"Ebony Eyes" by Rick James with Smokey Robinson

Song#:  1725
Date:  12/10/1983
Debut:  76
Peak:  43
Weeks:  11
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The title track to James' LP Cold Blooded did very well at R&B hitting #1 and staying there for six weeks. It was a minor hit at Pop reaching #40. Later on, this duet ballad that featured Motown legend Smokey Robinson was issued as a single. The star pairing was certainly an attraction, but the song petered out after reaching #22 on the R&B chart. It would stall short of the Top 40 at Pop.

ReduxReview:  I remember seeing this song reach the Pop chart and I thought "Rick James with Smokey Robinson? Wow! Can't wait to hear that!" But when I finally did, I was really disappointed. It wasn't what I expected at all. I thought it was kind of boring and that there wasn't much of a chorus to it. It just kind of slogged along on the same two chords for most of the song. It went nowhere for me. James wrote the song, so I was hoping that with Smokey on board, the song might incorporate a retro Motown or quiet storm sound. It didn't. It's not a bad tune and it seems to be well-liked in James catalog despite not being a major hit, but I'm still meh about it.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This song was actually the third single released from the Cold Blooded LP. The second single was the jam "U Bring the Freak Out." Although the song did reach #16 on the R&B chart, it was a bit of a disappointment coming on the heels of the #1 title track. The song was unable to get onto the Pop chart.

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