My World: The Definitive Collection (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Smokey Robinson (vocals); The Miracles (vocals); Timothy Bloom (various instruments, background vocals); Daryl Holley Sr. (guitar); Hiroshi Upshur (keyboards); Larry Ball (bass instrument).

Liner Note Author: Steven Ivory.

Few artists have had as much impact on soul music as William "Smokey" Robinson. During his decades-spanning career, Robinson has penned and/or performed some of the greatest songs to ever grace Motown Records. Smokey's voice is instantly recognizable and alluring, a tenor so beguiling it even caused British New Romantic act ABC to write "When Smokey Sings." MY WORLD: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION surveys Robinson's monumental recording history, and offers up two new songs.

MY WORLD opens with the title track, a soothing ballad, while "Fallin'" is a slice of Smokey's patented sweet seduction. The remainder of the compilation skips around in time, reminding listeners of how many classics Robinson penned. From his days fronting the Miracles ("Shop Around," "I Second That Emotion," "The Tears of a Clown") to his later days as solo pop balladeer ("Being with You," "Cruisin'"), Robinson has had his hands in a remarkable number of unforgettable tunes. With its 21 tracks, MY WORLD captures as many of them as possible on a single disc. minimize