Smoke Signals
Studio album by
Smokey Robinson
Released1986
Recorded1986
GenreR&B, soul
Length42:53
LanguageEnglish, Spanish
LabelMotown
ProducerSmokey Robinson, Reginald "Sonny" Burke
Smokey Robinson chronology
Essar
(1984) 		Smoke Signals
(1986) 		One Heartbeat
(1987)

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]

Critical reception

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

All tracks composed by Smokey Robinson; except where indicated

  1. "Some People (Will Do Anything for Love)" (Bobby Sandstrom, Michael Price) - 4:22
  2. "Sleepless Nights" (Alan Gorrie, Michael Mugrage) - 4:07
  3. "Because of You (It's The Best It's Ever Been)" - 4:12
  4. "Be Kind to the Growing Mind" (featuring the Temptations) - 4:45
  5. "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
  6. "Hold On to Your Love" (Robinson, Stevie Wonder) - 5:12
  7. "Photograph in My Mind" (J.C. Crowley, Tom Campbell) - 3:51
  8. "No Time to Stop Believing" (Don Black, Simon Climie) - 4:11
  9. "Wishful Thinking" (Bobby Sandstrom, Michael Price, David Paul Bryant) - 4:05
  10. "Hanging On by a Thread" (Robinson, Davis) - 3:45

Personnel

Production

References

  1. ^ Brogan, Daniel (3 Jan 1986). "Smokey Robinson's 'Smoke Signals'...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 48.
  2. ^ 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."
  3. ^ "Tracks of Smokey's Tears Left on Broadway". Part II. Newsday. 29 Dec 1986. p. 7.
  4. ^ Gilbert, Calvin (January 24, 1986). "Robinson's voice, songs still strong on 'Signals'". Fun. The Advocate. Baton Rouge. p. 2.
  5. ^ DeVault, Russ (August 16, 1986). "Smooth Smokey Robinson – He's been singer, writer, talent scout, executive and happy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L23.
  6. ^ Spies, Michael (February 2, 1986). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 13.
  7. ^ Varga, George (March 9, 1986). "Robinson art alive in 'Smoke Signals'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E4.
  8. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (July 18, 1986). "Smoke Signals". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 7.
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