The lyric of the ballad вЂњThe Agony and the EcstasyвЂќ hit the Top Ten at number seven, and it was followed by the masterpiece вЂњA Quiet Storm.вЂќ Although it only managed to seal the Top 25, it has since made a greater impact on the music charts and music industry. It was RobinsonвЂ™s first number one single since leaving the Miracles. Arranged in an intermittent rhythm, вЂњBaby ThatвЂ™s BackatchaвЂќ ran up the Billboard R&B charts to number one inside 16 weeks. The album itself had three singles hit the charts. The title track became the namesake for a music format. As many of his prior songs had shaped R&B and pop music, this album would have a similar effect. The genius of William вЂњSmokeyвЂќ Robinson is immeasurable.

As exemplified by вЂћA Quiet StormвЂњ, SmokeyвЂ™s gift is constant and genuine. You canвЂ™t go wrong with a Smokey Robinson record, no matter what itвЂ™s decade of origin, but this is perhaps his definitive вЂ™70s album, defining a smooth, contemporary R&B style that would be emulated for decades to come.

No less an authority and devoted fan than Bob Dylan once called Smokey Robinson, вЂthe greatest living poet in a America today.вЂ™ 1975вЂ™s вЂћA Quiet StormвЂњ contains all the patented Smokey touches: the sweet irresistible melodies the slow-dancing ballads the jump-for-joy love songs. SmokeyвЂ™s gentle, sensual vocals are effortlessly delivered but completely captivating.

Smokey Robinson invented a style of songwriting and singing that influenced artists as diverse as James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Boyz ll Men and Linda Ronstadt, to name just a few. Studio Master, Official Digital DownloadВ вЂ“ Source: QobuzВ | Artwork: Front cover |В В©В UNI/Motown

A quiet storm smokey