SMOKEY ROBINSON - ONE HEARTBEAT - TEMPTATIONS KENNY G

1987 MOWTOWN

Another superb Robinson album. He continued scoring hit singles throughout the 1980s, and this time out, the song "Just To See Her" was another huge pop and RB smash, and the title track did almost as well. Robinson was thriving, despite the fact that hip-hop was steadily gaining strength, and New Jack Swing would soon force its way into the urban contemporary spotlight. - Ron Wynn, All Music Guide

One of Robinson's better 1980s albums, ONE HEARTBREAT brims with quietly simmering romantic ballads sung in his trademark heartbreaking falsetto. The title tune and "Just to See Her" were the big pop hits (and justifiable ones at that), but there are other pleasures to be had. "It's Time to Start Shoppin' Around," for example, is not only drop dead catchy, but features lyrics that cleverly reference early R&B song titles (including, of course, some of Robinson's 1960s classics). Meanwhile "You Don't What It's Like," sets the soul veteran against a Huey Lewis-sounding band, complete with synths and power guitar. A dubious pleasure, yes, but make no mistake: Lewis would give his eye teeth to even begin to approach Robinson's emotional presence.

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