1980 Smokey Robinson – Warm Thoughts

David T Walker, James Gadson, Marlo Henderson, Scott Edwards, Smokey Robinson, Wah Wah Watson

Warm Thoughts is a 1980 album by Smokey Robinson. 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 “Travellin’ 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 huge success, reaching the Top 20 of The Billboard 200 Pop Album chart, peaking at #14, and the Top 10 of Billboard’s R&B Album Chart, peaking at #4.

Tracks

1 Let Me Be The Clock (Smokey Robinson) 05:11
2 Heavy On Pride (Light On Love) (Smokey Robinson) 04:05
3 Into Each Rain Some Life Must Fall (Smokey Robinson) 04:35
4 Wine, Women And Song (Smokey Robinson; Marvin Tarplin; Pamela Moffett) 04:43
5 Melody Man (Smokey Robinson; Stevie Wonder) 04:49
6 What’s In Your Life For Me (Smokey Robinson; Donny Soul) 04:42
7 I Want To Be Your Love (Smokey Robinson) 03:56
8 Travelin’ Through (Rose Ella Jones) 04:24

Biography

Smokey Robinson

Musicians

Bass	Kenneth Burke
Bass	Scott Edwards
Bass	Wayne Tweed
Drums	James Gadson
Drums	Scotty Harris
Guitar	David T Walker
Guitar	Marlo Henderson
Guitar	Marvin Tarplin
Guitar	Wah Wah Watson
Guitar	Phil Upchurch
Keyboards	Ron Rancifer
Keyboards	Sonny Burke
Flute	Fred Smith
Reeds	Fred Smith
Cello	Michael Jacobsen
Congas	James Sledge
Background Vocals	Cheryl Cooper
Background Vocals	Claudette Robinson
Background Vocals	Ivory Davis
Background Vocals	James Sledge
Background Vocals	Patricia Henley Talbert
Vocals	Smokey Robinson

Liner Notes

Producer – Smokey Robinson (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
Co-Producer – Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson (Track 5)
Arranged By – Sonny Burke (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
Arranged By – Stevie Wonder (Track 5)
Coordinator – Barbara Ramsey, Simone Sheffield
Engineer (Mixing) – Michael Lizzio, William Robinson
Engineer (Recording) – Michael Lizzio
Engineer (Mixing Assistant) – Ginny Pallante, Randy Dunlap
Engineer (Recording Assistant) – Ernestine Madison, Ginny Pallante
Mastered By – John Matousek

Art Direction, Design – Ginny Livingston
Photography – Ron Slenzak
Typography – Vigon Nahas Vigon

Mastered At Motown Recording Studios
Mixed At Motown Recording Studios
Recorded At Motown Recording Studios
Phonographic Copyright Motown Record Corporation
Copyright Motown Record Corporation