Reviewed by Tony Cummings

IN THE MAINSTREAM

As any pop music historian will tell you, the classic Motown hits of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles are some of the finest pop R&B ever recorded. Few will ever forget the breathtaking contemporary doo wop sound of “Ooo Baby Baby”, the pounding on-the-fours beat of “Going To A Go-Go”, the hauntingly poignant “Abraham, Martin And John” or Smokey’s piece-de-resistance “The Tears Of A Clown”. What is surprising though, is how few Christians realise that Smokey Robinson, songwriter extraordinaire and possessor of one of the most creamily soulful soft soul voices ever, became a Christian in the 1970s and, as you read this, is now working on his first ever gospel album. If your grounding in pop music history is lacking and you’ve yet to discover all those Motown classics that Smokey and his harmonising compatriots recorded in the late ‘50s/‘60s this two CD compilation is the perfect way to start. And if the sheer quality of these recordings enchant you like they did an earlier generation you might want to search out the Smokey Robinson autobiography Smokey: Inside My Life.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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