinson & the Miracles/The English Beat-inspired 'Tears of a Clown' Art Print This Mortal Coil 'Less Cities More Moving People'

'Less Cities More Moving People' by The Fixx seemed to require a dystopian science-fiction cover

I've done covers for both of the huge 80s new wave hits by The Romantics

I immediately thought of the 'thousand yard stare'

I learnt that 'Helpline Operator'

in their early days

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles/The English Beat-inspired 'Tears of a Clown' Art Print This Mortal Coil 'Less Cities More Moving People'As 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