When Smokey Sings
by ABC

Album: Alphabet City (1987)
Charted: 11 5
Play Video
  • Debonair lullabies in melodies revealed
    In deep despair on lonely nights
    He knows just how you feel
    The slyest rhymes - the sharpest suits
    In miracles made real

    Like a bird in flight on a hot sweet night
    You know you're right just to hold her tight
    He soothes it right ,makes it outta sight
    And everything's good in the world tonight!

    When Smokey sings, I hear violins
    When Smokey sings, I forget everything
    As she's packing her things
    As she's spreading her wings
    The front door might slam
    But the back door it rings
    And Smokey sings...he sings

    Elegance in eloquence, for sale or rent or hire
    Should I say, yes I match his best
    Then I would be a liar
    Symphonies that soothe the rage
    When lovers' hearts catch fire

    Like a bird in flight on a hot sweet night
    You know you're right just to hold her tight
    He soothes it right - makes it outta sight
    And everything's good in the world tonight!

    When Smokey sings, I hear violins
    When Smokey sings, I forget everything
    As she's packing her things
    As she's spreading her wings
    Smashing the hell
    With the heaven she brings
    Then Smokey sings...he sings

    Luther croons
    Sly's the original originator
    James screams
    Marvin was the only innovator
    But nothing can compare
    Nothing can compare
    When Smokey sings

    When Smokey sings, I hear violins
    When Smokey sings, I forget everything
    As she's packing her things
    As she's spreading her wings
    She threw back the ring
    When Smokey sings...
    Smokey sings...
    Smokey sings... Writer/s: MARK ANDREW WHITE, MARTIN DAVID FRY
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Brian Ping from United StatesOne of my favorite songs created by a truly talented artist, brings to the surface so many memories of September, 1987. Totally relatable!
  • Stormy Clements from Kralendijk BonaireThis song fills my heart and makes it soar
  • Joe from United StatesAwesome song when I was young as it is today.
  • Thedirge from Sydney. AustraliaThe front door might slam, but the back door it rings....indeed..
  • Eric from EssexOne of my favourite eighties songs
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1987 {August 22nd} ABC performed "When Smokey Sings" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV Saturday afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at position #2 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, the following week it would peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} and it spent eleven weeks on the chart...
    And on October 4th, 1987 it reached #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, the record at #1 for that week was "Little Lies" by Fleetwood Mac...
    As noted above, it peaked at #5 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart on September 13th, 1987...
    Between 1982 and 1992 the English band had nine records on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, seven made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, beside the above "When Smokey Sings", their other #1 record was "Be Near Me" for 2 weeks in 1985...
  • Mavis from Upper MidwestSpandau Ballet’s “True,” was exactly what this tune reminded me of the first time I heard it. To me, it’s part of a group of other late-night, urban-sounding tunes that emerged in the 80s. I’d put Joe Jackson's “Stepping Out” in that group, too.
  • Kevin from Syracuse, UtThe song is a upbeat paen to the incomparable Smokey Robinson, and the brassy arrangement is evocative of Smokey's hit, "Tears of a Clown." Deep in the song the lyrics allude to five great black American artists: "Luther (Vandross) croons, Sly's (Stone) the original originator, James (Brown) screams, Marvin (Gaye) was the only innovator, But nothing can compare, nothing can compare when Smokey (Robinson) sings . . . ." ABC wasn' t the only New Romantic group to pay homage to a great black R&B artist with a signature tune. If you listen closely to Spandau Ballet's "True" you will catch the line "Listening to Marvin (Gaye) all night long . . . ."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.