| MY WORLD: DEFINITIVE COLLECTION BRINGS TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ONE CD EVERY TOP 10 POP HIT FROM SMOKEY ROBINSON
BOTH WITH THE MIRACLES AND SOLO
Retrospective Ranges
From "Shop Around", "The Tears Of A Clown" and
"I Second That Emotion" to "One Heartbeat",
"Cruisin'" and "Just To See Her Again" plus
new songs "My World" and "Fallin'"
For the first time in
the phenomenal career of William "Smokey" Robinson, all
nine of his Top 10 pop hits both with The Miracles and solo have
been collected on one CD. Bringing together for the first time every
era of Smokey's recording legacy, from the '60s to today, My World:
Definitive Collection (Motown/UMe), released May 3, 2005, celebrates
some of the most romantic pop songs of our time and one of the most
beloved and acclaimed artists in music.
But Smokey's world has
never been just about the past. In addition to the disc's 19 timeless
classics, each digitally remastered, My World: Definitive Collection
features two songs recorded in 2005: "My World" and "Fallin'."
The new tracks were co-penned by Smokey and produced by him with
legendary writer-producer Mickey Stevenson (Marvin Gaye, Righteous
Brothers, Temptations, Funk Brothers, etc.). Smokey also co-produced
the compilation, which includes a 24-page booklet highlighted by
numerous photographs and an essay.
The earliest track on
My World: Definitive Collection is 1961's "Shop Around"
from The Miracles of Smokey, Warren "Pete" Moore, Ronnie
White, Emerson "Sonny" Rogers, Bobby Rogers and Claudette
(Rogers) Robinson. The #1 R&B/#2 pop hit was a major breakthrough
not only for the group but for producer and co-writer Berry Gordy
and his fledgling Motown label.
An impressive strong
of '60s hits followed, the vast majority written and/or produced
by Smokey, establishing him as one of contemporary music's most
prolific and successful songwriters and producers as well as artists:
"You've Really Got A Hold On Me" (#1 R&B/#8 pop),
Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Mickey's Monkey" (#3 R&B/#8
pop), "I Second That Emotion" (#1 R&B/#4 pop), "Going
To A Go-Go" (#2 R&B/#11 pop), "The Tracks Of My Tears"
(#2 R&B/#16 pop), "Yester Love" (#9 R&B/#31 pop),
"Ooo Baby Baby" (#4 R&B/#16 pop), "More Love"
(#5 R&B/#23 pop) and "The Tears Of A Clown" (#1 R&B/#1
pop).
In 1972, Smokey exited
the Miracles to launch his solo career and the following year "Baby
Come Close" (#7 R&B/#27 pop) served as an indicator of
things to come by revealing a far more intimate side. He helped
define the Quiet Storm genre in the '70s with his 1975 R&B Top
30 hit "Quiet Storm." The period also brought "Cruisin'"
(#4 R&B/#4 pop) and "Baby That's Backatcha" (#1 R&B/#26
pop).
In the '80s, he scored
with "Let Me Be The Clock" (#4 R&B/#31 pop), "Being
With You" (#1 R&B/#2 pop/#4 Adult Contemporary), "I've
Made Love To You A Thousand Times" (#8 R&B) and, in 1987,
the same year Smokey Robinson & The Miracles were inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, "Just To See Her Again"
(#2 R&B/#8 pop/#1 AC) and the Grammy-winning "One Heartbeat"
(#3 R&B/#10 pop/#2 AC).
My World: Definitive
Collection is a reminder that it is near impossible to imagine our
musical world without Smokey Robinson. |