Warm Thoughts

Warm Thoughts
Warm Thoughts
Studio album by Smokey Robinson
Released	1980
Genre	R&B
Label	Motown
Producer	Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder
Smokey Robinson chronology

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
Source	Rating
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.

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

Personnel

Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
Reginald "Sonny" Burke – keyboards, arrangements (1-4, 6, 7, 8)
Ron Rancifer – keyboards
Marlo Henderson – guitars
Melvin Ragin – guitars
Marv Tarplin – guitars
Phil Upchurch – guitars
David T. Walker – guitars
Keni Burke – bass
Scott Edwards – bass
Wayne Tweed – bass
James Gadson – drums
Scotty Harris – drums
James Sledge – congas, backing vocals
Fred Smith – flute, reeds, solos
Michael Jacobson – cello
Stevie Wonder – arrangements (5)
Cheryl Cooper – backing vocals
Ivory Davis – backing vocals
Patricia Henley Talbert – backing vocals
Claudette Robinson – backing vocals, lead vocals (4)

Production

Producer – Smokey Robinson
Co-Producer on Track 5 – Stevie Wonder
Production Assistant – Randy Dunlap
Engineer – Michael Lizzio
Assistant Engineers – Ernestine Madison and Ginny Pallante
Mixing – Michael Lizzio and Smokey Robinson
Mix Assistants – Randy Dunlap and Ginny Pallante
Mastered by John Matousek
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Motown Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA).
Recording Coordinator – Barbara Ramsey
Talent Coordinator – Simone Sheffield
Art Direction and Design – Ginny Livingston
Cover Photo – Ron Slenzak
Lettering – Vigon/Nahas/Vigon

References

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

This 1980s R&B/soul album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[RS-1] Marsh, Dave (June 12, 1980). "Warm Thoughts". Rolling Stone. No. 319. p. 53.

[2] Cocks, Jay (June 16, 1980). "The perpetual miracle of Smokey". Time. Vol. 115, no. 24. p. 49.

[3] Ruhlmann, William. Warm Thoughts at AllMusic

[bboardreview-4] "Review: Smokey Robinson – Warm Thoughts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 10. March 8, 1980. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via American Radio History.

[5] "The 80 Greatest Albums of 1980". Rolling Stone. November 11, 2020.

[6] McAdam, Sean (April 24, 1980). "Records". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.

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v t e Smokey Robinson
Albums	Smokey Pure Smokey A Quiet Storm Smokey's Family Robinson Deep in My Soul Big Time Love Breeze Smokin' Where There's Smoke... Warm Thoughts Being with You Yes It's You Lady Touch the Sky Essar Smoke Signals One Heartbeat Love, Smokey Double Good Everything Intimate Food for the Spirit My World (The Definitive Collection) Timeless Love Time Flies When You're Having Fun Now and Then Smokey & Friends Christmas Everyday Gasms
Singles	"Baby That's Backatcha" "Pops, We Love You" "Get Ready" "Cruisin'" "Being with You" "Ebony Eyes" "Just to See Her" "One Heartbeat" "We've Saved the Best for Last"
Related articles	Discography The Miracles The Miracles discography "Pure Smokey" "When Smokey Sings"

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