Gasms [Limited Green and White Splatter Vinyl]

by Smokey Robinson

Overview

Bearing a title not even Leon Ware would have likely considered, this album is Smokey Robinson's first project based on original material since 2009's Time Flies When You're Having Fun. Eager to make it known that he still has warm thoughts to spare, Robinson titles seven of these nine songs using "you," "me," or "I" -- in stating what he does, wants to do, or has done for him -- and the other two are "Roll Around" and "Gasms." The coasting title song and more blues-tinged groove "I Fit in There," the opening and closing numbers, are humorously raunchy enough to function as surrogate Marvin Sease jams. Robinson takes it to another level by not holding back with his warbling vibrato, adding a lilt to each of his many assurances that his lady pleases him and that he belongs. For the most part, however, Gasms is a collection of clean and pleasant love songs Robinson tailors (with occasional co-writers) for his soft, sweet vocals. Like Time Flies, it's an organic session that uses many of the same musicians, including keyboardist David Garfield, bassist Freddie Washington, drummer Ricky Lawson, and guitarists Paul Jackson, Jr. and Ray Parker, Jr. The players keep it low-key enough to frame Robinson's voice without drowning it out, and the material generally sounds current without concessions to mainstream R&B. Apart from the deliberately brow-raising content, it's truly jarring only when Robinson briefly gets negative with the description "totally wack" -- rhymed with "sugar shack," most certainly not in reference to Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	10/13/2023
Label:	Tlr
UPC:	0843563168820
Rank:	31196

Tracks

1. Gasms
2. How You Make Me Feel
3. I Wanna Know Your Body
4. I Keep Callin' You
5. Roll Around
6. Beside You
7. If We Don't Have Each Other
8. You Fill Me Up
9. I Fit in There

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Smokey Robinson   Primary Artist
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar
Brandon Brown   Guitar (Bass)
Steve Ferrone   Drums
Bill Bergman   Saxophone
Chuck Findley   Trumpet
Cory Rooney   Keyboards
David Williams   Guitar
Khari Parker   Drums
Rick Braun   Trumpet
Ricky Lawson   Drums
Sharlotte Gibson   Vocals
Gorden Campbell   Drums
Gary Gold   Keyboards
James Harrah   Guitar
Dorian Holley   Vocals
Kenya Hathaway   Vocals
David Garfield   Piano,Keyboards
Karrie Benoit-Morales   Vocals
Leon Lacey   Keyboards
Ivri Lider   Keyboards
Freddie Washington   Bass
Roland Gajate Garcia   Percussion

Technical Credits

Steve Sykes   Engineer
Cory Rooney   Arranger,Producer,Drum Programming
Joe Zook   Mixing
Nick Lane   String Arrangements
Gary Gold   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
J.J. Blair   Mixing,Engineer
Smokey Robinson   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
David Garfield   Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements
Brian French   Mixing,Engineer
Leon Lacey   Producer,Drum Programming
Ivri Lider   Composer,Producer
Junior Denby   Composer
Steve Luxenberg   Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
Brandon Behymer   Engineer
Amon Nehesi   Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
Eric Erickson   Engineer