All good stuff.

Smokey did a few things on the Tops, which I quite like. [[ It's Smokey after all).
I'm not sure this would have provided hits, but I personally would have liked more, perhaps a Smokey album. Also, Ivy Hunter would have been a good choice to have a serious run at them.
But, I still think that by 1968, they had an issue with image, as did virtually all soul singers from the golden age 64-67.