Warm Thoughts
Studio album by
Smokey Robinson
Released1980
GenreR&B
LabelMotown
ProducerSmokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder
Smokey Robinson chronology
Where There's Smoke...
(1979) 		Warm Thoughts
(1980) 		Being with You
(1981)

Warm Thoughts is an album by the American musician Smokey Robinson, released in 1980.[1][2] It features the top 40 hit, "Let Me Be the Clock". The album was arranged by Reginald "Sonny" Burke. This album also featured the semi-autobiographical tune "Wine, Women and Song", which proved to be the closest thing to a Miracles reunion that occurred in the 1980s, with Smokey doing a duet with his then-wife, former Miracle Claudette Robinson, and Miracle Marv Tarplin, with whom he shared songwriting credits, on guitar. The song "Travelin' Thru'" was written by Smokey's real-life sister, Rose Ella Jones, and two songs written by Robinson with fellow Motown artist, Stevie Wonder, and singer, songwriter, and former Starsky and Hutch star, David Soul. This album was a success, reaching the Top 20 of The Billboard 200 Pop Album chart, peaking at No. 14, and the Top 10 of Billboard's R&B Album Chart, peaking at No. 4.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Billboard(unrated)[4]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[5]

The Boston Globe wrote that "Robinson's silky smooth tenor glides over a collection of eight cuts, most lush, heavily orchestrated ballads."[6]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Smokey Robinson, except where indicated.

  1. "Let Me Be the Clock" - 5:10
  2. "Heavy on Pride" - 4:07
  3. "Into Each Rain Some Life Must Fall" (Doris Fisher, Allan Roberts) - 4:34
  4. "Wine, Women and Song" (Robinson, Marv Tarplin, Pamela Moffett) - 4:45
  5. "Melody Man" (Robinson, Stevie Wonder) - 4:53
  6. "What's in Your Life for Me" (Robinson, David Soul) - 4:43
  7. "I Want to Be Your Love" - 3:57
  8. "Travelin' Thru'" (Rose Ella Jones) - 4:22

Personnel

Production

References

  1. ^ Marsh, Dave (Jun 12, 1980). "Warm Thoughts". Rolling Stone. No. 319. p. 53.
  2. ^ Cocks, Jay (Jun 16, 1980). "The perpetual miracle of Smokey". Time. Vol. 115, no. 24. p. 49.
  3. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Warm Thoughts at AllMusic
  4. ^ "Review: Smokey Robinson – Warm Thoughts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 10. 8 March 1980. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
  5. ^ "The 80 Greatest Albums of 1980". Rolling Stone. 11 November 2020.
  6. ^ McAdam, Sean (24 Apr 1980). "Records". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.


Categories