Most of these songs are exalted musical wonders. But Ooh Baby Baby, oh man. "I did you wrong, my heart went out to play and in the game I lost you - what a price to pay." This right here leaves me immobilized, every time, even after hearing it for forty five years. Good God, what a song.
― Fishes, You Hit Me With A Flounder (Dr. Joseph A. Ofalt), Tuesday, 23 June 2009 01:55 (fourteen years ago) link
Well it's not the greatest hits I would have picked. I voted for second that emotion.
Bimble, I'm surprised that you said it was weird you have this, as I always think that Smokey is the motown that most fans of early 80s indie would rate. Try to get a listen to Hunter gets captured by the game and listen to it with post punk ears.
― Sandy Blair, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 03:56 (fourteen years ago) link
Will do, thanks Sandy! The only other Smokey thing I've ever owned was his duet with Rick James "Ebony Eyes" which I think is a great song and it's on my fave Rick James album, to boot.
― A Breath of Fresh Culture (Bimble), Tuesday, 23 June 2009 04:27 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Saturday, 27 June 2009 23:01 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Sunday, 28 June 2009 23:01 (fourteen years ago) link
Of course we are all well aware that Linda Ronstadt recorded popular versions of the #1 and #2 poll winners. I, for one, however, didn't realize that her 'Tracks of My Tears' only made it to 25 on the the Billboard Pop chart (Ooh Baby Baby peaked at #7). It was a gigantic smash hit on both AM and FM radio in Scranton, PA in 1976, that's for sure.
― Love Is A Cattlefield (Dr. Joseph A. Ofalt), Monday, 29 June 2009 01:34 (fourteen years ago) link
"Cruisin," one of the greatest singles ever recorded, deserved at least a few votes; but, yeah, Smokey topped himself all the time in the sixties.
― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 June 2009 01:40 (fourteen years ago) link
I love all these ilxors.
― Buckets of Rong Pt. 2: Bimble Buggery (Bimble), Monday, 29 June 2009 02:00 (fourteen years ago) link
<3 <3
"mickey's monkey" was robbed
― kamerad, Monday, 29 June 2009 02:11 (fourteen years ago) link
Tears of a Clown
― Iago Galdston, Saturday, 22 October 2016 23:27 (seven years ago) link
I can hear the genius of his lyrics that Dylan and Townshend talk about in interviews on ToaC
― Iago Galdston, Saturday, 22 October 2016 23:30 (seven years ago) link
i would have voted for "Cruisin.'"
― Bee OK, Sunday, 23 October 2016 01:26 (seven years ago) link
Baby Baby Don't Cry
― Robby Mook (stevie), Sunday, 23 October 2016 10:40 (seven years ago) link
Might as well link this new piece here -- someone else taking a crack at describing the legend:
http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/smokey-robinson-is-the-greatest-american-songwriter-1792170175
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 10 February 2017 20:13 (seven years ago) link
A wonderful read
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 February 2017 20:31 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, this is great.
I saw him live a few years ago and it was... a very weird show. There was a disconnect between his chipper, Motown hits and the sort of sultrier quiet storm stuff. Some of the "sexy" stuff was a little uncomfortable. But his songbook is unimpeachable.
― Evan R, Friday, 10 February 2017 20:57 (seven years ago) link