After watching Live from Daryl’s House with the legendary Smokey Robinson. I headed over to iTunes and bought Smokey’s newest CD entitled, “Time Flies, When You’re Having Fun” I loaded it onto my IPod and played it for pretty much three days straight. I absolutely love this CD! I know that is not the most prolific statement I could make, but it sums it up totally..
I truly hope that this CD gets the attention it deserves because it is a wonderful gift from a man that who has penned songs that will forever be a part of the fabric of contemporary music in America and possibly the entire world. I wonder why I don’t hear more about Smokey Robinson other than when Motown is mentioned. He is one of the greatest American songwriters. Certainly the term genius applies to his work, what an amazing songbook he has compiled over the years. I read somewhere that Smokey Robinson has written or co-written over 4000 songs, that is astounding.

Every track sounds fresh, contemporary and most importantly different.. So many CD’s that try and fill that market today can’t seem to deliver a complete CD that touches tastefully on the subjects of Love, Relationships and Romance. Even fewer still can do it with enough variation in the material to hold your attention.. This CD does that masterfully, put it on and listen to every song, it is a complete work of art and artistry.

Track by Track Listen

This is more of a description of how I felt about each track while listening to them, rather than a review..

Scroll down to hear some classic Smokey Robinson tunes as well as a couple of songs from the newest CD. “Time Flies when You’re Having Fun”

Don’t Know Why – Recorded by Nora Jones a few years back. I loved her rendition but I love Smokey’s too. Using a full palette of vocal coloring, Smokey goes from a breathy verse to, just the perfect amount of raspy tenor. Note his delivery of the line, “My Heart is Drenched in White”. Also great, is his lower register which works perfectly here, and his vibrato is used in all the right places. Is it me or has his voice gotten even better over time, it just seems more textured than ever … (note: the icing on the cake is Smokey’s delivery of the word….Forever….I love how he sustains that note…magic!)

Time Flies – I love the lyrics to this song and isn’t it so true..Time Flies when You’re Having Fun.. I can’t help but think this is somewhat autobiographical. Hard to believe that Motown is fifty years old and Smokey’s been a part of that legacy since its inception. I think this song is lyrically my favorite on the disc, but it is so hard to choose just one. Take this line for instance ;(Father Time won’t you slow down tonight, Mother Nature is taking her course) I love that line.. Sounds like poetry to me.. Oh yeah it’s the work of the great poet William “Smokey” Robinson.. Fantastic!

I just can’t get enough of the vocals on this tune, for example the line “I don’t want to leave her yet” Mr. Robinson’s vocals are as pure as ever but on this tune seemingly, and purposefully delivered with a tinge of painfulness in his voice, colored with the perfect amount of his signature vibrato, remarkable. The orchestration is wonderful and the guitar accompaniment is spot on. This should be an instant classic in my book. This song is storytelling at its finest.

Love Bath—Hmmm’ a “Love Bath” never thought of that before, could be very interesting (smile). This is a contemporary more upbeat vibe, I dig it.  A very sensual song with .. just a hint of suggestiveness..and that kids, is what sexy is all about.. take note.

You’re The One For Me (feat. Joss Stone) I love Joss and this is the best duet I’ve ever heard her sing.. Not too over the top vocally but instead, nice and controlled. I was worried because on paper Joss seems like a powerhouse of a singer as compared to Smokey’s smoother tone, but then I remembered this is a man that sang a duet with Rick James so no worries here…(smile).  In fact this duet is the perfect blend, superb. This song is a nice RnB groove and should get radio airplay. But you know radio is so format driven it’s hard to say if it will find its way onto the dial. Again I have to say, this is one CD I hope gets some recognition and awards. I guess by today’s standards it would be considered Adult Urban Contemporary…but I so hate labels..what it is, is soulful and superb

One Time- A smoldering funk-filled and sexy tune.. a nice funky bass infused groove. A classic in the pocket, restrained feel. Nice soulful vocal moans by Mr. Robinson and the breaks are perfect.. and dig the end (Try, me…Try Me) I love his delivery on that line.

That Place- Make what you will of  just what or where “That Place” refers to, (smile) depends on where your mind goes (smile) I choose to let “That Place” take on a more genteel definition.. But then I listened again with the more suggestive meaning, and I liked it that way too!! (bigger smile) Anyway, nice guitar riff that starts at the beginning, and stays put throughout the tune, it sets a nice tone, a great relaxed mid tempo groove.. I love the organ coloring the background, very musical, again I have to mention how wonderful Smokey’s vocals sound here. No vocal tricks on this tune just straight ahead and a really nicely delivered tune.

Satisfy You –“I would if I could find 100 other undiscovered ways to satisfy you”.. how sexy is that! Mr Robinson gives another masterclass on how to say it without saying it.. he is truly bringing sexy back with this one, in fact with the whole CD!!! Again, I have to mention the music, which is fantastic, has anyone noticed that many of the newer artist don’t use full instrumentation? The beat is the root but you still need more to color your song. It sounds to me like this entire CD was recorded live with all the musicians and Smokey playing together, not tracked one piece at a time because the interplay between vocals and instruments is perfection.. almost like a jazz record. I know I got off topic but this tune really showcases that to me.

Girlfriend - This is the song I heard on “Live from Daryl’s House” that made me go to iTunes and purchase the CD.. Great hook on this song.. I found myself singing it all night after I first heard it. This song to me has a classic Motown type vibe but still with a contemporary feel. Sort of what a Motown song would sound like now if they were still the Motown they once were… anyway I Love it!

You’re Just My Life – (feat. India Arie) This is a song that I just want to sit back and listen to the lyrics on over and over again.. Truly, poetry set to music.. beautifully artistic. I would love this as a written piece of poetry or prose and I truly love it as a song.. “You’re just my life, that’s all…” that line is just lovely. India Arie and Smokey really are a perfect pairing on this poetic tune, both are masterful at poetic phrasing, which is the perfect treatment for this type of song….This song is a great tribute to dedicate to someone you love, there are a thousand Valentines cards within the lyrics, if you listen… Smokey’s writing made me smile on this tune, he must have a little cupid dust he sprinkles on the tip of his pen every now and then.. (smile)

Whatcha Gonna Do - Sultry and smokin’, suggestive but classy as always. Love the timbre of his lower register that he uses on this tune… There is a little Latin feel from the onset, an acoustic guitar that sounds to me like a nylon (Spanish) guitar and the bongo and shaker are just the right vibe.. the instrumentation is great..love the piano. And I love the backing vocals, I think Smokey is doing those as well..perfect perfect perfect…

Please Don’t Take Your Love- (feat. Carlos Santana) Ok, who else can, or ever has, delivered rhyme in three languages in one song. Mr. Robinson is the definition of cool. I had to smile a bit as I dissected this tune.. I love the heavier bluesy feel to this song that is delivered by Carlos Santana’s’ incredible guitar work.

The bonus track is a remake of the Jackson Five song I Want You Back.. This song surprised me, with such a stripped down and funky treatment. I must have played it four or five times in a row on first listen, just trying to dissect what makes it so perfect. The vocals are front and center, complete with raspy understated growls and the soulful moans towards the end are masterful. A little different than what I have come to expect from Mr. Robinson but I have to say everything is tight and the groove is right…

…a little more on the CD

I just have to reiterate how amazing the musicianship is on the album, the mix is perfect. Smokey’s vocals are so welcome to hear again, it’s been too long since I’ve heard him. The quality of the recording is also top notch, the feeling of a jazz album is what I get. I am almost sure at least some of the tracks, had to be recorded old school style, which gives it that organic feeling that you can only really achieve when musicians play and record together in the same space not tracked separately, playing at different times and places and then mixed together. Still there are enough new school tricks to make it sound fresh and new.

I found the liner notes over at the Barnes and Noble website:  That’s what I dislike about some places that sell electronic copies (mp3’s), no liner notes to read, iTunes does offer liner notes in PDF form. Anyway what a great array of musicians who play on this CD. Two of my favorite guitarists, Phil Upchurch and also Paul Jackson Jr. Also Ricky Lawson, who I first heard on tour with Stevie Wonder, is on drums and Ready Freddie Washington, who has played with everybody over the years, including Herbie Hancock, on bass. There are many many more familiar names so if you are a liner notes geek like myself, check it out. I posted a link here. Liner Notes

By: Stephanie McCampbell

Time Flies When Youre Having Fun