Customer Reviews

Timeless Love

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Smokey Robinson really had a "hold on me" back in the day. Smokey Robinson was one of the pantheons of soul sensations that exploded onto the American music scene courtesy of Motown Records. Going to a Go Go, Second That Emotion, Tracks of My Tears, and Tears of a Clown were just a few of the hits that kept Smokey and the Miracles on top of the pop and soul charts in the 60s. Smokey's new CD, Timeless Love, is a look back but not to the 1960s. Rather, Smokey has gone back even further and put together of what may be called American standard love songs.

Other recording artists have tried this crossover before. Some, like Linda Ronstadt (What's New and Lush Life) and Willie Nelson (Stardust) have produced classics in their own right. Others, (Rod Stewart and Michael Bolton come to mind) have not been nearly as good in my opinion. Fortunately, Smokey has done exquisite justice to a group of wonderfully written love songs and has crafted a CD that can join Ronstadt and Nelson in my own must-have collection.

Smokey's choice of material is excellent. Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Jimmy Dorsey and Sammy Cahn are well represented here. He has not attempted to imitate those performers who have covered these songs before. Rather, he has stayed true to his own musical style and put his own imprint on them. At age 67 Smokey's range is still good and he can still hit the high notes I could never hit even when I was a boy soprano. Robinson shifts tempo and tone throughout the CD and those shifts create some surprising new takes on the songs. Robinson, for example, takes the temp down a notch in Our Love is Here to Stay and in doing so makes the song sound more intimate than I recall in earlier versions. He does something similar in Tea for Two, a song that I never particularly cared for in its upbeat (happier sounding) presentation and adds a layer of wistful longing that I haven't heard in earlier covers.

Although the orchestration here is excellent the centerpiece of the CD is Robinson's singing and the lyrics and music. This stands in some contrast to Ronstadt's Lush Life and What's New in which Nelson Riddle's arrangements shared center-stage with Ronstadt's vocal interpretations but both Ronstadt's and Robinson's choices in that regard resulted in a great performance.

So, if you are a fan of Smokey Robinson, a fan of classic standards, or simply want a CD that you put on when you want to put the lights down low and set a cozy romantic setting for a night in with your `significant other', Robinson's Timeless Love is as good a place to start as any other.

L. Fleisig

I am so happy I bught this CD. As I was driving on my way home from buying this CD, I thought to myself I will just play a little from each track. Well The songs where done so well that I had to let each track Play all the way through. Now this is how you a CD of Standards! His voice is in GREAT range! The music arrangement are GREAT! If you want a mellow Jazzy CD this is one you must have. I can see this CD playing at a Wedding party. Pick it up you will love it too... THANK you Mr. Smokey!!!!

The CD "Timeless Love" by Smokey Robinson is one of his best ever. The musical selections so a range of depth.I was totally unaware of his ability to show such emotional and vocal range. My personal favorite track is "Night and Day", a Cole Porter song. Fabulous work, Smokey! A Job very well done!

I love Smokey's own music so I was kind of hesitant to hear him sing other artist's songs. I was pleasantly surprised! Smokey put his own beautiful style into each song and made them his own. The music is beautiful also with added arrangements from flutist & violenist. If you love Smokey, like I do, you will love this cd.

What but pure pleasure could result from applying the voice and phrasing of Smokey Robinson, beloved master of quintessential love, to the songs of the great songwriters who came before him. Smokey putting his inimical spin on the music he imbibed as a child brings takes these songs into that place of ecstatic soul Smokey is known for. His rendition of "Our Love is Here to Stay" is beautifully tender; his "Night and Day" is deeply haunting. I am so glad he included his own "I Love Your Face," a song so sweetly original despite its having a flavor that fits with these great songs of the forties. Such a great talent he is; such a gift to the world.

There is no one who can sing like Smokey. Having been a devoted fan for about 40 years, I know all of his material, oh so well. I have seen and heard him do songs like these in his shows over the last # of years, and was waiting for this CD to come. He brings his special phrasing and note holding,intimate qualities to each of these classics. He is the most underrated singer/songwriter of the 2nd half of the 20th century. If you love Smoke, you must own this release.

What a great album. I love every track on the cd. Mr.Robinson does an excellent job of blending jazz, soul and just a hint of pop, into each tune. I would have to say that this is my favorite cd that I have bought in a very long while. Although I enjoyed Rod Stewart doing the great american song book, Smokey shows you how it should be done.

I think I have listened to "I Love Your Face" about 20 times since I got this CD yesterday. It is the ephitamy of romance and it is just so Smokey Robinson. This entire CD is just so Smokin! He can still reach the depths of my soul with that OOAK voice. This man is incredible ~ this Timeless Love is just that - it's timeless. ... and who doesn't love romance! I highly recommend this!
JMHO //(*_*)\\

"This was a labor of love and joy. I love these songs. I grew up hearing them from as far back as I can remember. As a songwriter, I truly admire all of these wonderful writers who preceded me. I'm a real fan." ~ Smokey Robinson ~

I never thought I'll own another beautiful recording from Smokey Robinson after so many years! I remember in my teens when my sisters and I used to swoon over songs by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles such as "More Love," "Ooo Baby Baby," "I Second That Emotion," "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" and "Being With You."

This album is nothing but delicately beautiful with Smokey Robinson's treatments of these time-tested chestnuts from the creative pens of Gershwin Brothers, Cole Porter, Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields, James Moody, Bart Howard, Jimmy Dorsey, Paul Mertz, Billy Rose, Edward Elisco, Vincent Youmans, Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash, Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie, Irving Caesar, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn and not to mention contemporary singers/songwriters such as Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman. One of the most charming songs on this lovely collection of standards is Mr. Robinson's very own composition "I Love Your Face."

Be mesmerized as he sings nostalgic songs of 1930s and 1940s with the backing of the Los Angeles Strings superbly conducted and innovatively arranged by Sonny Burke, who also played the piano and vibes and additional arrangements by the singer himself with Harold Wheeler, David Garfield, Larry Ball and Tony Lewis. The recording, mastering, engineering and sound quality as well are top-notch.

The beauty of each song is likewise attributed to the combined artistry of Mr. Robinson's refined vocals and the artful blend of musical instruments played by talented musicians such as guitarists Marvin Traplin, Paul Jackson Jr. and Phil Upchurch, Ken Rosser and Robert Bowles, bassists Larry Ball and Freddie Washington, drummers Tony Lewis, Ricky Lawson and Gary Gold, keyboardist David Garfield, saxophonist/flutist Ken Gioffre, trumpeter Bobby Shew and percussionist Paulinho Da Costa.

My favorites? All of them! From the first track and a gem of a song "You Go To My Head" to the last - a lovely song "Tea For Two." I did enjoy listening to this CD in its entirety and didn't skip any track at all. The first time I listened to it, I played it for hours and hours! I guess it's highly contagious and I had to spread the word to my sisters and close friends who enjoyed the music of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles in the sixties and seventies. And, indeed, they caught the "Standards by Smokey" fever, too. My top choices are "I'm Glad There Is You," its bossa nova inspired arrangement is so beguiling, the fingers-snapping tracks are "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Fly Me To The Moon," the seventies-infused-arrangement of "I've Got You Under My Skin" will induce you to put your best foot forward and start dancing. This track is also great background music for your aerobic exercises.

The medleys were brilliantly conceived, arranged and interpreted and two of the highlights as well. The first medley is Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields "I'm In The Mood For Love" combined with James Moody's "Moody's Mood For Love." The second medley is Sammy Cahn and Jim Van Heusen's "Time After Time"/Cindy Lauper and Rob Hyman's "Time After Time."

"Speak Low," is a favorite of mine, a beautiful song but seldom-recorded. I've been hearing this song from one of my late parents' collection of LP records - it's by Jane Morgan from the album "Fascination." There's also an instrumental version by Eumir Deodato from his earliest recordings, and another version from Tony Bennett recorded live. He splendidly sung "Night And Day" and made it his own by adding Spanish lyrics to it - complete with Spanish guitar accompaniment making it sound like an enchanting serenade. "More Than You'll Know" and "Our Love Is Here To Stay" are two meaningful ditties. This Gershwin gem is my late parents' theme song and true to the lyrics of the song - their love was for keeps "not for a year but forever and a day" and they remained married until death did they part.

My deepest thanks to Mr. Robinson for this wonderful and enjoyable album of standards. Overall rating? Not five but ten stars! This is a welcome addition to your collection of standards by creative contemporary singers. It's a keeper.

With my heartfelt recommendation.

Of all of the standars collections coming out lately Smokey kills them all. If you appreciate these tunes and want to hear a master render them - there's no reason to buy any of the others. Smokey treats each tune and the subject matter of the lyrics in it's own special way and I can't say how beautiful the results are - truly breathtaking!