Early years and formation of the Miracles
Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and was nicknamed "Smokey" as a child, because of his love of westerns. The name originally came when an uncle (who would take a young Robinson to see westerns) gave him the name "Smokey Joe", Robinson began being called "Smokey" whilst in his teens. In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called "The Five Chimes" with his best friend Ronnie White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called "The Matadors" and included cousins Bobby Rogers and Claudette Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr., who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job," an answer song to The Silhouettes' hit single "Get A Job." The group renamed itself The Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Berry Gordy that he start a label of his own.
In 1959, Gordy founded Tamla Records, which he soon reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles were among the label's first signees. Gordy and Robinson had a synergistic relationship, with Robinson providing a foundation for Motown's hit-making success and Gordy acting as a mentor for the budding singer and songwriter. By 1961, Gordy had appointed Robinson vice-president of Motown Records, a title Robinson held for as long as Gordy remained with the company.
Motown and The Miracles
The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart, and the first big hit for The Miracles. They scored many more hits over the years, including "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "Ooo Baby Baby (1965), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going to a Go-Go" (1965), "More Love" (1967), and "I Second That Emotion" (1967).
Besides penning hits for his own group, Robinson also wrote and produced hits and album tracks for other Motown artists. Mary Wells had a big hit with the Robinson-penned "My Guy" (1964), and Robinson served as The Temptations primary songwriter and producer from 1963 to 1966, penning hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Since I Lost My Baby," and "Get Ready." Among Robinson's numerous other Motown compositions are "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops, "Don't Mess With Bill" by The Marvelettes, "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye, "My Guy" by Mary Wells and "First I Look at the Purse" by The Contours.
Fellow singer/songwriter Bob Dylan described Robinson as "America's greatest living poet." Robinson's hit ballads also earned him the title "America's poet laureate of love." Over the course of his almost 50-year career in music, Robinson has over 4,000 songs to his credit.
After marrying Claudette Rogers, Robinson started a family, and named both of his children after Motown: his son was named Berry after the company's founder, and his daughter was named Tamla after the Motown imprint for which Robinson and The Miracles recorded.
The Miracles remained a premier Motown act through most of the 1960s. Albums were released as "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" after 1965. By 1969, the group's fortunes began to falter, and Robinson decided to quit The Miracles so that he could remain at home with his family and concentrate on his duties as vice president. The group stopped recording and Robinson prepared to leave the group. Unexpectedly, however, their 1966 recording of "The Tears of a Clown" was released as a single in 1970, and became a #1 hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Due to the surprise success of "Tears of a Clown," Robinson was convinced to remain with The Miracles for a few more years. In 1972, he followed through on his original plans to leave the group, and The Miracles began a six-month farewell tour. On July 16, 1972, Smokey and Claudette Robinson gave their final performances as Miracles at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, DC, and Robinson introduced the group's new lead singer, Billy Griffin. The Miracles went on for a while, even having another #1 hit, "Love Machine," in 1976.
Successful solo career
Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice-president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles.
In 1975, Robinson's solo career went into full-drive after the success of the #1 R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha." Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a smooth, slow style of R&B that is today called "quiet storm." Other Robinson solo hits include "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (a UK #1 hit) (1981), "Tell Me Tomorrow" (1982), and "Ebony Eyes," a duet with labelmate Rick James (1983). He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).
Spokesmanship
Smokey Robinson is the spokesman of the Great American Smokeout, which takes place annually one week before Thanksgiving. It's a day when smokers quit smoking for at least a day. In 2006, It takes place on November 16th.
Later years
During the mid-1980s, Robinson fell victim to cocaine addiction. His recording slowed, and his marriage to Claudette faltered; the two were divorced in 1986. Robinson eventually overcame the addiction and revitalized his career, scoring hits in 1987 with "Just To See Her" and "One Heartbeat." Also in 1987, British band ABC scored a US and UK hit with their tribute to Robinson, entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988, Robinson published his autobiography, Smokey, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Upon Motown's sale to MCA in 1988, Robinson resigned from his position as vice-president. After one last album for Motown, Love, Smokey (1990), Robinson departed the company. He released one record for SBK Records, Double Good Everything (1991), the same year he won a Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. Eight years later, he returned to Motown, which by then was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and released Intimate (1999).
Since then, Robinson has continued to periodically perform and tour. In 2003, Robinson served as a guest judge for American Idol during "Billy Joel Week." He issued a gospel LP, Food for the Spirit in 2004. A new album of pop standards from the early 20th century, Timeless Love, was released in June 2006. It was originally recorded with a jazz combo, but strings were added after the fact, giving the album more of a lush sound but removing much of the jazz feeling of the disc.
In 2004, Robinson's company, SFGL Foods, launched a special brand of gumbo called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul is in the Bowl' Gumbo." [1].
In May 2006, at its 138th Commencement Convocation, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.
Smokey Robinson is scheduled to appear on Duets on Fox along with Randy Travis, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Brian McKnight, Macy Gray, Richard Marx, and Cyndi Lauper. David Foster will be a judge.
On 27th October 2006 Smokey appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
Love machine
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just a love machine
And I won't work for nobody but you
Yeah baby, I'm just a love machine
A huggin', kissin' fiend
I think it's high time you knew
Whenever I think of you
When I look in you eyes
My meter starts to rise, and I become confused
My voltage regulator cools,
When I'm sitting next to you
Electricity starts to flow
And my indicator starts to glow, woo
I, I I'm just a love machine
And I won't work for nobody but you
I'm just a love machine (yeah baby)
A huggin', kissin' fiend
Na, na na na na, na na na na, woo-woo-wooo
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na nah
I, I, I'm just a love machine
And I won't work for nobody but you
I'm just a love machine (yeah baby)
A huggin', kissin' fiend
I'm gentle as a lamb
I'm not that hard to program
There's no way that you can lose
My chassis fits like a glove
I've got a button for love
That you have got-to-use
If you look into my file
I am sure you can find out how
To turn me on just set my dial
And let me love you for a little while, ooh
I, I, I'm just a love machine
And I won't work for nobody but you
I'm just a love machine (yeah baby)
A huggin', kissin' fiend
Na, na na na na, na na na na, woo-woo-wooo
Na, na na na na, na na na na, na naaah
Push it, push it baby
I, I, I'm just a love machine
And I won't work for nobody but you
I'm just a love machine (yeah baby)
A huggin', kissin' fiend
I, I, I'm just a love machine
And I won't work for nobody but you
I'm just a love machine (hey baby)
A huggin', kissin' fiend
Oh, yeah
Love machine
Earth quacking, sole shaking
Love machine
And I won't operate for anybody but you
Love making
Earth quacking, sole shaking
Love machine
And I won't operate for anybody but you
Oh, yeah
Love making
Earth quacking, sole shaking
Love machine
And I won't operate for anybody but you
Love making
Earth quacking, sole shaking
Love machine
And I won't operate for anybody but you
The lyrics to Smokey Robinson's Love Machine are an ode to the power of love and the singer's ability to love with reckless abandon. Robinson declares himself a love machine, stating that he will only work for the person he loves. He is a fiend for hugging and kissing, and he is a gentle and easy to program machine that will always fit perfectly with his beloved. The song uses electric imagery to symbolize the intensity of love and how it can cause one's mind to blow a fuse or one's meter to rise. Robinson's motor cranks electrically when he is near the person he loves, and his indicator begins to glow. The lyrics give the impression that Robinson's love is a force of nature that cannot be contained or tamed, and will produce an earth-quaking, soul-shaking effect on anyone he loves.
It's clear from the lyrics that Smokey Robinson's Love Machine is a happy-go-lucky and fun track that celebrates the power of love. Robinson compares his emotional state to that of a machine, implying that his love is unwavering and unchanging, and always ready to go. The lyrics are straightforward and simple but manage to convey a depth of feeling that is infectious and appealing. The music is upbeat and catchy, with a driving bassline and an infectious rhythm that makes you want to dance. Together with the lyrics, the music creates a feeling of joy and elation that's impossible to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a love machine
I am unable to resist the urge to love
And I won't work for nobody but you
I am dedicated to loving only you
A hugging kissing fiend
I am constantly craving affection and intimacy
I think it's high time you knew
It's important that you understand
Whenever I think of you
Thoughts of you consume me
My mind blows a fuse
I am overwhelmed with emotion
When I look in your eyes
Gazing into your eyes intensifies my love for you
My meter starts to rise
My passion for you increases
And I become confused
I am disoriented by the strength of my feelings
My motor cranked electric goes
My passion for you is electric
When I'm sitting next to you
Being near you intensifies my feelings
Electricity starts to flow
My passion is ignited
And my indicator starts to glow
My love for you is strong and bright
I'm gentle as a lamb
I am tender and kind
I'm not that hard to program
Loving me is easy
There's no way that you can lose
You can't go wrong loving me
Chassis fits like a glove
We fit together perfectly
I've got a button for love
My love for you is easy to access
That you've got to use
You need to reciprocate my love
Push it, push it baby
Act on your feelings for me
If you look into my power
If you understand my potential for love
I am sure you can find out how
You can figure out how to make me love you
To turn me on just set my dial
To ignite my love, just activate me
And let me love you for a little while
Give me a chance to show you my love
Love machine
I am an unstoppable force of love
Earth quacking, sole shaking
My love has the power to move mountains
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, SOUND OASIS PRODUCTIONS, LLC
Written by: Warren Moore, William Griffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind