Smokey & Friends

Smokey & Friends
Studio album by Smokey Robinson
Released	August 19, 2014 (2014-08-19)
Genre	R&B, pop
Length	42:34
Label	Verve
Producer	Randy Jackson
Smokey Robinson chronology
Now and Then (2010) Smokey & Friends (2014) Christmas Everyday (2017)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	55/100 [1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Mojo	[3]

Smokey & Friends is a studio album by musician Smokey Robinson. It was released in August 2014 under Verve Records. Reaching #12 on Billboard 's album chart, it stands as Smokey's second most successful solo album.^{[ citation needed ]}

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Tracks of My Tears" (featuring Elton John)	Warren Moore Smokey Robinson Marvin Tarplin	3:27
2.	"You Really Got a Hold on Me" (featuring Steven Tyler)	Robinson	3:25
3.	"My Girl" (featuring Aloe Blacc, JC Chasez, Miguel)	Robinson Ronald White	4:31
4.	"Cruisin'" (featuring Jessie J)	Robinson Tarplin	4:53
5.	"A Quiet Storm" (featuring John Legend)	Rose Ella Jones Robinson	4:55
6.	"The Way You Do (The Things You Do)" (featuring Cee Lo Green)	Robinson Robert Rogers	3:34
7.	"Being with You" (featuring Mary J. Blige)	Robinson	4:15
8.	"Ain't That Peculiar" (featuring James Taylor)	Moore Robinson Rogers Tarplin	3:47
9.	"The Tears of a Clown" (featuring Sheryl Crow)	Henry Crosby Robinson Stevie Wonder	3:23
10.	"Ooh Baby Baby" (featuring Ledisi)	Moore Robinson	3:00
11.	"Get Ready" (featuring Gary Barlow)	Robinson	3:21

Personnel

Lead Vocalists

• Smokey Robinson (also backing vocals on 2)
• Elton John (1)
• Steven Tyler (2, also backing vocals)
• Aloe Blacc (3)
• JC Chasez (3)
• Miguel (3)
• Jessie J (4)
• John Legend (5)
• CeeLo Green (6)
• Mary J. Blige (7)
• James Taylor (8)
• Sheryl Crow (9)
• Ledisi (10)
• Gary Barlow (11)

Musicians and Backing Vocalists

• Wayne Linsey – keyboards (1, 5, 9)
• Chris Walden – synth strings (1), string arrangements (1)
• James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards (2–4, 6, 7, 9)
• Jim Cox – Hammond B3 organ (2, 6, 11), acoustic piano (6), synth strings (6, 11)
• Theron Feemster – programming (3–7, 11), keyboards (6), synth horns (6), drums (10)
• Raymond Angry – keyboards (4)
• Loris Holland – keyboards (4)
• John Legend – acoustic piano (5)
• Jeff Babko – keyboards (5, 9), synth flutes (5), synth strings (5), string arrangements (5)
• Sason Sotoodehfar – programming (7, 11)
• Larry Goldings – Wurlitzer electric piano (8), organ (8)
• Raul Ferrando – synth strings (9)
• Tim Pierce – guitars (1–3, 5–7, 9–11)
• Doc Powell – guitars (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
• Phil X – guitars (2)
• John Mayer – guitar solo (3)
• Randy Bowland – guitars (4, 10)
• John Shanks – guitar solo (4)
• James Taylor – acoustic guitar (8)
• Michael Landau – electric guitar (8)
• Cornelius Mims – bass (1, 5, 9)
• Randy Jackson – bass (2, 3, 6, 10, 11)
• Mark Kelley – bass (4)
• Jimmy Johnson – bass (8)
• James Gamble – drums (1, 2, 5, 9)
• Jim Keltner – drums (8), percussion (8)
• Questlove – drums (10)
• Roger Squitero – tambourine (8)
• Beate Walden – violin (1)
• Songa Lee – violin (5)
• Terron Brooks – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10)
• Nicole Scherzinger – backing vocals (2)
• Mischke Butler – backing vocals (3, 5–7, 9–11)
• Sharlotte Gibson – backing vocals (4–7)
• Sarah West – backing vocals (5)
• Sheree Brown – backing vocals (11)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position US Billboard 200 [4] 12 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [6] 56

References

1. "Metacritic Review". Metacritic.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
2. Kellman, Andy. "AllMusic Reviews". Allmusic.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
3. Brown, Geoff (November 2014). "Smokey Robinson Smokey & Friends". Mojo . p. 100.
4. "Smokey Robinson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
5. "Smokey Robinson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
6. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Smokey & Friends at Discogs (list of releases)
• Smokey & Friends at MusicBrainz (list of releases)