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A Quiet Storm

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

A Quiet Storm was released in March 1975 as Smokey Robinson's third solo album. He had left his group the Miracles and, after two disappointing records, his solo career needed a new impetus. He wrote and arranged all the songs himself, except for two that he wrote with a co-writer. Guitarist Marv Tarplin of the Miracles contributed, as did bassist James Jamerson.

The album sounds calm and romantic. The long title track Quiet Storm lasts almost eight minutes, and Baby That's Backatcha became the hit and took it to number 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles for a week. It was also his first disco hit. Critics reacted mostly positively. Robert Palmer praised his singing and production in Rolling Stone. The album is regarded as an example of what later came to be called the quiet storm radio format, and Q counted it among the best Motown albums in 1999.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Quiet Storm and notice how slowly the song builds: what kind of mood do the soft accompaniment and the vocals create together, and does that mood stay the same for all eight minutes?

Track list

  1. 1Quiet Storm7:48Apple Music ↗
  2. 2The Agony and the Ecstasy4:49Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Baby That's Backatcha3:49Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Wedding Song3:40Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Happy (Love Theme from "Lady Sings the Blues")7:12Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Love Letters4:12Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Coincidentally5:10Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs