SoleMannKing...The Smokey Robinson Collection

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Here is a collection of some of the Smokey Robinson Albums i have purchased over the years. This is not all of them, i just wanted to post enough so that the Blog could look real interesting....LOL

WARM THOUGHTS...1980

On his follow-up to "Cruisin'," Smokey Robinson goes right back to that lazy, romantic style with "Let Me Be the Clock" (4 R&B, 31 Pop), which leads off the aptly named Warm Thoughts. Robinson seems to have taken the success of "Cruisin'" as his opportunity to distance himself from disco and return to his more familiar ballad style, even injecting a touch of his old wordplay in "Into Each Rain Some Life Must Fall." Side two begins with the more uptempo "Melody Man," which was arranged, co-written, and co-produced by Stevie Wonder, but for the most part this is the bedroom Smokey Robinson, and that got him to 14 on the LP chart, his highest solo peak yet.

ESSAR...1984





Essar marks the low point of Smokey Robinson's solo career. Co-producer and arranger Sonny Burke, a long-time Robinson recording partner, provides nearly all the tracks, dominating the sound with his synthesized keyboards. On songs like "And I Don't Love You" (33 R&B), it's hard to identify the result as a Smokey Robinson record. This may help explain why Essar, Robinson's second straight album not to generate a Hot 100 Pop chart entry, was his lowest charting studio album on the Pop LPs list (141). But it also flopped with R&B fans, peaking at 35 and becoming his first album not to generate at least one Top 10 R&B hit.

YES IT'S YOU LADY...1982



Surprisingly, having scored his biggest solo success with the self-penned, self-produced Being with You, Smokey Robinson turned to an outside producer and outside writers for the followup. Both of the singles from Yes It's You Lady, which was produced by George Tobin, "Tell Me Tomorrow" (number three R&B, number 33 Pop) and "Old Fashioned Love" (number 17 R&B, number 60 Pop) were mid-tempo rhythm numbers written by Gary Goetzman and Mike Piccirillo. Robinson's own compositions, notably the title track, which would have made a perfect follow-up to "Being with You," were de-emphasized. The result was a retreat from the careful career-building Robinson had been engaged in since 1979; the album peaked at only number 33 after three straight Top 20 LPs. It was as though, having established himself as a solo voice, Robinson was now content to be "Cruisin'."

A QUIET STORM...1975





The genius of William "Smokey" Robinson is immeasurable. As many of his prior songs had shaped R&B and pop music, this album would have a similar effect. The title track became the namesake for a music format. The album itself had three singles hit the charts. Arranged in an intermittent rhythm, "Baby That's Backatcha" ran up the Billboard R&B charts to number one inside 16 weeks. It was Robinson's first number one single since leaving the Miracles. The lyric of the ballad "The Agony and the Ecstasy" hit the Top Ten at number seven, and it was followed by the masterpiece "A Quiet Storm." Although it only managed to seal the Top 25, it has since made a greater impact on the music charts and music industry. Briefly, radio mogul Cathy Hughes, owner of Radio One, was the general manager at Howard University radio WHUR during the early '70s when she created the format "the quiet storm." She used Smokey Robinson's composition as the theme song. Before long, it caught on around the country and evolved into a new market. This album also features the "Wedding Song" which was written for Hazel and Jermaine Jackson's wedding and the "Happy" theme from the movie
Lady Sings the Blues.

TOUCH THE SKY...1983





Smokey Robinson took back the production reins from George Tobin and reinstated his producing/arranging partnership with Sonny Burke for Touch The Sky. The two took a more rhythmic approach, with Burke contributing drums and synthesizers. R&B listeners responded, notably on the title track (68 R&B) and "I've Made Love To You A Thousand Times" (8 R&B), but Robinson was shut out of the Hot 100, and as a result Touch The Sky continued his slide in LP sales, peaking at only 50
on the Pop chart, although it hit 8 R&B.

LOVE BREEZE...1978





Take away a bad attempt at trendiness "Why You Wanna See My Bad Side," a dullard "Feeling You, Feeling Me," a metaphoric disaster "Shoe Soul," and Love Breeze isn't half bad. The shimmering, floating "Daylight And Darkness" is a mesmerizer depicting his wife's dual personality. Claudette, an ex wife now, is a Gemini, an astrological sign known for split personalities. Smokey sings the stinging lyrics as if he's trying to penetrate Claudette's soul. The upbeat, romping "Love's So Fine," is a finger snapper that grabs you immediately. A soft, slow "I'm Loving You Softly" reeks of romanticism, while "Trying It Again," an uptempo romper, featuring a looping bassline, has a long, spirited fade with Smokey competing with the bass player for bragging rights.
BEING WITH

BEING WITH YOU...1981




Smokey Robinson landed his first big album of the 1980s with this release. The title track soared to the top of the R&B charts and stayed there, while it just missed topping the pop charts. Robinson's wonderful lead vocals, timing, dramatic delivery, and overall technique were as impressive as ever, and he got two more chart hits from the album. It eventually became his most successful LP ever from a commercial standpoint, although his artistic landmark as a solo artist remains A Quiet Storm.

BLAME IT ON LOVE AND ALL THE GREAT HITS...1983





A fine compilation covering recent Smokey Robinson love songs and hits. While some of these lack the staying power and integrity of The Miracles' hits, they were certainly superior to much of what was being marketed as romantic fare. Robinson's ageless falsetto, masterful lyrics, and professionalism have enabled him to survive numerous trends and changes in both the business and his audience. The success of these tracks reaffirmed his special qualities as one of the greatest performers in the history of American music.

SMOKEY ROBINSON'S BEAUTIFUL RENDITION OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM...1986

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Glad you like it Klu...I love him singing The National Anthem, i must have missed that game 22 years ago....LOL

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

OSC...Nooooo my Brother, you gots to get your own....LOL. They ain't doing me no good at the moment, i don't have a Record Player....LOL

[Edie Antoinette]

It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't hear an actual *gong* each and every time I type it...LOL!

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Esgee. (SolemanGong)....LMBO

Mama E-EYE...LMBO

[Edie Antoinette]

I din't get it until I read Emgee..

that is genius! but then, we're talking about Essar..and he is straight brilliant...I like that Esgee.
(SolemanGong) lol

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

To me Essar was a great album, it was recorded right after Marvin Gaye had died, as a matter of fact on the back of the album is a note Smokey had wrote saying...

A note to Emgee:

We're really gonna miss you.

Essar

The title of this album is one of the reasons why my name is EsKay on Youtube...Es (Shelley) Kay (King)

[Edie Antoinette]

This is special--as much as I love Smokey I never saw Essar--incredible! This is absolutely special.

Thanks SoleSuggah...