SMOKEY ROBINSON
Motown legend, Smokey Robinson returns with his brand new album of original material featuring guests Carlos Santana, Joss Stone and India.Arie lending their estimable musical talents plus famed graphic artist Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One providing the package art. This year, Smokey celebrates 50 years in music this year and this album is the perfect celebration.
Time Flies When You're Having Fun
- Smokey Robinson
- WRASS 252
- Harmonia Mundi
With his eternally smooth and instantly recognizable falsetto, legendary singer/songwriter/producer SMOKEY ROBINSON’s honey-coated voice is one of the most recognizable voices in the world. Recording the album live in the studio with his musicians, “the old school way”, Robinson was steadfast in his penchant for live instrumentation. “I think that you still don’t get that feeling that you used to get in the old days when everybody was in the studio together,” says Robinson, whose early Motown classics were recorded in this fashion. Whether it’s his signature languid, slow numbers or a groove-driven midtempo, every song delivers “classic Smokey.” Completely written by Robinson (except for his sumptuous remake of Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why”), the album veers from the slow-simmering, (“Time Flies,” “Whatcha Gonna Do” and “Love Bath”) and light-groovin’ pop/R&B midtempos ( “Girlfriend”); to the old-school reminiscent (“You’re Just My Life,” with India.Arie) and even a red-hot slow grind (“That Place”). For the rhythmic “Please Don’t Take Your Love,” Robinson is also joined by guitar virtuoso Santana.