One Heartbeat
One Heartbeat is an album by American R&B singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson, released in 1987 on Motown Records. This album peaked at No. 26 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. One Heartbeat was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Overview
The album contains Robinson's last two US Billboard top 10 singles: "Just to See Her" and "One Heartbeat". "What's Too Much" was released as the album's third and final single.Critical reception
Ron Wynn of Allmusic in a 3/5 stars review, called One Heartbeat "Another superb Robinson album." David Wild of Rolling Stone declared, "One Heartbeat is another of Smokey's breathy gems; it's his strongest and most accessible effort since 1982's underrated Touch the Sky.Robert K. Oermann of USA Today ranked this album at No. 1 on his list of 1987's top 50 R&B albums.
Track listing
- "Just to See Her" - 4:04
- "One Heartbeat" - 4:07
- "It's Time to Stop Shoppin' Around" - 4:02
- "Why Do Happy Memories Hurt So Bad" - 4:06
- "You Don't Know What It's Like" - 3:55
- "What's Too Much" - 4:23
- "Love Brought Us Here Tonight" - 3:57
- "Love Don't Give No Reason" - 4:25
- "Keep Me" - 4:58
Personnel
- Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, arrangements
- Lou Pardini – synthesizer solo
- Rick Chudacoff – arrangements, synth bass, acoustic piano
- Steve LeGassick – keyboards, arrangements
- Bill Elliott – keyboards
- Reginald "Sonny" Burke – keyboards, acoustic piano solo, organ
- Dann Huff – guitars
- Brian Ray – guitars, drum programming, arrangements
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar
- John Robinson – drums
- Peter Bunetta – arrangements, drums, bass synth programming, drum programming
- Brad Buxer – drum programming, bass synth programming, keyboards, synthesizer programming, rhythm track arrangements
- Tom Seufert – drum programming
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Kenny G – sax solo, soprano sax solo
- Danny Pelfrey – alto saxophone
- Greg Smith – baritone saxophone
- Jerry Jumonville – tenor saxophone
- Bruce Paulsen – trombone
- Darrell Leonard – trumpet, horn arrangements
- John Thomas – trumpet
- Jerry Peterson – EWI controller
- Leslie Smith – backing vocals
- Tim Stone – backing vocals
- Patti Henley – backing vocals
- Ivory Stone – backing vocals
- The Temptations – backing vocals
- Howard Smith – backing vocals
- Alfie Silas – backing vocals
- Maxayn Lewis – backing vocals
- Kal David – backing vocals
- Syreeta Wright – lead vocals
Production
- Producers – Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff
- Executive Producer – Berry Gordy
- Coordination – Sharon Burston
- Engineered by Daren Klein
- Additional Recording – Richard McKernan and Frank Wolf
- Assistant Engineers – Troy Krueger, Bob Loftus, Richard McKernan, Marnie Riley and Gary Wagner.
- Mixing – Daren Klein ; Mick Guzauski.
- Art Direction – Johnny Lee
- Design – Andy Engel
- Front Cover Photo – Bonnie Schiffman
- Back Cover Photo – Ron Slenzak