Touch the Sky (Smokey Robinson album)

Touch the Sky
Studio album by Smokey Robinson
Released	1983
Recorded	1982–1983 at Golden Sound Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre	R&B, Soul
Label	Motown
Producer	Smokey Robinson and Reginald "Sonny" Burke
Smokey Robinson chronology
Yes It's You Lady (1982) Touch the Sky (1983) Essar (1984)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

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.

Reception

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

There were two singles released form 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).

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

• Recording Engineer – Paul Ring
• Technical Engineer – Robert Biles
• Mixing Engineer – Gary Jaye, Paul Ring, William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr., and Reginald "Sonny" Burke
• Assistant Engineer - Gary Jaye
• Mastering – Wally Traugott at Capitol Records, Hollywood, California
• Produced and arranged by William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. and Reginald "Sonny" Burke
• Music Contractor – George Annis
• Album Coordinator - Randy Dunlap

• Art Direction – Johnny Lee, Terry Taylor
• Cover Photography – David Alexander, Sheri Hyatt
• Photomontage – Sarah Sakakibara
• Cover Design – Alana Coghlan

References

1. "William Ruhlmann, AllMusic on Touch the Sky".
2. "Robert Christgau on Touch the Sky".

External links

• Touch the Sky on Discogs