Smokey Robinson - a great songwriter*

I recently caught an otherwise great interview on PBS with Smokey that was marred by bang up versions of some of his classics by B entertainers. Teena Marie being by far the worst. It did get me thinking though how many tunes Smokey penned or co-wrote by artist other than himself or the Miracles. Here is a partial list. Did I miss any big ones?

Marvin Gaye- I'll Be Doggone, Ain't That Peculiar
Countours- First I Look At The Purse
Marvelettes- Don't Mess With Bill
Temps- My Girl, Since I Lost My Baby, The Way You Do The Things
Get Ready
Mary Wells,- My Guy,The One Who Really Loves You,You Beat Me To The Punch
Two Lovers

Quite a list when not considering all the tunes he wrote for himself. I think if I had to choose the most beautiful song ever I might just choose "More Love".

 

Temptations - Don't Look Back

Marvelettes - When the Hunter Gets Captured by The Game

Carolyn Crawford - My Smile Is just a Frown Turned Upside Down

Supremes - Floy Joy

 

Smokey is a tremendous talent. It's amazing that he had his run with The Miracles and all the classics they had, then his success as a songwriter and then his solo career, of which I've liked all of what I've heard from. I have the excellent two-disc Solo Collection that came out in 2001 and I have Quiet Storm and One Heartbeat. I would love to check out more of his solo albums but notice most are out of print. I imagine there would be some hidden gems hidden on even the most obscure of his albums.

 

Smokey, for me, has always been one of those "could sing the phone book" guys.

 

Timeless performer.

 

Get the Hip-O Select two-disc comp, MOTOWN SINGS MOTOWN TREASURES to hear his version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." IIRC, according to the liner notes it was actually the first version recorded.

 

I like to think of myself as somewhat musically knowledgeable ...but I'm embarrassed to admit I had no idea Smokey wrote all of those songs listed above. Those are TREMENDOUS songs. He certainly was (is) a huge talent. Are there a lot more than just these? I'm thinking a "songs Smokey gave away" compilation is in my near future, lol...

Of course, I love his work with the Miracles...I've always considered "Tears of a Clown" to be a literally perfectly written pop song.

 

Love Smokey,
love Since I lost My Baby,
love More Love,
love Tracks of My Tears,
love Smokey.

 

You know what I've come to say about Smokey Robinson lately? He's the guy with the voice which need not pass any inspection.

 

Try and catch his SPECTACLE (Elvis Costello) appearance from last year. Pure class act!

 

I just watched it a few nights ago. Excellent episode and he is a great guest as he is on his recent appearance on Daryl Hall's live from Daryl's House internet show.

 

Marvin Gaye - One More Heartache

Four Tops - Still Water (Love)

Temptations - It's Growing, Don't Look Back

Marvelettes - The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game

Supremes - The Composer, Automatically Sunshine

 

Smokey's one of the all time greats. Love this guy, what a voice..

On a side note, Bob Dylan has called Smokey Robinson one of his favorite songwriters.

 

I just posted a comment in another thread that some say a number of his songs are "list" songs (which doesn't make them bad necessarily, and I like many of them). My Girl, My Guy and The Way You Do The Things You Do are obvious examples.

The only Smokey song I have always disliked is Tears of a Clown.

 

Wow I think Stevie Wonder wrote the music for that one...

 

Yes that is correct. Smokey wrote the lyrics after Stevie and Hank Cosby wrote the music.

 

One of Americas greatest song writers

 

Please enlighten me here, what do you mean with a song being a "list" song?

 

Bill Robinson wrote everything you wished that you had written, and more. his songs transcend genre, arrangement, all of the cosmetic elements of their recordings. We throw around the appellation "Genius" too much in everyday parlance, but, well, you know . . .

 

I don't think there is anyone better at wordplay than Smokey. Check out 'The Love I Saw in You was Just a Mirage' for a perfect example.

Tom

 

I think the Dylan quote was that he is "America's greatest living poet".

 

The quality of the songs Smokey wrote and produced for The Temptations is utter genius ( 64 to With a lot of Soul album)
the finesse in the melody , arrangments, lyrics , yes , pure genius

 

The Temptations Sing Smokey:

The Way You Do The Things You Do
Baby, Baby I Need You
My Girl
What Love Has Joined Together
You'll Lose a Precious Love
It's Growing
Who's Lovin' You
What's So Good About Goodbye
You Beat Me To The Punch
Way Over There
You've Really Got a Hold On Me
You Can Depend On Me

http://www.amazon.com/Temptations-Sing-Smokey/dp/B00000DBY4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

"Nothing you could say could tear me away from my guy,
Nothing you could do 'cause I'm stuck like glue to my guy ...

Nothing you could do to make me untrue to my guy,
Nothing you could buy could make me tell a lie to my guy ..."

"You got a smile so bright, you know you could have been a candle,
I'm holding you so tight, you know you could have been a handle,
The way you swept me off my feet, you could have been a broom ..."

Nothing you could ... You could / should have been ... in almost every line.

They're lists. I like the songs (particularly The Way You do the Things You Do) and the fact they're lists doesn't bother me, but other people have criticized them, presumably for being something less than truly "poetic". I'm just sayin'.