Smokey

AMG Review of Smokey

Andrew Hamilton
All Music Guide

Smokey Robinson's first album after splitting with the Miracles remains one of his best, yet it has never received the acclaim it deserves. "Holly" shows the genius of the man; the heart-rending allad is about a teenage girl who gets strung out on drugs and fast living. Smokey's thoughts are with the Miracles on "Sweet Harmony," a sweet remembrance dedicated to his former bandmates; Robinson salutes his immediate family on the toe-tapping "The Family Song." He sets the bar for lushness with a velvety rendition of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's questioning "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," popularized by the Shirelles. And it doesn't get much better than "Baby Come Close," co-written with longtime guitarist Marv Tarplin, who strums some seductive chords to complement Smokey's sweet tenor.