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Smokey Robinson - Solo Anthology Audio CD

A fair review of the Smokey Robinson "Solo Anthology" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Smokey Robinson reviews here, or go back to the Smokey Robinson tabs.

Smokey Robinson Band: Smokey Robinson
Title: Solo Anthology
Rating:
Release Date: 2001-09-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Sweet Harmony 2: Baby Come Close 3: Just My Soul Responding 4: Virgin Man 5: I Am I Am 6: Quiet Storm 7: The Agony And The Ecstasy 8: Baby That's Backatcha 9: Open 10: There Will Come A Day (I'm Gonna Happen To You) 11: Daylight And Darkness 12: Shoe Soul 13: Tracks Of My Tears (live) 14: Crusin' 15: Let Me Be The Clock 16: Heavy On Pride (Light On Love) 17: Being With You 18: You Are Forever 19: Tell Me Tomorrow 20: Yes It's You Lady 21: I've Made Love To You A Thousand Times 22: Blame It On Love (with Barbara Mitchell) 23: Don't Play With Another Love Song 24: Ebony Eyes (with Rick James) 25: Little Girl, Little Girl 26: I Can't Find 27: Be Kind To The Growing Mind (with The Temptations) 28: Just To See Her Again 29: One Heartbeat 30: Love Don't Give No Reason (12" Club Mix) 31: Everything You Touch 32: We've Saved The Best Got Last (with Kenny G)

Solo Anthology
When we were young we listened to Smokey. I bought this CD for my husband for Christmas. We were disappointed in the songs that were on these CD's. There were more songs we didn't recognize than we did. It was a bit disappointing, but we did enjoy the songs we knew. .


Smokey Robinson Solo Anthology
For some reason I thought more of his upbeat hits were on this album. I read the ratings on this before buying it. Evidently I got confused with his other albums. This is very good and contains many slower songs. I am glad I found it.


Highly Recommended !
If you are a fan of the legendary Smokey - get this together with "Ooh Baby Baby" the anthology, and if you're not a fan, heaven help you!.


Where there is Smoke!
Smokey is as bad now as he was 30 years ago. There is fire. A must have.


THE FLIPSIDE OF SMOKEY'S PROLIFIC CAREER
Smokey never seemed interested in pushing artistic boundaries Like Stevie and Marvin nor was he interested in adapting to changing styles like Diana and the Tempts. When people mention names of the greatest artists from the most overly prolific record label ever (Motown in case you asked), Smokey isn't the first name many would mention right off the back. This anthology is evident as to how out of touch Smokey became as the 70's and 80's came about. While a lot of his material was nicely crafted and performed, he just seemed like a relic of a dead age (the 60's) and it showed in his chart action as only a few of these songs became mainstream hits. Smokey's only saving grace was the fact that he racked up so many timeless classics with the Miracles which gauranteed him a loyal fan base for life, and to a lesser extent, his friendship with Barry Gordy. So this Solo anthology not only serves as a effective summary of his post miracles career, it gives fans a reason why he's not held in as high regard as the more popular Motown Artists.

The first disc is the most consistently strong set. Even if smokey wasn't progressing as a artist, he did produce a number of powerful tracks during this period. "Baby come Close" is one of best slow jams ever produced, "Virgin Man" is one of the realest songs he'd ever written, "Cruisin" was the biggest hit during this period and brought him into the 80's with smooth ease, and the mighty three from the Quiet Storm album is present as well. The rest of the tracks are just as good. Since Smokey once again was not fully content on adapting with the times, these songs don't sound as fresh compared to what other contemporary r&b artists were offering during this decade (The Isleys, Barry White, Marvin Gaye, etc. )
All in all, Smokey's 70's period is a intoxicating set of soul music.

As for the second disc, it starts off solid, but goes downhill from there. "Being with You" was his first big hit of the 80's and in spite of its overly pop nature, it's a cool easy listening song. "Tell me Tomorrow" is a sultry dose of bedroom soul, and "Ebony Eyes" is a absolute classic (thanks largely in part to Rick James for producing the track). The first half of the second disc is rock solid, but as Smokey moved deep into the 80's, his music became less intoxicating. He fell victim to the pre New Jack swing R&B formula. His music became overproduced and generic which is is evident from tracks 9 to 14. Songs From "Little Girl, Little Girl" to "Love Don't Give no Reason", is so watererd down until its unlistenable. Even the presence of the big hits; "Just to see Her Again" and "One Heartbeat" is so bland and souless. Not coincidentally, most of the songs in this dreadful stretch didn't even become hits on the R&B charts. The second disc does end on a high note with "Everything you Touch" and his duet with Kenny G "Save the best for Last", but the abundance of sub par material does take away a considerable amount of steam from the second disc and the anthology overall.

This anthology could've been better if they'd dug deep and included more of his 70's material with less emphasis on the 80's. Better yet, why not Give smokey a proper 70's anthology since that was his era musically.

In any case the anthology is still worth checking out. Even if it's disapointing that he never progressed as a solo artist, at least he's sticking to what he knows best and you can't down anybody for that. .


You can see a complete list of all Smokey Robinson discography, or go back to the Smokey Robinson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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