"Being With You" by Smokey Robinson

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0492
Date:  02/14/1981
Debut:  89
Peak:  2
Weeks:  25
Genre:  R&B, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Robinson's solo career after he left the Miracles in 1972 didn't amount to much on the pop chart with his best showing being the #26 "Baby That's Backatcha," from the classic "A Quiet Storm" album. Things finally changed for him when "Cruisin'" went Top 10 in 1979. After another slight lull, Robinson stormed the chart with this single. It spent three weeks in the #2 spot (#1 R&B) and became his biggest solo hit.

ReduxReview:  I've always kind of considered this the "Baker Street" of R&B. It starts off with a mysterious, recognizable sax section and then transfers to a happier pop-like song. Both songs are great and for me it is Robinson's best solo song.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  In 1975, Robinson wrote and recorded the album "A Quiet Storm." With funk dominating the R&B music scene, Robinson decided to write an R&B album that was opposite in nature. The music was elegant and mature and it quickly became a romantic favorite. The album became highly influential as it inspired the "quite storm" radio format, typically a late-night program that played slow R&B jams and some light jazz. Other artists popular on quiet storm shows were Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Sade, Al Green, and Barry White.

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