THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

309-Smokey Robinson-Just My Soul Responding.

1974-Number 35 single.

Best Bit-At 1.50. When Smokey sings, it’s as easy as ABC.

William Robinson Jr. was born on February 19th, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He has explained how his nickname ‘Smokey’ came about.’My Uncle Claude was my favourite uncle, he was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my name was I didn’t tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe. That’s what everyone called me until I was about 12, and then I dropped the Joe part. I’ve heard that story about him giving it to me because I’m a light skinned black man, but that’s not true.’

In 1972 Smokey Robinson left ‘The Miracles’ (see also best songs 193) the band he had co-founded in 1955, retiring from music, but still working in his role as vice president of Motown Records. After a year of retirement Robinson (see also best songs 1031) announced his comeback as a solo artist with the release of his 1973 Album ‘Smokey’ from where this song was taken. In total Smokey Robinson has released 23 solo studio Albums between 1973-2017, and 58 solo singles, of which 10 have reached the Billboard top 40 singles chart, and three have made the UK top 40. His most successful single on both sides of the Atlantic is his 1981 song ‘Being With You,’ which reached Number 2 in America, and Number 1 in the UK.

‘Just My Soul Responding’ was co-written by Smokey Robinson, and fellow ex member of The Miracles Marv Tarplin, (1941-2011) who had been a member of The Miracles from 1958, until leaving the band shortly after Robinson in 1973. Tarplin co-wrote numerous songs with Robinson and others for his fellow Motown artists including ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’ and ‘I’ll Be Doggone for Marvin Gaye. Tarplin and Robinson had first met in 1958 when Tarplin turned up at Motown Records accompanying the ‘Primettes’ on guitar, as they auditioned for Smokey Robinson. Robinson was impressed with Tarplin’s guitar playing and lured him away from the Primettes to join The Miracles.The Primettes managed to survive without him, as they would go on to future success as the Supremes (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148.)

‘Just My Soul Responding’ is a protest song dealing with the hardships of ghetto life in America, it also addresses the plight of the Native American Indian.

‘This land once belonged to my father, and to his father before him too. Let me tell you now, I’m on a reservation, living in a state of degradation. What’s a soul suppose to do?