Smokey Robinson was a reluctant solo artist. After embarking on an emotional farewell tour with the Miracles and leaving his longtime group in 1972, Smokey became a full-time Motown executive – until the studio and the stage came calling. He returned a year later with the LP simply titled Smokey, featuring the smash hit “Baby Come Close,” and followed it quickly with Pure Smokey, highlighted by “Virgin Man.” Smokey then became a hugely successful solo artist, lasting until the present day.

Yet most of Smokey’s classic Motown albums are out of print. UMe and Motown/Hip-oSelect.com are changing that with the introduction of a series, The Solo Albums, which will feature his Motown solo output, beginning with Volume I: Smokey and Pure Smokey, together on one CD. Beautifully remastered, the albums are now back in print for the first time in 20 years.

These classics are housed in a lovingly rendered package with a 24-page booklet featuring restored artwork – including lyrics for the debut LP as originally printed – and detailed annotations. U.K. author Peter Doggett interviewed Smokey specifically for this series and his liner notes tell the story.

Look for more releases in the Smokey Robinson Solo Albums series the rest of the year and in 2011.

1. Holly
2. Medley: Never My Love/Never Can Say Goodbye
3. A Silent Partner In A Three-Way Love Affair
4. Just My Soul Responding
5. Sweet Harmony
6. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
7. Wanna Know My Mind
8. The Family Song
9. Baby Come Close
10. It's Her Turn To Live
11. The Love Between Me And My Kids
12. Asleep On My Love
13. I Am I Am
14. Just Passing Through
15. Virgin Man
16. She's Only A Baby Herself
17. Fulfill Your Need
18. A Tattoo

I am so glad that his Motown solo output is finally getting its long-awaited justice and being unleashed in all of its remastered glory! I only wish that his 1975 masterpiece Quiet Storm could just get deluxe treatment alone, but I can't wait to get my hands on this and hopefully future releases in this series. Hip-O Select is the BEST!

silverchild said:

Smokey Robinson was a reluctant solo artist. After embarking on an emotional farewell tour with the Miracles and leaving his longtime group in 1972, Smokey became a full-time Motown executive – until the studio and the stage came calling. He returned a year later with the LP simply titled Smokey, featuring the smash hit “Baby Come Close,” and followed it quickly with Pure Smokey, highlighted by “Virgin Man.” Smokey then became a hugely successful solo artist, lasting until the present day.

Yet most of Smokey’s classic Motown albums are out of print. UMe and Motown/Hip-oSelect.com are changing that with the introduction of a series, The Solo Albums, which will feature his Motown solo output, beginning with Volume I: Smokey and Pure Smokey, together on one CD. Beautifully remastered, the albums are now back in print for the first time in 20 years.

These classics are housed in a lovingly rendered package with a 24-page booklet featuring restored artwork – including lyrics for the debut LP as originally printed – and detailed annotations. U.K. author Peter Doggett interviewed Smokey specifically for this series and his liner notes tell the story.

Look for more releases in the Smokey Robinson Solo Albums series the rest of the year and in 2011.

1. Holly
2. Medley: Never My Love/Never Can Say Goodbye
3. A Silent Partner In A Three-Way Love Affair
4. Just My Soul Responding
5. Sweet Harmony
6. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
7. Wanna Know My Mind
8. The Family Song
9. Baby Come Close
10. It's Her Turn To Live
11. The Love Between Me And My Kids
12. Asleep On My Love
13. I Am I Am
14. Just Passing Through
15. Virgin Man
16. She's Only A Baby Herself
17. Fulfill Your Need
18. A Tattoo

I am so glad that his Motown solo output is finally getting its long-awaited justice and being unleashed in all of its remastered glory! I only wish that his 1975 masterpiece Quiet Storm could just get deluxe treatment alone, but I can't wait to get my hands on this and hopefully future releases in this series. Hip-O Select is the BEST!

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!

My all time favorite artist! Hip-o just started putting out the Miracles albums earlier as well.

There are so many Smokey solo efforts that have never been released on CD before. This is an absolute dream come true.

I've only got one question left. Where are the bonus tracks?

He's got to have a ton of unreleased material....

"Warm Thoughts" and "Essar" are two Robinson albums that I've combed used CD stores for and that wait is finally coming to an end. Thanks for posting!

Motown has been impressing me with their releases as of late.

I only know his "Quiet storm" album, is these worth buying?

Identity said:

"Warm Thoughts" and "Essar" are two Robinson albums that I've combed used CD stores for and that wait is finally coming to an end. Thanks for posting!

SunnySkies said:

I only know his "Quiet storm" album, is these worth buying?

Hey Sunny

Short answer is yes. These are Smokey's first two solo albums and have a lot of gems on them.

I'll give you my track by track breakdown:

1. Holly - Good, but not great song
2. Medley: Never My Love/Never Can Say Goodbye - Brilliant cover of the song made popular by the J5 presented in a beautiful medley
3. A Silent Partner In A Three-Way Love Affair - Ok but again not great
4. Just My Soul Responding - This song is a grower. Smoke didn't write a lot of message songs
5. Sweet Harmony - Quite possibly my favorite song ever recorded by anyone
6. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? - OK - not sure why he chose to cover this one.
7. Wanna Know My Mind - Pardon my French, but this is an f*ing brilliant funky pop song.
8. The Family Song - Very good, fun tune
9. Baby Come Close - Beautiful intimate tune. Good chance you already know it.
10. It's Her Turn To Live - Great groovy track - Good message

11. The Love Between Me And My Kids - A little syrupy at times, but still an enjoyable song
12. Asleep On My Love - Again, excuse the French, this song is F*ing beautiful and brilliant at the same time. Gorgeous melody and lyrics.
13. I Am I Am - You may know this one as it usually makes the compilations. Great song.
14. Just Passing Through - Another fantastic album track written by Smokey's guitarist Marv Tarplin
15. Virgin Man - Kind of a reggae song. It's groovy and I loves me some reggae, but I'm not a fan of this one.
16. She's Only A Baby Herself - Good, but not great song.
17. Fulfill Your Need - Stupendously brilliant track. Again, gorgeous melody and lyrics.
18. A Tattoo - Weird and unique way to close the album. This song is a grower. It took me along time to get down with it but I like it. Nothing spectacular, but it is a very good song.

Strangely enough, the first half of the first album is probably the weakest part of the set for me. Both os these albums have some absolute gems. If you're on the fence, I say buy it!

Identity said:

"Warm Thoughts" and "Essar" are two Robinson albums that I've combed used CD stores for and that wait is finally coming to an end. Thanks for posting!

Warm Thoughts -

If Let Me Be the Clock isn't one of the most beautifully sung songs, I don't know music.

Followed by Heavy on Pride - Light on Love - just a killer killer song.

I am so excited to have these albums on CD.

I want Touch the Sky on CD so I can finally get the FULL version of I've Made Love to You A Thousand Times. The edited versions always cut out some of the most beautiful parts.

Fenwick said:

SunnySkies said:

I only know his "Quiet storm" album, is these worth buying?

Hey Sunny

Short answer is yes. These are Smokey's first two solo albums and have a lot of gems on them.

I'll give you my track by track breakdown:

1. Holly - Good, but not great song
2. Medley: Never My Love/Never Can Say Goodbye - Brilliant cover of the song made popular by the J5 presented in a beautiful medley
3. A Silent Partner In A Three-Way Love Affair - Ok but again not great
4. Just My Soul Responding - This song is a grower. Smoke didn't write a lot of message songs
5. Sweet Harmony - Quite possibly my favorite song ever recorded by anyone
6. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? - OK - not sure why he chose to cover this one.
7. Wanna Know My Mind - Pardon my French, but this is an f*ing brilliant funky pop song.
8. The Family Song - Very good, fun tune
9. Baby Come Close - Beautiful intimate tune. Good chance you already know it.
10. It's Her Turn To Live - Great groovy track - Good message

11. The Love Between Me And My Kids - A little syrupy at times, but still an enjoyable song
12. Asleep On My Love - Again, excuse the French, this song is F*ing beautiful and brilliant at the same time. Gorgeous melody and lyrics.
13. I Am I Am - You may know this one as it usually makes the compilations. Great song.
14. Just Passing Through - Another fantastic album track written by Smokey's guitarist Marv Tarplin
15. Virgin Man - Kind of a reggae song. It's groovy and I loves me some reggae, but I'm not a fan of this one.
16. She's Only A Baby Herself - Good, but not great song.
17. Fulfill Your Need - Stupendously brilliant track. Again, gorgeous melody and lyrics.
18. A Tattoo - Weird and unique way to close the album. This song is a grower. It took me along time to get down with it but I like it. Nothing spectacular, but it is a very good song.

Strangely enough, the first half of the first album is probably the weakest part of the set for me. Both os these albums have some absolute gems. If you're on the fence, I say buy it!