Pure Smokey Explained

Pure Smokey
Type:	Album
Artist:	Smokey Robinson
Cover:	Pure_smokey.jpg
Released:	March 15, 1974
Recorded:	September–December 1973
Genre:	Soul, funk
Length:	39:29
Label:	Tamla
Producer:	Smokey Robinson
Prev Title:	Smokey
Prev Year:	1973
Next Title:	A Quiet Storm
Next Year:	1975

Pure Smokey is Smokey Robinson's second post-Miracles album, released in 1974. It features the single "Virgin Man." Several songs were written by Robinson with fellow Miracle Marv Tarplin, who left the group a year after Robinson's departure to join him in California and assist him in his solo projects.

Track listing

All tracks are produced by Smokey Robinson; except "A Tattoo".

All tracks arranged by Russ Turner, Gene Page and Smokey Robinson; except where indicated.

1. "It's Her Turn to Live" (Robinson, Marvin Tarplin) - 3:15
2. "The Love Between Me and My Kids" (Robinson) - 2:52
3. "Asleep on My Love" (Robinson, Tarplin) - 3:58
4. "I Am I Am" (Robinson) - 3:53
5. "Just Passing Through" (Tarplin, Janie Bradford, Al Cleveland) - 3:17
6. "Virgin Man" (Robinson, Rose Ella Jones) - 5:07
7. "She's Only a Baby Herself" (Robinson) - 2:47
8. "Fulfill Your Need" (Robinson, Tarplin, Pamela Moffett) - 2:50
9. "A Tattoo" (Robinson) - 4:30

"I Am, I Am" arranged by Smokey Robinson and Gene Page

"A Tattoo" produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson and Willie Hutch

Personnel

• Smokey Robinson – vocals, arranger
• Gene Page – arranger
• Bobbye Hall – percussion
• Henry Davis – bass guitar
• Jeffrey Osborne – drums
• Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin – guitar
• Russ Turner – keyboards, arranger
• Marvin Tarplin – guitar

Technical

• Bruce Ellison, Jim Hilton, Larry Miles, Russ Terrana, Tom Knox - recording engineers
• Russ Terrana - mixing engineer
• Robert Gleason - design
• Jim Britt - photography