This song is a tribute to the American singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson. ABC is a British band, and while Robinson and his group The Miracles fared far better in America, his talents were certainly appreciated by many in the UK, especially musicians. The song alludes to how Robinson could capture a range of emotions in his songs, from devotion to heartbreak. No matter what he's singing about, however, when Smokey sings you forget about your problems.
ABC were a new romantic group who enjoyed six UK and four US Top 20 singles. "When Smokey Sings" was their last Top 20 single in both territories. ABC chose their name because "The first three letters of the alphabet are known the world over."
This song was a hit just as Smokey Robinson was enjoying a career resurgence. The week it peaked at #5 in the US (September 19, 1987), Smokey's "One Heartbeat" was at #17. A few months earlier, Robinson reached #8 with "Just To See Her."
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