Smokey Robinson - The Ultimate Collection

After more than a decade with the Miracles, Smokey Robinson set off on a solo career, chronicled here. Often focusing on seduction rather than the heartache that was his bread and butter with the group, Smokey proved so effective that he managed to have a subgenre named after one of his albums--A Quiet Storm, here represented by a triptych including the title cut, "Baby That's Backatcha," and "The Agony and the Ecstasy." Sweet, occasionally sly, and beautifully sung, this music doesn't have quite the unforgettable quality of the Miracles' best, but every moment of it is pure Smokey. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

One Of The Best Voices In R N B

Smokey Robinson has that type of hypnotic voice that carries so much emotion and passion when he croons. This collective has many of his balads from the 70's and a few from the 80's. Keep in mind, these songs are his solos with the exception of "Ebony Eyes" which is Rick James' song featuring him, so you will not hear the Miracles with him. My favorite track is "Agony And The Ecstasy" which digs deep in the soul, showing you have to pay dues in the game of love. "Cruisin" is another timeless classic from the late 70's, perfect for the top down rollin' down the block on a sunny 70 degree day! "Daylight And Darkness" is another smooth one with a relaxed keyboard driven beat taliking about a girl with a heavy dual personality; how she can be "bittersweet" as he puts it. He is intelligent, romantic, and sweet, all rolled into one. Mos def, it's perfect to play back at the crib with ya girl!!! Nice collection of hits! April 4, 2007

His Heartbeat

I often seem to wonder why Soul & R&B icons of today like Usher, Beyonce' and Ashanti don't really seem to actually have the influence anfd feeling of what made great soul from the past. That was truly magic from the realistic eras from Motown Records in the sixties and seventies. That truly was so defiant from acts like the Jackson 5, Diana Ross and especially Smokey Robinson. During his two eras of his unique talent, on his own and as a member of The Miracles his soulful voice has been one of the most unique and conjured songsters of all time. Now his best solo tracks are on just one unique greatest hits package.

Smokey Robinson's 1997: The Ultimate Collection is a really clever and simplistic released record that does a really good job reflecting his solo efforts beautifully. The songs here are just absolutely remarkable and classicly conjured. There are just so many great Smokey Robinson classics here including Ebony Eyes with the late Rick James, Let Me Be The Clock, Crusin', the delightful Being With You, and the #1 soul gem Just To See Her. There is unfortunately one big setback, and that of course is his eras with The Miracles, but that arguably wasn't the way this record was setup to be which isn't a bad thing, because there is much more to showcase here from his own works over his 2005 Definitive Collection.

All in all Smokey Robinson: The Ultimate Collection is a great reflection and does definitely deliver his solo efforts beautifully. For those who haven't heard his soulful and elequent voice and medley, this record is a great buy for anybody.

Album Cover: B+

Songs: A-

Price: B+

Remastering: A 1/2-

Overall: B+ March 14, 2006

HOT, AND STEAMY LOVE SONGS!!!!

This is an inceredible cd. It is very good and I enjoy a lot of songs on this album. This ia a nice cd with some of his nice songs but it is missing a lot of songs. In the 80's he had made an album called"Touch The Sky" and that album was dynamite. That album needs to be re-released or either they need to be added to one of Smokey's compilations. Tell Me Tomorrow, and I made love to you a thousand times are on that album and that was a real nice album I would recommend anyone who enjoys Smokey's seductive voice to purchase this album!!!! April 1, 2004

After he left the Miracles to go solo

Smokey achieved considerable success as leader of the Miracles in the sixties and a separate Ultimate Collection (already reviewed by me) covers the best of his music with that group. This compilation contains the best of his solo music from 1973 to 1990 and the songs are mainly ballads..

Smokey never achieved consistent success as a solo singer but he scored top ten hits in the American pop charts with Cruisin' (1979), Being with you (1981), One heartbeat (1987) and Just to see her (1988). Many of the other songs here were lesser pop hits and were also major hits on the R+B charts. Particularly interesting among them are three tracks from his concept album, A quiet storm, these being the title track, Baby that's backatcha and The agony and the ecstasy. Let me be the clock finds Smokey using time as a metaphor - strange but it works well. Alone among all these fine songs, Being with you provided Smokey with a major UK hit, where it went all the way to number one.

Good as this collection is, I still prefer his earlier music with the Miracles. Nevertheless, this is a fine collection that easily justifies its five stars. You might even prefer his solo music. In any case, if you are looking for a collection of Smokey's solo recordings, this is the best collection I've come across. January 11, 2004

Smokey's alright

I had never really been a big fan of Smokey Robinson's prior to ordering this CD. To be honest, I didn't like him at all. I have, alas, become a believer. This man's lyrics are soooo deep. I love the fact that I can listen to this CD and search for the deeper meaning in the songs. For instance, I never realized that in his song 'I've Made Love To You a Thousand Times,' that he was speaking figuratively and that it was a fantasy. But when I figured that out...OH MY WORD!!!! how seductive is that??!!! I believe that when he wrote Daylight and Darkness he had me in mind and didn't even know it. Baby Come Close, Quiet Storm, and Cruisin...all classics. Overall this is a very nice compilation. One that I'm glad I gave a fair shot to. August 5, 2003

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