SMOKEY ROBINSON APPRECIATION THREAD
pickwick33
8,946 Posts
I started to post in the "fave songs on repeat" thread, since I've been spinning "My Girl Has Gone" like crazy, but I said, fuck it, the famed singing gumbo maker deserves his own thread:
Here it is, Chicago finally has some decent weather, and although several of his songs are about heartbreak, Smokey usually sounds really good this time of the year. Even the songs where his woman leaves him have a weird sort of springtime positivity.MY TOP TEN SMOKEY FAVES (off tha head):[/b]"My Girl Has Gone" (obviously)"Doggone Right""What's So Good About Goodbye""Cruisin'""We've Come Too Far To End It Now""I Don't Blame You At All""Swept For You Baby""The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage""She's Only A Baby Herself""Satisfaction"THREE LOST CLASSICS:[/b]- Pure Smokey (his second solo album, where he starts tackling heavy topics...not quite as groudbreaking as Marvin or Stevie, but still startling nonetheless)- Smokey's Family Robinson (where he flirts with the funk)- 1957-1972 (Smokey & the Miracles' final concert together...rather touching)AND BY THE WAY:[/b]Anybody ever tasted Smokey's gumbo? Any good?
Here it is, Chicago finally has some decent weather, and although several of his songs are about heartbreak, Smokey usually sounds really good this time of the year. Even the songs where his woman leaves him have a weird sort of springtime positivity.MY TOP TEN SMOKEY FAVES (off tha head):[/b]"My Girl Has Gone" (obviously)"Doggone Right""What's So Good About Goodbye""Cruisin'""We've Come Too Far To End It Now""I Don't Blame You At All""Swept For You Baby""The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage""She's Only A Baby Herself""Satisfaction"THREE LOST CLASSICS:[/b]- Pure Smokey (his second solo album, where he starts tackling heavy topics...not quite as groudbreaking as Marvin or Stevie, but still startling nonetheless)- Smokey's Family Robinson (where he flirts with the funk)- 1957-1972 (Smokey & the Miracles' final concert together...rather touching)AND BY THE WAY:[/b]Anybody ever tasted Smokey's gumbo? Any good?
Comments
I ride for Smokey any day of the week
Here's a youtube of Crusin' that switches between the acapella/instrumental/regular song.
I RIDE FOR SMOKEY.
now the real ? remains: WHO DOESN'T??
This album is great:
"Virgin Man"
"Tattoo"
The song about how is ex-wife is keeping him from his kids...
Actually you're right.
But I was vibing off "My Girl Has Gone" so hard that I thought I'd go for broke. Besides, as far as the Strut is concerned, I've seen him mentioned in passing whenever we had a Motown thread, but nobody ever FOCUSED on him. Like we always do with non-Motowner Curtis Mayfield. So...
How about greatest songs written by Smokey for other groups?
The one where a widowed mother starts dating again...
The one where the narrator's teenage daughter gets knocked up ("She's Only A Baby Herself")...
Great album. I don't know whether this was supposed to be his What's Going On or what; it surely wasn't promoted like that, so it's easy to think that this is Just Another Smokey Album when it turns up. But, it's interesting to see him raise the bar beyond mere love songs...
His solo work and albums with the Miracles are classic, but the amount of producing, arranging and songwriting he did is nothing short of incredible.
Truly one of the greats. And while people are saying this is obvious, he really doesn't get the props he deserves.
This is one of my favorite records he produced. "Oh Be My Love" is the shit.
Yea, he basically helped to build Motown and reinforce its foothold...and without Motown, even SoulStrut may not exist!
After the Miracles and himself, I think his Temptations songs are my favourites.
And I don't think I will ever get tired of Tracks of My Tears or I Second That Emotion.
Yes.
WHATS oN HIS SPOON doesnt match whats in his bowl.
dude pretty much built Motown,which fueled Black Music which informed so many other genre's of music.
And still is the prettiest Brother in the game.
One of my favorites.
I ride.
I think all that rice is in the bowl, just at the bottom. Beneath whatever that other stuff is.
My current spin is "Swept For You Baby"...
In the other thread I mentioned That's What Love Is Made Of, which is kind of folky, and also Being With You lp, which is from the early 80s.
I like most everything he wrote, sang or produced, though a lot of Motown stuff has a way of falling into oldiesnostaligacomfyoldshoe zone.
The back of one of his lps mentions that he is Bob Dylan's favorite songwriter. The story I believe is that this was made up by a copywriter, but is oft quoted and passed around as gospel. I don't think anyone has every found a direct quote from Dylan confirming this.
I'll take Smokey over Dylan any day any way.