Smokey (album)

Smokey
File:Smokey Robinson - Smokey.jpg
Studio album by Smokey Robinson
Released	June 19, 1973
Recorded	1972-73
Genre	Soul
Length	39:29
Label	Tamla T-328L
Producer	Smokey Robinson, Willie Hutch
Smokey Robinson chronology
Smokey (1973) Pure Smokey (1974)Pure Smokey1974

Smokey is the first solo album by Motown legend Smokey Robinson after his departure from The Miracles. It was released on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label (T328L) in 1973, and featured the single "Sweet Harmony" which was his tribute to his former singing partners in the Miracles: Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore and Ronnie White. The album was arranged by Dave Blumberg, Gene Page and Willie Hutch. It also featured the song "Baby Come Close", his first solo hit single, and the single "Just My Soul Responding", a protest song dealing with ghetto life in America, and the plight of the American Indian.[1]

All things equal, Smokey was his entry to place him on creative and commercial footing with labelmates, Marvin Gaye with his landmark 1971, What's Going On, Stevie Wonder and Talking Book and Diana Ross and her self-titled debut. However, performing his Vice-President duties at Motown, meant that his time would come a bit later. Producing the #7, "Baby Come Close", "Smokey" shimmers with brilliance on the medley of "Never My Love"/"Never Can Say Goodbye" and songs like the plaintive "Holly". But a couple of years later, he would get his well deserved moment.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Rolling Stone	(not rated) link

Track listing

1. "Holly" (Robinson)
2. Medley: "Never My Love"/"Never Can Say Goodbye" (Don and Dick Addrisi/[Clifton Davis]])
3. "A Silent Partner in a Three-Way Love Affair" (Robinson, Jones)
4. "Just My Soul Responding" (Robinson, Tarplin)
5. "Sweet Harmony" (Robinson)
6. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King)
7. "Wanna Know My Mind" (Robinson)
8. "The Family Song" (Robinson)
9. "Baby Come Close" (Robinson, Moffett, Tarplin)