Wikipedia
Smoke Signals (Smokey Robinson album)
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]
| Smoke Signals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length | 42:53 | |||
| Language | English, Spanish | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer | Smokey Robinson, Reginald "Sonny" Burke | |||
| Smokey Robinson chronology | ||||
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Critical reception edit
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 edit
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 edit
- 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, 3, 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 edit
- Producers – Steve Barri (Tracks 1-10); 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
- Executive Producer – Steve Barri
- 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 (1-10); 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
References edit
- ^ Brogan, Daniel (3 Jan 1986). "Smokey Robinson's 'Smoke Signals'...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 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."
- ^ "Tracks of Smokey's Tears Left on Broadway". Part II. Newsday. 29 Dec 1986. p. 7.
- ^ Gilbert, Calvin (January 24, 1986). "Robinson's voice, songs still strong on 'Signals'". Fun. The Advocate. Baton Rouge. p. 2.
- ^ DeVault, Russ (August 16, 1986). "Smooth Smokey Robinson – He's been singer, writer, talent scout, executive and happy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L23.
- ^ Spies, Michael (February 2, 1986). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 13.
- ^ Varga, George (March 9, 1986). "Robinson art alive in 'Smoke Signals'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E4.
- ^ Hoekstra, Dave (July 18, 1986). "Smoke Signals". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 7.