Smokey Robinson announcement of new CD

[woodward]

I was listening earlier to Soul Town Sirius XM Classic Soul/Motown and as most members probably know Smokey is really acting as the host of the programs. He announced about an hour ago if anyone is interested in his newly released album it is available on Amazon.com.

I was unaware that he had a new release in the can. Has anyone gotten it?

[copley]

It was released in April and failed to chart, it's called 'Gasms'. I listened to it online but was not impressed. The whole album is on YT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJq5k-vMCtc&list=OLAK5uy_mmja4KzHJ9O73yxt2wqw2vwutCVCRSaEk&index=2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasms

[Circa 1824]

It was released in April and failed to chart, it's called 'Gasms'. I listened to it online but was not impressed. The whole album is on YT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJq5k-vMCtc&list=OLAK5uy_mmja4KzHJ9O73yxt2wqw2vwutCVCRSaEk&index=2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasms

His extensive plastic surgery and Botox use makes the cover pic bizarre. He almost looks like a woman. Very unfortunate.

[daviddesper]

I clicked on the photo to see what you mean and I was first taken to a commercial featuring Marlo Thomas. Now talk about someone who has had some "work done." Oh my!!!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I don't understand the big deal about the "gasms" title. Back in 1976, Johnny Taylor released his "Eargasm" album [[containing "Disco Lady") on Columbia Records. Everybody knew it was a clever play on words, yet nobody thought a thing about it. Now, 47 years later, it's suddenly vulgar?

Musically speaking, I don't like the title track at all. There's no melody. It's just the same two chords over and over and over, ad nauseum. And they're chords that I don't like at all. [[Never have and never will.)

However, I checked out the rest of the CD and I've gotta say I LOVE it! The songs are melodic, the production quality is high, and Smokey's voice is honey-sweet throughout! I ordered my copy of the CD today! It'll be here Monday and I can hardly wait!

1) "Gasms"
https://youtu.be/Rn4qHqIDdMk?si=sW9gsdyNSGTVKhxi

2) "How You Make Me Feel"
https://youtu.be/SENUA88LdgA?si=dFCLvjCtGy0AdMiJ

3) "I Wanna Know Your Body"
https://youtu.be/D_NR7UQ6xt0?si=diUgffznr8uIedaw

4) "I Keep Callin' You"
https://youtu.be/1ihgQHR53g4?si=W1LRF0n9c2JM_t3j

5) "Roll Around"
https://youtu.be/-sf5_y-Wg9Y?si=Wx_58kEpjXk7Gid3

6) "Beside You"
https://youtu.be/RSHiCwYj4UY?si=HbY11SjtiHZk2E7R

7) "If We Don't Have Each Other"
https://youtu.be/dPIWgFfKKN0?si=8v9AryWF5MPNlK7r

8) "You Fill Me Up"
https://youtu.be/YST_0AXjRCQ?si=eWtzN8qwV5b_jtzr

9) "I Fit In There"
https://youtu.be/pTGy6sgISMM?si=Xvyhqx7WpEd21JR1

[The track that clinched the CD purchase is Track 3 - "I Wanna Know Your Body" -- among the most beautiful songs Smokey has ever recorded. The accompanying strings are truly tender and sublime.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

His extensive plastic surgery and Botox use makes the cover pic bizarre. He almost looks like a woman. Very unfortunate.

Sad but true, Circa. There's not much Smokey can do about it at this point. However, if you use your left & right index fingers to cover up the earrings in the photo, it helps a lot. Much less feminine-looking without them!

[jobeterob]

It’s not that big a deal but Smokey’s face work over the last few years hasn’t done him any favours and surely an 80 year old man can do better than Gasms for an album title - come on.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I hear ya, Rob. As album titles go, "Gasms" wouldn't have been my first choice, either. But, hey ‐ After 50+ years of pumping out hit after hit, Smokey's earned the right to be just as playful as he wants -- even if it's a little bit naughty!

[Blaksoulfire]

As silly and vain as the album cover may present - this is actually a serious return to form for Mr. Robinson. I was pleasantly surprised on how well executed this album was. Even the overly libidinous nature of the songs work only because Mr. Robinson is such a great word smith. His singing sounds refreshed and filled with the Smokey vocal signatures that I love. I played it straight through and found it quite enjoyable.

[motony]

Smokey was on the Jennifer Hudson Show yesterday & I thought he looked great.They sang "OOH Baby,Baby" together with just piano accompaniment but I was not impressed with that...but my GOD, he is 82.

[marybrewster]

I'm confused: Ricky Lawson is credited on drums, but passed in 2013. Vaulted tracks?

[mysterysinger]

In 2009, Universal Motown in Germany issued a sampler CD called "Earotic Motown". I thought initially it was a condition that required medication. Not such a bad CD though and Smokey is on it too ...
https://www.discogs.com/release/29040274-Various-Earotic-Motown

[Boogiedown]

As silly and vain as the album cover may present - this is actually a serious return to form for Mr. Robinson. I was pleasantly surprised on how well executed this album was. Even the overly libidinous nature of the songs work only because Mr. Robinson is such a great word smith. His singing sounds refreshed and filled with the Smokey vocal signatures that I love. I played it straight through and found it quite enjoyable.

could you cite a couple of those examples of great word smithing by Mr Robinson in this album??

[jobeterob]

I hear ya, Rob. As album titles go, "Gasms" wouldn't have been my first choice, either. But, hey ‐ After 50+ years of pumping out hit after hit, Smokey's earned the right to be just as playful as he wants -- even if it's a little bit naughty!

For sure and I think with some viagra he’s still firing on all cylinders

[Blaksoulfire]

could you cite a couple of those examples of great word smithing by Mr Robinson in this album??


from the song "I fit in there"
"If empty fills up your private place
And nothin' and no one can penetrate
If you got an inner vacancy
Baby, then make it a place for me"

from "If we Don't have each other"
Oh, I'd love it when we snuggle
When you're holdin' onto me
We're like two pieces of a puzzle
We fit together perfectly
We come to a meeting
Yeah, at the perfect junction
So close, so tight
We need each other to fully function

[Boogiedown]

thanks! interesting you cited I FIT IN THERE
that's the one I'd found it to be particularly lacking in taste .

the second one, ya its not bad as a concept .... but not very rhythmic.

[jobeterob]

from the song "I fit in there"
"If empty fills up your private place
And nothin' and no one can penetrate
If you got an inner vacancy
Baby, then make it a place for me"

from "If we Don't have each other"
Oh, I'd love it when we snuggle
When you're holdin' onto me
We're like two pieces of a puzzle
We fit together perfectly
We come to a meeting
Yeah, at the perfect junction
So close, so tight
We need each other to fully function

Lord, Smokey’s got it bad

[Guy]

His extensive plastic surgery and Botox use makes the cover pic bizarre. He almost looks like a woman. Very unfortunate.

I think it is a rather flattering photo of an 83 year old man.

21198


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasms#/media/File%3ASmokey_Robinson_-_Gasms.jpg

[Philles/Motown Gary]

As silly and vain as the album cover may present - this is actually a serious return to form for Mr. Robinson. I was pleasantly surprised on how well executed this album was. Even the overly libidinous nature of the songs work only because Mr. Robinson is such a great word smith. His singing sounds refreshed and filled with the Smokey vocal signatures that I love. I played it straight through and found it quite enjoyable.

Me, too, Blaksoulfire. As I mentioned above, after not being too impressed with the title track, I gave the rest of the album a chance and LOVE it! I ordered the CD immediately.

[jobeterob]

I think it is a rather flattering photo of an 83 year old man.

21198


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasms#/media/File%3ASmokey_Robinson_-_Gasms.jpg

It’s just a little too much face work - a bit more natural would be welcome

[Blaksoulfire]

I think its laudable that at his age he is still making vital contemporary music that draws on his impressive recording history. Smokey can still teach us a few things.