Smokey Robinson Releases "The Solo Albums Volume 4: Love Breeze/Where There's Smoke..."

In the history of Motown there is only one person more important in its evolution and everlasting success than Berry Gordy, and that’s Smokey Robinson – the only artist at the label to also become a world-class songwriter, producer and company vice-president. Smokey Robinson, who had reluctantly started a solo career after a brief intermission following his departure from his beloved Miracles, was, by the late 1970s, in full stride. And this volume in the Smokey Robinson Solo Albums series features one of his biggest solo hits.

Love Breeze, a top 20 R&B chart LP, featured the top 10 hit single “Daylight & Darkness” as well as numerous album favorites. Where There’s Smoke… was a step towards another new future for Smokey. While the disco-fied remake of “Get Ready,” a song Smokey had originally written for the Temptations, was the lead single, it was “Cruisin’,” a track tucked away at the end of the album, that became his new signature tune. It was everywhere in late summer 1979, hitting the R&B and Pop top five – and seems to still be everywhere today.

As with the three previous volumes, this new set includes reproductions of the LPs’ original artwork, and newly commissioned liner notes by U.K. author Peter Doggett, who interviewed Smokey specifically for this reissue series. Also included are the original lyrics as seen on the original albums’ inner sleeves. There's also a bonus cut: the 12-inch instrumental version of “Get Ready,” previously available only on limited vinyl.

Get your copy of "The Solo Albums Volume 4: Love Breeze/Where There's Smoke..." on Hip-OSelect.com