Smoke Signals (Smokey Robinson album) explained

Smoke Signals
Type:	studio
Artist:	Smokey Robinson
Cover:	Smoke Signals (Smokey Robinson).jpg
Released:	1986
Recorded:	1986
Genre:	R&B, soul
Length:	42:53
Language:	English, Spanish
Label:	Motown
Producer:	Smokey Robinson, Reginald "Sonny" Burke
Prev Title:	Essar
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	One Heartbeat
Next Year:	1987

Smoke Signals is a studio album by the American singer Smokey Robinson, released in 1986 by Motown.^[1] ^[2] "Be Kind to the Growing Mind", featuring the Temptations, encourages songwriters to avoid distasteful lyrics.^[3] "Hold On to Your Love" was written with Stevie Wonder.^[4] Robinson supported the album with a North American tour.^[5]

Critical reception

The Houston Chronicle wrote: "Less personal than many of his solo projects, Smoke Signals is reassuring, if not a renewal for Robinson."^[6] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that Robinson "retains his inimitable sense of cheerful optimism and wholesomeness."^[7] The Chicago Sun-Times deemed the album "a little too much in the middle-of-the-road."^[8]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Smokey Robinson; except where indicated

"Some People (Will Do Anything for Love)" (Bobby Sandstrom, Michael Price) - 4:22
"Sleepless Nights" (Alan Gorrie, Michael Mugrage) - 4:07
"Because of You (It's The Best It's Ever Been)" - 4:12
"Be Kind to the Growing Mind" (featuring the Temptations) - 4:45
"Te Quiero Como Si No Hubiera Un Mañana (I'm Gonna Love You Like There's No Tomorrow)" (Robinson, Ivory Stone, Mark Davis) - 4:21
"Hold On to Your Love" (Robinson, Stevie Wonder) - 5:12
"Photograph in My Mind" (J.C. Crowley, Tom Campbell) - 3:51
"No Time to Stop Believing" (Don Black, Simon Climie) - 4:11
"Wishful Thinking" (Bobby Sandstrom, Michael Price, David Paul Bryant) - 4:05
"Hanging On by a Thread" (Robinson, Davis) - 3:45

Personnel

Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
Bobby Sandstrom – synthesizers (1, 9), bass (1), drum programming (1, 9), backing vocals (1), BGV arrangements (1), keyboards (9), arrangements (9)
John Hobbs – keyboards (2, 10), synthesizers (2, 10), arrangements (2, 10), acoustic piano (4, 5)
Jim Lang – keyboards (3, 6), synthesizers (3), arrangements (3, 6), bass (6), drum programming (6)
Michael Boddicker – arrangements (4), synthesizers (5)
Michael Omartian – arrangements (4), additional keyboards (6), additional synthesizers (6)
Tony Peluso – arrangements (2-4), additional synthesizers (5), guitar solo (9, 10)
Robbie Buchanan – synthesizer solo (5), synthesizers (7, 8), bass (7, 8), drum programming (7, 8), arrangements (7, 8)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (1-9)
Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar (2, 4, 5, 9, 10)
Mike Baird – drums (2, 6, 10)
John Robinson – drums (3, 4, 5)
Freddy Alwag – drum programming (3)
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (7, 8)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2, 5, 9)
Steve Barri – additional percussion (2, 5), percussion (4)
Greg Adams – horn arrangements (1, 9)
Tower of Power Horns (Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams, Mike Cichowicz, Richard Elliot, Stephen Kupka) – horns (1, 9)
Richard Elliot – lyricon solo (2, 3), saxophone (8)
Calvin Davis – alto saxophone (5)
Michael Jacobsen – tenor saxophone (5)
Fred Smith – tenor saxophone (5)
Herb Alpert – trumpet solo (5)
Mark Davis – arrangements (3, 5)
Stevie Wonder – arrangements (6)
David Bryant – arrangements (9)
Michael Lovesmith – backing vocals (1, 2, 10), BGV arrangements (1)
Maureen Steele – backing vocals (1, 2)
Richard Carpenter – backing vocals (2, 10), BGV arrangements (2, 10), additional keyboards (10)
Brenda Eager – backing vocals (3, 5, 6), additional backing vocals (4)
Patricia Henley – backing vocals (3, 5, 6), additional backing vocals (4)
Ivory Stone – backing vocals (3, 5, 6, 9), additional backing vocals (4)
The Temptations – backing vocals (4)
Bunny DeBarge – backing vocals (6)
Mark DeBarge – backing vocals (6)
Howard Smith – backing vocals (6)
Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (7, 8)
Dennis Lambert – backing vocals (7, 8)
Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals (7, 8)
Oren Waters – backing vocals (7, 8)
Julie Waters – backing vocals (9)
Maxine Waters – backing vocals (9)

Production

Executive Producer – Steve Barri
Producers – Steve Barri; Tony Peluso (Tracks 1-6, 9 & 10); Mark Davis (Track 5); Smokey Robinson (Track 5); Dennis Lambert (Tracks 7 & 8).
Co-Producer on Tracks 7 & 8 – Robbie Buchanan
Engineers – Tony Peluso (Tracks 1-6, 9 & 10); Dennis McKay and Jack Joseph Puig (Tracks 7 & 8).
Second Engineers – Sabrina Buchanek (Tracks 1-6, 9 & 10); Bino Espinoza; Toni Greene (Tracks 1-6, 9 & 10); Karen Siegel (Tracks 1-6, 9 & 10); Steve Ford (Tracks 7 & 8).
Recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA); Monkey Dust Studio (Granada Hills, CA); Soundcastle Studio Center (Los Angeles, CA).
Mixing – Tony Peluso (Tracks 1-6, 9 & 10); Jack Joseph Puig (Tracks 7 & 8).
Mixed at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio (Hollywood, CA).
Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc (Hollywood, CA).
Album Coordinator – Gail Pierson
Art Direction – Johnny Lee
Design – Janet Levinson
Photography – Ron Slenzak

Notes and References

News: Brogan . Daniel . Smokey Robinson's 'Smoke Signals'... . Chicago Tribune . 3 Jan 1986 . Friday . 48.
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."
News: Tracks of Smokey's Tears Left on Broadway . Newsday . 29 Dec 1986 . Part II . 7.
News: Gilbert . Calvin . Robinson's voice, songs still strong on 'Signals' . The Advocate . January 24, 1986 . Baton Rouge . Fun . 2.
News: DeVault . Russ . Smooth Smokey Robinson – He's been singer, writer, talent scout, executive and happy . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . August 16, 1986 . L23.
News: Spies . Michael . Records . Houston Chronicle . February 2, 1986 . Zest . 13.
News: Varga . George . Robinson art alive in 'Smoke Signals' . The San Diego Union-Tribune . March 9, 1986 . E4.
News: Hoekstra . Dave . Smoke Signals . Chicago Sun-Times . July 18, 1986 . Weekend Plus . 7.