Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson (1979) 5/15/22

Smokey Robinson was such a good singer, nothing could keep him from recording a "Great Song!"

In 1979, while suffering with a head cold, Smokey stepped into the studio and recorded one of his smoothest and most successful singles after leaving the Miracles.

That said, it took Smokey a while to get that far. In 1974, Guitarist Marv Tarplin wrote and recorded the music, and gave the tape to Smokey to write the lyrics. Five YEARS later...after struggling to come up with words to fit the sensual feeling of the music...Smokey heard the oldie "Groovin" by the Rascals on his car radio.

In his head, "Groovin' turned into "Cruisin,'" and the rest of the lyrics fell into place.

When asked what exactly he meant by "Cruisin'," Smokey replied, "I'll leave that up to the listener."

All righty then!

As 1979 melted into 1980, "Cruisin' went to #1 in New Zealand, and Cashbox had it at #1 in the US. Billboard placed it at #4 on both the Hot 100 and Soul Charts.

"Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson...5-years of writer's block and a bad cold couldn't stop it from being a "Great Song of 1979-80." And that's nothing to SNEEZE at!

For reference, here's "Groovin'" by the Rascals (1967):