Touch the Sky (Smokey Robinson album)

Touch the Sky is a 1983 album by American singer Smokey Robinson. It was produced and arranged by Robinson with Reginald "Sonny" Burke, and recorded and mixed at Golden Sound Studios, Inc., Hollywood, California. The album was released on the Motown sub-label Tamla.

Touch the Sky
Studio album by
Smokey Robinson
Released1983
Recorded1982–1983 at Golden Sound Studios
(Hollywood, California)
GenreR&B, soul
LabelMotown
ProducerSmokey Robinson and Reginald "Sonny" Burke
Smokey Robinson chronology
Yes It's You Lady
(1982)		 Touch the Sky
(1983)		 Essar
(1984)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link

Reception

The album peaked at #50 on Billboard pop charts, and at #8 on R&B charts.

There were two singles released from this album. "I've Made Love to You A Thousand Times" peaked at #101 Billboard and #8 R&B charts, "Touch The Sky" at #110 Billboard and #68 R&B charts.

William Ruhlmann rated the album with 2 out of 5 stars on AllMusic.[1] Robert Christgau rated the album as B+, giving a special recommendation to "cheating-song fans". [2]

Track listing

Side A
  1. "Touch the Sky" (William "Smokey" Robinson) - 5:45
  2. "Gimme What You Want" (Marvin Tarplin, William "Smokey" Robinson) - 4:00
  3. "Even Tho'" (Forest Hairston) - 3:47
  4. "Gone Again" (William "Smokey" Robinson) - 3:40

Side B
  1. "All My Life's a Lie" (William "Smokey" Robinson) - 3:58
  2. "Sad Time" (Scott D. Getlin, Stephen D. Tavani) - 4:21
  3. "Dynamite" (Berry Gordy, William "Smokey" Robinson) - 4:37
  4. "I've Made Love to You A Thousand Times" (Marvin Tarplin, William "Smokey" Robinson) - 5:38

Personnel

Fellow Miracles members Claudette Robinson, then Smokey's wife, joins for background vocals on the title track, Marv Tarplin is featured on rhythm guitar and songwriting. Also featured are Robinson regulars Fred Smith and Michael Jacobsen (since A Quiet Storm – 1975), and Sonny Burke (since Smokey's Family Robinson – 1976). On "Dynamite" Robinson shares songwriting-credits with Berry Gordy, founder of Motown records (besides everything else).


  • Lead vocals – Smokey Robinson
  • Backing vocals – Brenda L. Eager, Claudette Robinson, Ivory Davis, James Sledge, James Gadson, Leon Ware, Patricia Henley and Smokey Robinson
  • Keyboards, synthesizers – Reginald "Sonny" Burke
  • Synthesizer programming – Michael Boddicker and Paul Fox
  • Guitar – Marvin Tarplin, Charles J. Fearing, David T. Walker and Paul Jackson, Jr.
  • Bass – Scott Edwards, Nathan East and James Jamerson, Jr.
  • Drums – James Gadson and Reginald "Sonny" Burke
  • Percussion – Paulinho da Costa
  • Flute, saxophone – Ernie Watts
  • Flute – Fred Smith
  • Strings – Charles Berghofer, David Schwartz, Gareth Nuttycombe and Michael Jacobsen
  • Concertmaster – Harry Bluestone
  • Music Contractor – George Annis

Production
  • Produced and Arranged by William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. and Reginald "Sonny" Burke.
  • Recording Engineer – Paul Ring
  • Technical Engineer – Robert Biles
  • Assistant Engineer – Gary Jaye
  • Mixing – Gary Jaye, Paul Ring, William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr., and Reginald "Sonny" Burke.
  • Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Records, Hollywood, California.
  • Album Coordinator – Randy Dunlap
  • Art Direction – Johnny Lee and Terry Taylor
  • Cover Photography – David Alexander and Sheri Hyatt
  • Photomontage – Sarah Sakakibara
  • Cover Design – Alana Coghlan
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References
  1. "William Ruhlmann, AllMusic on Touch the Sky".
  2. "Robert Christgau on Touch the Sky".
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