Throwback: Smokey Robinson: Quiet Storm

Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm” was co-written with his sister Rose Ella Jones for his 1975 third solo album A Quiet Storm.  Robinson’s falsetto had the quality of a soothing breeze within the song that started a late-night programming format of love songs on national radio. The unassuming bass, snug conga and windy sound effects played well with the sublime vocalists and flute to recreate a feeling of calm in the midst of a cold winter. A Quiet Storm revitalized Robinson’s reputation as an artist and a songwriter after leaving The Miracles in 1972. The album also produced his only disco hit “Baby That’s Backatcha” and was one of Motown’s most relevant releases of 1975. Robinson’s artistic reboot created three hit singles and an album that sparked a romantic blueprint for the airwaves. The late DJ Melvin Lindsey is credited with launching the Quiet Storm radio show in the ’70s on Washington DC’s WHUR-FM station. Smokey Robinson’s solo album Christmas Everyday was released in 2017 and he was featured on anderson.paak’s “Make It Better” in 2019. In 2021, Robinson had a starring role in the Lifetime movie Miracle In Motor City.