R&P: Will Smokey Robinson be remembered as an artist, or a songwriter?

Question

I've been listening to a Temptations vinyl I got for Valentines Day.  Yes, you read that right.  Most people get chocolates and a card, my girlfriend got me vinyls. How amazing is that?.  Anyways, while looking at the album, I saw that most if not all of the songs were written by Smokey Robinson, and I got  to wondering if he is more famous for his songwriting, rather than his work with The Miracles.

Here are a few famous Smokey Robinson songs:

I Second That Emotion
My Girl
Get Ready
The Way You Do The Things You Do

BQ: Favorite song sung by Smokey Robinson?
BQ2: Favorite Temptation?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Um, I think you'll find that you got vinyls *and* a card and chocolate. Just sayin'... 

Yeah, probably just a songwriter to be honest. Can't really justify that. I just do. 

BQ2 - The guy with the earthquake voice. Melvin Franklin? God turned the bass waaaaay up when he was making Mr. Franklin.

lolalove · Answer

I know that its kind of a cop out answer but I really do think of him as both. Its hard for me to think of him as an artist without instantly thinking of the songs that he has written. Or thinking of a song, realizing that he wrote it, and then beginning to hum You've Really Got A Hold On Me.

BQ: Ooo Baby Baby and I Second That Emotion
BQ2: David Ruffin

David V · Answer

I like to believe he's a little of both.

BQ: so many songs by them.
Mr Girl is one of my all time favorites of any song by anyone, but to be honest I listen to the Stones version more. Not that I think it's better, it's just I listen to them more. And it was the Stones who turned me on to that song. It was my ex-wife and my speciall and still it brings back lovely memories of her.. Sorry for the rant.

BQ2: This is a hard one. Why? Cause I never thought about the Temptation's that way. So I can't really say. But what I can say is I have lots of their music wether they were the Temp's or solo
In joy you vinyl.

take care
dave

DoneWithThisPlace · Answer

Hopefully we won't have to "remember" him for years because he'll still be with us.  

I think the general public knows him more as a singer than a songwriter, and that's a shame.

BA:  "Two Lovers."
BA2:  David Ruffin.  He sang lead on "Ain't Too Proud to Beg."

Jimmy Jazz · Answer

Bob Dylan called him, "America's greatest living poet".  I imagine that'll get bandied about quite a bit when it comes time to remember him.

1: Shop Around.
2: David Ruffin/Eddie Kendricks.

Anonymous · Answer

Both. 

BQ: ' Tracks Of My Tears'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coh7n6dYj5Y

Thank you so much for mentioning Smokey.

BQ2: David Ruffin

Anonymous · Answer

When i was feeling down, I went on you tube and listened to Smokey all night. felt much better.
my favorite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUD5gXbY9uI&feature=quicklist&playnext=6&playnext_from=QL

BQ Really gone to miss you
BQJimmy Ruffin

Anonymous · Answer

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R&P: Will Smokey Robinson be remembered as an artist, or a songwriter?

8 Answers