Smokey Robinson’s all-star duets

Smokey Robinson, the man who helped build the legendary Motown label, is back and he is on board the duet bandwagon. This trend that Tony Bennett sparked some years ago has big-name artists re-recording their famous hits as duets with other big names. The result is a no-fail seller with fresh, interesting interpretations of some of the most beautiful, biggest-selling tunes ever created.

And this is not to mention the fact that the talent combination can be immensely interesting. Take, for example, the pairing of Bennett with Lady Gaga, which has already spawned an entire jazz album of their duets. Now what can you say about Robinson and John Legend? That would be the combination of two of the greatest voices we have ever heard. And this happens in Smokey & Friends, the new album by Robinson and his featured guests.

Legend sings the pop classic Quiet Storm with Robinson. One of Robinson’s later works, the song is not only a testimony to his one-of-a-kind vocal style but to his songwriting skills as well. Remember Robinson was this kid just out of high school who had already formed his own group, the Miracles, and was already writing his own songs when he met would be Motown mogul Berry Gordy in the ’60s. Within only a year or two, Motown had its first big hit, Shop Around, of course by Robinson and the Miracles, and composed by Robinson.

Within the ensuing years, Robinson would ascend to the post of Motown vice president, record many albums and write a lot of songs. He did My Girl for the Temptations, My Guy for Mary Wells and Ain’t That Peculiar for Marvin Gaye. Who can forget the very sexy Ooh Baby Baby that he did for The Miracles or what about Happy the theme from the movie Lady Sings The Blues that Michael Jackson covered so beautifully?

To this day, I still cannot get over how I felt when as a kid I discovered Robinson’s The Tracks Of My Tears. I love the lines like “My smile is my make up I’ve worn since my break up with you” or “if you look closer it’s easy to trace the tracks of my tears” and how he called the lines on his face as “the tracks of my tears.” They are, indeed, and what a way to describe them. The song remains such a great piece of songwriting to this day. No wonder, the great Bob Dylan himself, a songwriting legend, called Robinson one of the greatest poets of our time. 

Quiet Storm and The Tracks Of My Tears which Robinson sings with Elton John are the kind of songs found in Smokey & Friends where the 74-year-old pop music legend more than holds his own, vocals-wise, with his guests. Remember again, this guy was the prototype of the sweet, soul singer that came to be associated with Motown and he still has the singer’s goods in big numbers. Also in the album are:

You Really Got A Hold On Me with Steven Tyler; My Girl with Miguel, Aloe Blacc & JC Chasez; Cruisin’ with Jessie J; The Way You Do The Things You Do with Cee Lo Green; Being With You with Mary J. Blige; Ain’t That Peculiar with James Taylor; The Tears Of A Clown with Sheryl Crow; Ooh Baby Baby with Ledisi; and Get Ready with former Take That soloist Gary Barlow.

Great line-up. But where oh where are Shop Around, I Second That Emotion, More Love, Happy, Baby Baby Don’t Cry, My Guy, Going To A-go-go, Baby Come Close, One Heartbeat and other songs he composed and recorded himself or with other artists. It looks like Robinson has more than enough materials for a Volume 2. And it might just happen soon.

Also blasting out of the ’60s is the performing line-up come Wednesday night, Oct. 1 at the Music Hall on Metrowalk in Ortigas, Pasig City. The show’s blurb says it all. The biggest rivalry of the ’70s is back. And it, indeed, is because Ting Bernabe of The Advisors and Tony Aguilar of The Howlers will be together on stage for the first time after many, many years in the Bandang Pinoy Co-op special presentation Yugyugan Na!

The Advisors and The Howlers were two of the most popular bands of the pre-Manila Sound era and they intend to bring back the glorious days of the early ’70s era with their cover renditions of the big hits of the time. It will be just like those dancing days at The Flame or Rino’s once again. Check out the show and find out how these Pinoy rockers go from Motown soul to hard rockers with ease. And don’t worry that Original Pilipino Music will be neglected. In fact, for your information, Yugyugan Na, one of the earliest recorded Filipino rock tunes was a big hit for Aguilar and the Advisors.

Also set to perform will be Hot Flashes, The Acid Band, Jessie’s Project, The Pulis and the Exponents and Roy Rico. Call 0922-7531263 or 0908-6752859 for tickets or just go to the Music Hall. Showtime is at 8 p.m.