Gasms
Gasms | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 28, 2023 | |||
Genre | Soul music | |||
Length | 40:41 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | TLR Records | |||
Producer |
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Smokey Robinson chronology | ||||
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When people think of gasms, they think of orgasms first and foremost … I tell everybody: ‘Whatever your gasm is, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.’
—Smokey Robinson on the meaning of the album title and its conceptual focus[1]
Gasms is a studio album by American soul music vocalist Smokey Robinson, released in 2023. It was the first album of all-new material from Robinson since 2009. A concept album about sex and other forms of pleasure, the release has received controversy for its title and themes,[1] as well as positive critical assessment. The song lyrics and titles include several sexual connotations.[2]
Recording, release, and promotion
Robinson worked on the music on this album for five or six years prior to release[3][4] and worked intimately with J. J. Blair to mix the album.[5] Sessions included songs that Robinson had written up to 20 years prior.[6] Gasms was announced in January 2023 and was accompanied by the lead single “If We Don’t Have Each Other”;[7] “How You Make Me Feel” followed as a single.[4] Robinson also toured behind the release.[8]
Reception
Public reception of the album and song titles resulted in controversy and disbelief, as reported by Blavity[9] and The Root,[10] particularly since Robinson is known for milder romantic songs, rather than explicitly about sex.[3][11] Although his wife and stepdaughter tried to talk him out of it,[11] Robinson wanted to stir up controversy with the title,[12] but interprets "gasms" as not only orgasms, but "anything that makes you feel good".[13] His goal was to initiate controversy and curiosity about the music to encourage listeners to engage with it.[14]
For
Track listing
- “Gasms” – 4:24
- “How You Make Me Feel” – 4:28
- “I Wanna Know Your Body” – 4:23
- “I Keep Callin’ You” – 4:03
- “Roll Around” – 4:24
- “Beside You” – 4:34
- “If We Don’t Have Each Other” – 4:19
- “You Fill Me Up” – 4:19
- “I Fit in There” – 5:47
Personnel
Personnel adapted from
- Smokey Robinson – vocals, mixing, production
- Brandon Behymer – engineering
- Karrie Benoit-Morales – vocals
- Bill Bergman – saxophone
- J. J. Blair – engineering, mixing[5]
- Rick Braun – trumpet
- Brandon Brown – bass guitar
- Gorden Campbell – drums
- Eric Erickson – engineering
- Steve Ferrone – drums
- Chuck Findley – trumpet
- Brian French – engineering, mixing
- arrangement, string arrangement, production
- Roland Gajate Garcia – percussion
- Sharlotte Gibson – vocals
- Gary Gold – keyboards, drum programming, engineering, production
- James Harrah – guitar
- Kenya Hathaway – vocals
- Dorian Holley – vocals
- Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitar
- Leon Lacey – keyboards, drum programming, production
- Nick Lane – string arrangement
- Ivri Lider – keyboards, production
- Ricky Lawson – drums
- Steve Luxenberg – instrumentation, production
- Amon Nehesi – instrumentation, production
- Khari Parker – drums
- Ray Parker, Jr. – guitar[16]
- Cory Rooney – keyboards, arrangement, drum programming, production
- Steve Sykes – engineering
- Freddie Washington – bass guitar
- David Williams – guitar
- Joe Zook – mixing
Chart performance
Gasms spent one week on the Billboard
See also
References
- ^ a b Hattenstone, Simon (April 27, 2023). "'At 83, I still feel sexual': Smokey Robinson on love, joy, drugs, Motown – and his affair with Diana Ross". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Greene, Andy (April 23, 2023). "Smokey Robinson on Meeting MLK, Drugs, and Why He Called His New Album 'Gasms'". The Last Word. Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ a b McCollum, Brian (April 28, 2023). "Smokey Robinson on new 'Gasms' album: A controversial title, new songs and old ones, more". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Lamarre, Carl (April 28, 2023). "Here's Why Smokey Robinson Thought His New Album's Title 'Would Cause Controversy'". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Mark (April 28, 2023). "Smokey Robinson turns seductive with new album 'Gasms'". Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- Forbes.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (January 27, 2023). "Smokey Robinson Is Ready to Give Your Ears 'Gasms' With New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ISSN 1055-2715. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Monique (February 4, 2023). "Smokey Robinson's Album Title 'Gasms' And Its Colorful Tracklist Ignite Twitter Firestorm: 'Not This Being Real?'". Blavity. Yahoo! News. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Connor, Jay (January 31, 2023). "The Tracklist for Smokey Robinson's GASMS Proves He's Really Bout That Life". The Root. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ Graff, Gary (April 24, 2023). "Motown legend Smokey Robinson is cruisin' into another new album". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ France, Lisa Respers (February 5, 2023). "Smokey Robinson explains his "Gasms" title for new album". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Enos, Morgan (May 2, 2023). "Living Legends: Smokey Robinson On New Album 'Gasms,' Meeting The Beatles & Staying Competitive". The Recording Academy. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Contreras, Ayana; Lee, Christina; Cills, Hazel; Hilton, Robin (April 28, 2023). "New Music Friday: The best releases out on April 28". All Songs Considered. NPR. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ AllMusic Guide. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ Rytlewski, Evan (May 2, 2023). "Smokey Robinson: Gasms". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- AllMusic Guide. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Smokey Robinson". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
External links
- Gasms at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Smokey Robinson Speaks On His New Album 'GASMS' from WBLS
- Interview on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, August 1, 2023
- Performance for Tiny Desk Concert, October 16, 2023
- Music legend Smokey Robinson: The Sound of Motown, why music brings people together, new album ‘Gasms’, concert in Chicago