Universal/Hip-O Select continue their reissue programme of SMOKEY ROBINSON’S solo albums with a fifth volume that makes available what many consider the great man’s “lost” album. On May 25, 1978 SMOKEY’S performance at the Roxy in Hollywood was recorded live and the LP record of the show was released at the end of October. Titled ‘Smokin”, the double vinyl album featured numerous ROBINSON classics – from both his solo years and his time with the MIRACLES. Of most interest is a wonderful tongue-in –cheek medley of ‘Bad Girl’ and ‘You Can Depend On Me’ while the set also featured less well-known numbers like ‘Love’s So Fine’ and ‘Why You Wanna See My Bad Side’ along with one studio recording – ‘Shoe Soul’ , which originally appeared on the ‘Love Breeze’ album.
For the show SMOKEY used his regular band which featured luminaries like SONNY BURKE, WAH WAH WATSON, JAMES JAMERSON JR and MARV TARPLIN who kicks things off with that distinctive riff from ‘The Tracks Of My Tears’.
The album has never been issued on CD and the vinyl version was deleted from all catalogues over 30 years ago. This first-time on CD version contains all the original art work, great archive pictures and an essay from journalist PETER DOGGETT… but set’s USP is SMOKEY ROBINSON’S unique voice… the sweetest instrument in soul music.
