Warm Thoughts
| Warm Thoughts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1980 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producers | Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder | |||
| Smokey Robinson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Warm Thoughts is the eighth studio album by the American musician Smokey Robinson, released in 1980.[1][2] It features the top 40 hit, "Let Me Be The Clock". The album was arranged by Reginald "Sonny" Burke. This album also featured the semi-autobiographical tune "Wine, Women and Song", which proved to be the closest thing to a Miracles reunion that occurred in the 1980s, with Smokey doing a duet with his then-wife, former Miracle Claudette Robinson, and Miracle Marv Tarplin, with whom he shared songwriting credits, on guitar. The song "Travelin' Thru'" was written by Smokey's real-life sister, Rose Ella Jones, and "Melody Man" was written by Robinson with fellow Motown artist, Stevie Wonder. This album was a success, reaching the Top 20 of The Billboard 200 Pop Album chart, peaking at No. 14, and the Top 10 of Billboard's R&B Album Chart, peaking at No. 4.
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Billboard | (unrated)[4] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[5] |
The Boston Globe wrote that "Robinson's silky smooth tenor glides over a collection of eight cuts, most lush, heavily orchestrated ballads."[6]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks composed by Smokey Robinson, except where indicated.
- "Let Me Be the Clock" - 5:10
- "Heavy on Pride" - 4:07
- "Into Each Rain Some Life Must Fall" (Doris Fisher, Allan Roberts) - 4:34
- "Wine, Women and Song" (Robinson, Marv Tarplin, Pamela Moffett) - 4:45
- "Melody Man" (Robinson, Stevie Wonder) - 4:53
- "What's in Your Life for Me" (Robinson, Donny Soul) - 4:43
- "I Want to Be Your Love" - 3:57
- "Travelin' Thru'" (Rose Ella Jones) - 4:22
Personnel
[edit]- Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
- Reginald "Sonny" Burke – keyboards, arrangements (1–4, 6, 7, 8)
- Ron Rancifer – keyboards
- Marlo Henderson – guitars
- Melvin Ragin – guitars
- Marv Tarplin – guitars
- Phil Upchurch – guitars
- David T. Walker – guitars
- Keni Burke – bass
- Scott Edwards – bass
- Wayne Tweed – bass
- James Gadson – drums
- Scotty Harris – drums
- James Sledge – congas, backing vocals
- Fred Smith – flute, reeds, solos
- Michael Jacobson – cello
- Stevie Wonder – arrangements (5)
- Cheryl Cooper – backing vocals
- Ivory Davis – backing vocals
- Patricia Henley Talbert – backing vocals
- Claudette Robinson – backing vocals, lead vocals (4)
Production
- Producer – Smokey Robinson
- Co-Producer on Track 5 – Stevie Wonder
- Production Assistant – Randy Dunlap
- Engineer – Michael Lizzio
- Assistant Engineers – Ernestine Madison and Ginny Pallante
- Mixing – Michael Lizzio and Smokey Robinson
- Mix Assistants – Randy Dunlap and Ginny Pallante
- Mastered by John Matousek
- Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Motown Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA).
- Recording Coordinator – Barbara Ramsey
- Talent Coordinator – Simone Sheffield
- Art Direction and Design – Ginny Livingston
- Cover Photo – Ron Slenzak
- Lettering – Vigon/Nahas/Vigon
References
[edit]- ↑ Marsh, Dave (June 12, 1980). "Warm Thoughts". Rolling Stone. No. 319. p. 53.
- ↑ Cocks, Jay (June 16, 1980). "The perpetual miracle of Smokey". Time. Vol. 115, no. 24. p. 49.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Warm Thoughts at AllMusic
- ↑ "Review: Smokey Robinson – Warm Thoughts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 10. March 8, 1980. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via American Radio History.
- ↑ "The 80 Greatest Albums of 1980". Rolling Stone. November 11, 2020.
- ↑ McAdam, Sean (April 24, 1980). "Records". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
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