Track Listing

1. The Way You Do The Things You Do
2. Baby, Baby I Need You
3. My Girl
4. What Love Has Joined Together
5. You'll Lose A Precious Love
6. It's Growing
7. Who's Lovin' You
8. What's So Good About Good Bye
9. You Beat Me To The Punch
10. Way Over There
11. You've Really Got A Hold On Me
12. (You Can) Depend On Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #107021 in Music
• Released on: 1998-10-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered

Amazon.com essential recording
The Temptations Sing Smokey leans heavily on a great soul-music tradition: the practice of Motown artists' covering each other's hits as album tracks. Not that the Temptations' versions of Smokey Robinson-penned Miracles and Mary Wells singles qualify as filler. Hardly, as Eddie Kendricks's falsetto makes a convincing stand-in for Robinson's on remakes of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "What's So Good About Good Bye." Many of these tracks also underscore the strong doo-wop roots at the core of the Temptations' style, none more so than "Baby, Baby I Need You," which barely bothers to update its '50s influences for mid-'60s ears. This minor gem comes complete with three hit singles in "My Girl," "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and "It's Growing." --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

fine tribute album
The Temptations Sing Smokey is an excellent tribute to Smokey Robinson by The Temptations. The sound quality is magnificent; and the artwork is thoughtful and very nicely done.

"The Way You Do The Things You Do" is a charming love ballad that The Temptations deliver with a lot of style and grace. They sing this beautifully and they never miss a beat or a note. The percussion adds a lot to the musical arrangement, too. "Baby, Baby, I Need You" slows down the tempo a bit for this lovely slow dance mood music song that is perfect for dancing with your sweetheart late at night in your living room. "Baby, Baby, I Need You" sounds fresh and new when The Temptations perform it; it's a terrific number.

"My Girl" is a tune I'm very familiar with; The Temptations perform this with panache and they sound as smooth as silk. The brass works well and the percussion enhances the natural beauty of this number. The Temptations sing this well and they handle the subtle tempo changes like the pros that they were! "What Love Has Joined Together" really shines when The Temptations deliver this so well; I like the sound of their vocals and the drums work wonders for "What Love Has Joined Together," too.

"It's Growing" is another love ballad that sparkles in the capable hands of The Temptations; they sing and play this with all their hearts and souls. I'm very impressed. There's also The Temptations doing a smash-up job on "What's So Good About Goodbye." This torch song gets the full royal treatment from this group and this makes for a very memorable number. I predict that you'll enjoy "What's So Good About Goodbye" very much.

"You Beat Me To The Punch" is easily a major highlight of this album; they sing this great and the percussion with the drums helps the musical arrangement along very well. "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" rocks gently and The Temptations perform this so well you would think that their rendition was THE definitive rendition of this classic love song. The album ends nicely with The Temptations doing "(You Can) Depend On Me." This final ballad has a doo wop flavor to it that helps it work very well; and "(You Can) Depend On Me" makes a nice ending to this fine CD.

Fans of The Temptations and even Smokey Robinson will want this for their collections. I also recommend this for fans of that wonderful Motown sound of the `60s.

The Temptations Sing Smokey
This is without a doubt a must have for any Temptations fan or anyone else who just appreciates good music by one of the best American groups in history along with one of the greatest song writers in history. It's a perfect blend of not only the super hits "My Girl" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do" but also my personal favorites "What's So Good About Goodbye",and "Way Over There" showcasing the pure, sweet tenor of the amazing Eddie Kendricks. Simply the best!

The Tempts Sing Smokey, GOOD
Any time anyone sings Smokey you can bet it's good, but when The Temptations sings Smokey it is GREAT, AWSOME, Fantastic.