Smokey Robinson

Except for a set of pre-rock pop standards, Smokey Robinson has been largely absent this decade. He returns here with the smooth ”˜quiet storm’ vibe he invented on his 1975 album of the same name, duetting with Joss Stone and India.Arie on a pair of wind-chime-romantic ballads and turning in an inspired (if somewhat unnecessary) remake of the J5’s ”˜I Want You Back.’ But when he puts his sterling tenor to the slow-burning funk of ”˜One Time’ and the Carlos Santana-assisted ”˜Please Don’t Take Your Love,’ it’s clear where young Michael got much of his groove. There’s nothing quite so effervescent as, say, ”˜Mickey’s Monkey,’ but how many miracles do you need?