Smokey Robinson

Robinson's best solo platter. This classic's dreamy Sunday morning vibe was so influential that "quiet storm" became the term for all slinky bedroom soul. While Robinson's voice has always been exquisitely unique, the sound of the album is matched by a left-of-center songwriting approach that illustrates that Robinson was a freethinker like Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes.

A Quiet Storm begins with the sound of a summer shower, a flute, tremulous congas and
vibes and Smokey breathlessly caressing the words, "Soft and warm, a quiet storm." As the
title tune progresses, the sensuality of its lyrics and the loose, improvisational feel of the
backup suggest that the album is going to be Robinson's What's Going On or Innervisions, a
formula-defying statement of both personal and social import. But Robinson is m... More >

Only "Virgin Man," the most audacious and appropriate song he's written in years, kept Pure Smokey from drifting away. The title cut here announces Robinson's intention of distilling that drift into a style--rhythmically it seems to respond more to his internal state than to any merely physical criterion. Audacious in its way, and sexy, too, I guess, but he can't be my love man until he finds a beat. Which he does--not on the number-one soul hit "Baby That's Backatcha," but as the record is drawing to a close, on "Love Letters" and the coy "Coincidentally." (Grade - B)