ABC – When Smokey Sings (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1987

“When Smokey Sings” is a song by English band ABC, released as the first single from their fourth studio album, Alphabet City (1987). The lyrics and title of the song are a tribute to R&B and soul singer Smokey Robinson. In the United States, Robinson himself was on the Billboard 100 pop chart with his single “One Heartbeat” at the same time as this tribute song; for the week ending 3 October 1987, both songs were in the Billboard Top 10 simultaneously.

“When Smokey Sings” and its B-side, “Chicago” also topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and proved to be their second American Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. There is a slight difference in the lyrics between the album and single version in the bridge of the song.

In the album version, references are made to “Luther”, “Sly”, “James”, and “Marvin” (most likely referring to Luther Vandross, Sly Stone, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye, respectively). In the single version, this is replaced by alternate lyrics, followed by a short saxophone solo.

Pitchfork Media was favorable for the Miami Mix, saying “can you fuck with…the proto–freestyle of the “Miami mix” of ABC’s “When Smokey Sings”?…No, of course, you cannot.”

The bass line of the song is a homage to Robinson’s composition, “The Tears of a Clown.” Smokey Robinson himself praised the song, saying, “Well, of course, that’s a form of flattery, and I really appreciate it.”

SIDE A:
When Smokey Sings (Miami Mix) 7:03
Mixed By – Phil “Mixmaster” Harding*

Chicago (Parts I & II) 6:37
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn

SIDE B:
When Smokey Sings (7″ Version) 4:23
Mixed By –Julian Mendelsohn

When Smokey Sings (Bonus Beats) 4:39
Mixed By – Phil “Mixmaster” Harding*

When Smokey Sings (Detroit Mix) 6:45
Mixed By – Julian Mendelsohn

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 When Smokey Sings U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #5
1987 When Smokey Sings U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary #2
1987 When Smokey Sings U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
1987 When Smokey Sings U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #8

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury ‎– 888 726-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Engineer – Martyn Webster (tracks: A1, B1 to B3)
Producer – Bernard Edwards (tracks: A1, B1 to B3), Mark White, Martin Fry
Written-By – Mark White, Martin Fry

NOTES:
From the forthcoming Mercury album “Alphabet City”

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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Muff Diver
Muff Diver
September 26, 2020 4:54 pm

More unfamiliar territory for me; my education continues!

Thanks, Paul 🙂

Robert Plunkett
Robert Plunkett
April 4, 2020 8:40 am

Thank you.
The UK 12″ has a different 7″ mix of When Smokey Sings. Might be worth an upload?
https://www.discogs.com/ABC-When-Smokey-Sings-The-Detroit-Mix/release/221554

Conner
Conner
March 16, 2020 10:36 am

Love this. Thank you!

negative1
negative1
March 12, 2020 10:30 pm

Hi Paul,
I mentioned this in another post, but these guys also sound
like ABC.

https://burningtheground.net/2016/10/blue-mercedes-i-want-to-be-your-property-def-b4-dishonour-mix-us-12/

Anyone that’s interested in this sound, check it out.

later
-1

Clive
Clive
March 12, 2020 9:16 pm

King of the 80s remix? Shep, step aside. Julian Mendelsohn FTW!

Blair Warner
Blair Warner
March 12, 2020 11:08 am

Thank you so much Paul! “When Smokey Sings” is such a quintessential 1980’s pop song – hearing these remixes for the very first time makes me so happy 🙂
I appreciate how much time and energy you put into your posts. I was unaware that this song was in the top ten the same week a Smokey Robinson song was!

Osc
Osc
March 12, 2020 2:32 am

My favourite ABC-track! I haven’t heard the Detroit Mix in dog’s years, can’t even remember if it’s any good. I have two different CD-singles, but both have the Miami Mix (one is a five minute edit though), as does the CD-album.

Matt
Matt
March 12, 2020 12:50 am

Thank you. My 12″ is buried away somewhere. Nice to hear it again.

Retro Hound
Retro Hound
March 11, 2020 4:13 pm

Great choice. Thanks Paul!

Marcus
Marcus
March 11, 2020 3:28 pm

I loved this single. The album was great too.

Cheers Paul 🙂

Christian Harald Fex
Christian Harald Fex
March 11, 2020 3:20 pm

Brilliant Sophisti-Pop!

Grant
Grant
March 11, 2020 2:28 pm

Love it! Thanks so much!

Stefan
Stefan
March 11, 2020 1:59 pm

excellent choice Paul, I love ABC … and am patiently waiting for “How to be a Zillionaire” (the Julian Mendelson variety) with the fantastic extended version of “Tower of London” on the B Side

Fred
Fred
Reply to  Stefan
March 11, 2020 4:20 pm

Hi Stefan. Exactly what mix are you looking for? The 12″ you are asking for seems to be: https://www.discogs.com/ABC-How-To-Be-A-Zillionaire/release/4399474. The Nickel and Dime mix is pretty boring but was done by Julian. You should check out the following: Wall St. Mix, the Bond St. Mix, and the Harajuku Mix which were all released on various ABC cd compilations. I don’t think the Nickel and Dime mix has ever been released on cd format.

Stefan
Stefan
Reply to  Fred
March 12, 2020 8:40 am

Hi Fred, thats the one and I agree regarding the “How to be a zillionaire” versions. I was looking forward mainly for B2 “Tower of London” extended Mix which is excellent

Fred
Fred
March 11, 2020 1:58 pm

Great song and rip, Paul!! Great remixers, too! As some of you may have noticed, the Miami Mix sounds just like the PWL mixes of the day. Well, that’s because Phil Harding was part of PWL. 🙂

You may also notice that this Miami mix sounds VERY much like the Phil Harding “House Mix” of I Heard A Rumour by Banarama. Go ahead, take a listen. 🙂 At 5:54 of I Heard A Rumour (House Mix) sounds just like 0:54 of When Smokey Sings (Miami Mix).

Have a great day, everyone!!

transito
transito
March 11, 2020 1:56 pm

A tremendous song, from this duo I don’t know if they are still singing live, but I mark a time thanks for the contribution again

OMAR
OMAR
March 11, 2020 1:10 pm

absolutely fabulous Paul. Thanks.

Jeff
Jeff
March 11, 2020 1:10 pm

Paul, I am covered in chills of happiness. ABC is so awesome and I love this song. I love the fact too that Phil Harding and Julian Mendelsohn are involved with this record. As I stated earlier, I just love this week of posts. My kind of ’80’s.

Jeff

Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  DjPaulT
March 12, 2020 7:48 am

I always love it when you share your opinion on a record’s different versions. I know the Miami Mix very well, so the Detroit Mix I’m all game for. And “Chicago” sounds intriguing. I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to this yet as we were out a bit late last night. And Paul, please always know that I am humbly grateful to you for your generosity everyday.

Jeff