Love, Smokey Explained
Love, Smokey is an album by American R&B singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson, released in 1990.[1] Love, Smokey was the follow-up to Robinson's most successful album One Heartbeat. The first single was "Everything You Touch" which reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Stevie Wonder plays harmonica on the track "Easy".
Track listing
- "Love Is The Light" (David Ritz, Fred White, Kelly McNulty, Smokey Robinson) – 5:18
- "(It's The) Same Old Love" (Brenda Madison, Ken Gold) – 4:45
- "Love 'N Life" (Jeff Pescetto, Reed Vertelney) – 4:59
- "I Can't Find" (Smokey Robinson) – 4:07
- "Take Me Through the Night" (Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel) – 3:54
- "Everything You Touch" (Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel) – 4:14
- "Don't Wanna Be Just Physical" (Fritz Cadet, Howard King, Smokey Robinson) – 5:03
- "Come to Me Soon" (Smokey Robinson) – 4:38
- "You Made Me Feel Love" (Dave Loggins, Jon Goin) – 4:08
- "Jasmin" (Smokey Robinson) – 4:28
- "Easy" (Marv Tarplin, Smokey Robinson) – 4:40
- "Just Another Kiss" (Scott Cutler, Roy Freeland) – 3:33 (CD Bonus track)
- "Unless You Do It Again" (Smokey Robinson) – 3:36 (CD Bonus track)
Personnel
- Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, arrangements (10, 11)
- Paul Laurence – keyboards (1), Audio Frame programming (1), backing vocals (1), arrangements (1)
- Darryl Sheppard – keyboards (1), AudioFrame programming (1)
- Keith Andes – keyboards (2, 3), drum programming (2, 3), percussion (2, 3), arrangements (2, 3), backing vocals (3)
- Johnny Davis – keyboards (2, 3), backing vocals (3)
- Larry Hatcher – keyboards (2, 3), percussion (2, 3), backing vocals (2, 3), arrangements (2, 3), BGV arrangements (2, 3)
- Michael Stokes – keyboard (4), arrangements (4)
- Johnny Allen – synthesizers (4)
- William Bryant – acoustic piano (4), synthesizers (4)
- Michael Rochelle – programming (4)
- Claude Gaudette – keyboards (5, 6), synthesizers (5, 6), arrangements (5, 6), bass (12)
- Fritz Cadet – keyboards (7), arrangements (7)
- Howard King – keyboards (7), drum programming (7), arrangements (7)
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (8, 12), synthesizers (8, 12), arrangements (8, 12)
- George Duke – arrangements (9-11), Yamaha TX816 Rhodes (9-11), Roland D-550 (9, 11), Synclavier (9-11), Yamaha DX7 (10), synthesizer effects (10), marimba (10), percussion (10), vibraphone (11)
- Jeff Fargus – keyboards (13), computer programming (13), arrangements (13)
- Tommy Organ – guitars (3)
- David Williams – guitars (4)
- Teddy Castellucci – guitars (5, 6)
- Michael Landau – guitars (8, 12), lead guitar (9)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – rhythm guitar (9), guitars (10, 12)
- Sheldon Reynolds – guitars (11)
- Marv Tarplin – guitars (11)
- Freddie Washington – bass (4, 9-11)
- Leon Sylvers III – bass (13), drum programming (13), arrangements (13)
- Tim Cornwell – drum programming (2)
- James Gadson – drums (4)
- John Robinson – drums (9, 10)
- Ricky Lawson – drums (11)
- Gary Coleman – percussion (4)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (4, 8)
- Terry Santiel – percussion (4)
- Luis Conte – percussion (5, 6)
- Romeo Stone – percussion (13)
- Felix Ramos – alto saxophone (2)
- Gerald Albright – saxophone (4), alto saxophone (9)
- Dave Boruff – saxophone (6)
- Kenny G – saxophone (12)
- Stevie Wonder – harmonica (11)
- Iris Gordy – BGV arrangements (2)
- Dennis Lambert – BGV arrangements (5, 6)
- Janice Dempsey – backing vocals (1)
- Joyce Vincent Wilson – backing vocals (2)
- Pamela Vincent – backing vocals (2)
- Michael Campbell – backing vocals (3)
- Abe Hatcher – backing vocals (3)
- Jackie Bell – backing vocals (4)
- Patricia Henley – backing vocals (4-6, 8, 11-13)
- Linda Stokes – backing vocals (4)
- Ivory Stone – backing vocals (4-6, 8, 11-13)
- Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals (5, 6, 12)
- Sandra St. Victor – backing vocals (7)
- Carmen Twillie – backing vocals (8)
- Mark Kibble – backing vocals (9)
- Claude V. McKnight III – backing vocals (9)
- David Thomas – backing vocals (9)
- Mervyn Warren – backing vocals (9)
- Alexandra Brown – backing vocals (11)
- Robert Henley – backing vocals (13)
Production
- Executive Producer – Iris Gordy
- Producers – Paul Laurence (Track 1); Keith Andes and Larry Hatcher (Tracks 2 & 3); Berry Gordy and Michael Stokes (Track 4); Dennis Lambert (Tracks 5 & 6); Fritz Cadet and Howard King (Track 7); Robbie Buchanan, Iris Gordy and Smokey Robinson (Tracks 8 & 12); George Duke (Tracks 9-11); Leon Sylvers III (Track 13).
- Associate Producer on Track 4 – Michael Rochelle
- Engineers – Ron Banks and Steve Goldman (Track 1); Eric Camp (Track 2); Al Phillips (Tracks 2 & 3); Warren Woods (Track 4); Doug Rider (Tracks 5 & 6); Fil Brown and Stephen Seltzer (Track 7); Steve MacMillan (Tracks 7 & 8); Jeff Balding and Ian Eales (Tracks 8 & 12); Erik Zobler (Tracks 9-11); Frank Wolf (Track 12); Derek Marcil (Track 13).
- Assistant Engineers – Randy Long (Tracks 2 & 3); Claudio Ordenas and Jeff Poe (Tracks 5 & 6); Andy Batwinas, Kyle Bess, Paula Max Garcia and Leroy Quintyn (Track 7); Kevin Fisher, Mitch Gibson, Steve Holroyd and Tom Perry (Tracks 9-11).
- Recorded at Giant Sound and Science Lab (New York, NY); Soundcastle, Hollywood Sound Recorders, Le Gonks West, Creative Source Studios and Summa Studios (Hollywood, CA); O'Henry Sound Studios (Burbank, CA); The Hop and Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles, CA).
- Mixing – Ron Banks (Track 1); Gary Dobbins (Tracks 2 & 3); Brian Malouf (Track 4-6); Taavi Mote (Tracks 7 & 13); Erik Zobler (Tracks 8-11); Doug Rider (Track 12)
- Mixed at Ocean Way Recording, Elumba Recording and Lion Share Studios (Los Angeles, CA); Larrabee Sound Studios and Pacifique Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA); Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, CA).
- Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc (Hollywood, CA).
- Production Assistants – Karla Dawn Bristol (Karla Gordy Bristol), Sharon Burston, D. Dee Click, Stephanie McCravey and Marriane L. Pellicci.
- Art Direction – Jeff Adamoff
- Design – Michael Diehl
- Photography – Randee St. Nicholas
- Wardrobe – Rick Pollack
- Management – Michael Roshkind
Charts
Year-end charts
Notes and References
- The Complete Encyclopedia of African American History Jessie Carney Smith, Lean'tin Bracks, Linda T Wynn - 1578595835 2015 - Page 386 "Between 1986 and 1991 Robinson released five more albums, including Smoke Signals, One Heartbeat, and Love, Smokey."
- Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. November 28, 2020.
