Intimate (Smokey Robinson album) explained

Intimate
Type:	studio
Artist:	Smokey Robinson
Cover:	Intimate (Smokey Robinson).jpg
Released:	1999
Recorded:	1999
Studio:	Creative Source Studios (Woodland Hills, California) West Grand Media Studios (West Hollywood, California) Chartmaker Studios (Malibu, California) Barking Doctor Recording (Mount Kisco, New York)
Genre:	R&B, soul
Label:	Motown
Producer:	Michael Stokes Berry Gordy Michael Lovesmith David Foster
Prev Title:	Double Good Everything
Prev Year:	1991
Next Title:	Food for the Spirit
Next Year:	2004

Intimate is a studio album by Smokey Robinson, released in 1999 on Motown Records. The album rose to No. 28 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.^[1]

It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.^[2]

Overview

The album was his first in over seven years and marked a return to Motown Records. Artists such as The Emotions and Gerald Albright guested on the album.^{[3] [4] [5]}

The album had two singles: "Easy to Love" and "Sleepin' In". Music videos were made for both singles.

Critical reception

Alan Light for Vibe feels the album relies "too heavily on dated synthesizer washes and 'romantic' tinkly percussion", but Robinson's voice is "just as lovely, just as pure and clean, as ever." Andrew Hamilton of AllMusic doesn't think Intimate rates with his albums from the 1970s, calling the results "merely adequate" but says it "is a fine comeback by Mr. Motown."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Smokey Robinson and Michael Stokes; except where indicated.

1. "Sleepin' In" – 4:07
2. "Easy to Love" (Smokey Robinson) – 4:30
3. "Love Love Again" (David Foster, Junior Miles, Bruce Roberts) – 4:12
4. "Intimate" – 4:36
5. "I'm the One" (Berry Gordy, Jr., Michael Lovesmith) – 4:02
6. "Just Let Me Love You" (Berry Gordy, Jr., Michael Lovesmith) – 4:04
7. "All of Mine" – 3:50
8. "The Bottom Line" – 3:54
9. "Feelings Flowing" – 4:13
10. "Ready to Roll" (Berry Gordy, Jr., Michael Lovesmith) – 3:48
11. "Tu Me Besas Muy Rico" – 5:13
12. "Intimate" (Reprise) – 1:22

Personnel

• Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Michael Stokes – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming, percussion
• Michael Lovesmith – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming, backing vocals
• Donny Nguyen – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming
• Carl Rowan – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming
• Clint Stokes III – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming
• DeAndre Franklin – synthesizer programming, drums
• David Foster – keyboards (3), arrangements (3)
• Simon Franglen – Synclavier programming (3)
• Charles Fearing – guitars
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
• Marlon McClain – guitars
• Michael Thompson – guitars (3)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion
• Gerard Albright – saxophones
• Sylvia Cox – backing vocals
• Patricia Henley – backing vocals
• Robert Henley – backing vocals
• Ronald Henley – backing vocals
• Jeanette Hutchinson – backing vocals
• Sheila Hutchinson – backing vocals
• Wanda Hutchinson – backing vocals
• Denise Parker – backing vocals
• Linda Stokes – backing vocals
• Ivory Stone – backing vocals
• Joey Diggs – backing vocals (3)
• Ricky Jones – backing vocals (3)
• Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals (3)

Production

• Berry Gordy – executive producer, producer (5, 6, 10), arrangements (5, 6, 10)
• Michael Stokes – producer (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11), arrangements (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11), recording (1, 2, 4-11), mixing (1, 2, 4-11)
• Michael Lovesmith – associate producer (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11), producer (5, 6, 10), arrangements (5, 6, 10), recording (5, 6, 10)
• DeAndre Franklin – associate producer (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11)
• Donny Nguyen – associate producer (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11)
• Carl Rowan – associate producer (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11)
• Clint Stokes III – associate producer (1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11)
• David Foster – producer (3), arrangements (3)
• Felipe Elgueta – engineer (3)
• Ed Goodreau – assistant engineer (3)
• Mick Guzauski – mixing (3)
• David Boucher – mix assistant (3)
• Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Cheryl Jackson – production assistant (5, 6, 10)
• Petter Design – design
• James Hicks at Deborah Martin Agency – photography
• De Passe Management – management

Notes and References

1. Web site: Smokey Robinson: Intimate (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums). billboard.com.
2. Web site: Smokey Robinson. grammy.com.
3. Alan . Light . Revolutions: Smokey Robinson – Intimate . . 7 . 9 . November 1999 . 186 . December 20, 2015.
4. Gail . Mitchell . Smokey Robinson's Intimate New Set Finds Home at Motown . Billboard. 111 . 36 . 14 . September 4, 1999 . December 20, 2015.
5. . 97 . 13 . 38–39 . March 6, 2000. Smokey Robinson Wins New Fans with Hit Album Intimate. December 20, 2015.