Cruisin' (Smokey Robinson song)

"Cruisin'" is a 1979 single written, produced, and recorded by Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. One of Robinson's most successful singles outside of his work with The Miracles, "Cruisin'" hit number one on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 and was also a major Billboard Pop hit, peaking at number four the week of February 2, 1980.[1] It was a Top Five hit on the Soul chart as well.[2]

"Cruisin'"
Single by Smokey Robinson
from the album Where There's Smoke...
B-side"Ever Had a Dream"
ReleasedAugust 1979 (1979-08)
Recorded1979
Genre
Length5:53
4:11 (7" edit)
LabelTamla (Motown)
Songwriter(s)
Smokey Robinson singles chronology
"Get Ready"
(1979)		 "Cruisin'"
(1979)		 "Let Me Be the Clock"
(1980)

The song was co-written by fellow Miracle Marv Tarplin. "Cruisin'" was an even bigger hit in New Zealand, hitting number one on that country's chart. It is included on Robinson's ninth studio album, Where There's Smoke....

Reportedly, Robinson had a cold when he recorded the song. It was originally intended as a B-side for a remake of "Get Ready".

In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".[3]

Robinson's version appears in a 2021 TV commercial for Allstate.[4]

Chart performance

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[10] Gold 10,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone

D'Angelo version
"Cruisin'"
Single by D'Angelo
from the album Brown Sugar
ReleasedDecember 5, 1995
Recorded1995
Genre
Length3:58 (radio edit)
6:24 (album version)
LabelCooltempo
Songwriter(s)Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin
D'Angelo singles chronology
"Brown Sugar"
(1995)		 "Cruisin'"
(1995)		 "Lady"
(1996)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Cruisin'" on YouTube

Neo soul musician D'Angelo recorded a cover of the song for his 1995 album Brown Sugar. The cover was released as the album's second single on October 12, 1995 and was commercially successful charting within the top ten of the US R&B charts.[11][12] the album reached sales of 500,000 copies in the United States by October 1995.[13][14] This version appeared in the third episode of the UPN sitcom, Moesha in 1996.

Composition and arrangement

"Cruisin", a cover of Smokey Robinson's 1979 hit of the same name, here features a predominant string section.[15] The longest track on the album, it employs violin, viola and cello, as well as shakers and light percussion, while sleigh bells are featured in the chorus.[16] Flutist Lauryn Vivino contributes with piccolo. The track also features steady piano-playing by D'Angelo,[17] with Brooklyn Funk Essentials-member Bob "Bassy" Brockmann playing the trumpet.[18]

Track listing
  1. "Cruisin'"
  2. "Brown Sugar"

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 53
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles 10

Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis version
"Cruisin'"
Single by Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis
from the album Duets: Original Soundtrack
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2000
Recorded2000
Genre
Length4:52
LabelHollywood Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Larry Klein
Huey Lewis singles chronology
"Cruisin'"
(2000)		 "Workin' for a Livin'"
(2008)
Gwyneth Paltrow singles chronology
"Cruisin'"
(2000)		 "Bette Davis Eyes"
(2001)

Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis performed a cover of the song in the 2000 film Duets. The song is included on the soundtrack of the film. The duet spent one week at number one on the US Adult Contemporary chart. It was an even bigger hit in Australia and New Zealand, reaching number one on both country's singles charts, and in Iceland, where it climbed to number four in November 2000.

Track listing
  1. "Cruisin'"
  2. "Feeling Alright"
  3. "Beginnings/Endings"

Weekly charts
Chart (2000–2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[20] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 1
Poland (LP3)[22] 29
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 9
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[24] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (2001) Position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 12

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] 2× Platinum 140,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Platinum 10,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Other covers
  • In 1988, crossover thrash band Beowülf covered the song on their album Lost My Head... But I'm Back on the Right Track.
  • Canadian jazz singer Holly Cole included a cover of "Cruisin'" on her 1990 album Girl Talk.
  • In 2001, saxophonist Jaared covered this song on his album Foreword.[29] Three years later, the late bassist Wayman Tisdale included a cover of the song on his album Hangtime.[30][31]
  • Filipino acoustic band MYMP released their version on the album The Unreleased Acoustic Collection and again on Back to Acoustic in 2013.
  • Japanese singer Maki Ohguro (大黒 摩季 Ōguro Maki) released her version on the 2007 compilation album Best of Best 1000.[32]
  • Coolio has also sampled this song. Although the verse lyrics are changed in his song, the chorus is the same.

See also

References
  1. "Cruisin'" by Smokey Robinson (chart history) – Billboard.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 497.
  3. "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".
  4. . ispot.tv https://www.ispot.tv/ad/tNek/allstate-smooth-driving-on-the-moon-song-by-smokey-robinson. Retrieved January 3, 2021. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 202.
  7. "Top 100 1980-02-16". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  8. "Top Selling Singles of 1980 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1980-12-31. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  9. "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92 no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  10. "New Zealand single certifications – Cruisin – Smokey Robinson". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  11. Billboard Singles: Brown Sugar. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2010-05-09.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-03-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2010-05-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Ayers, Anne. "D'Angelo Cruisin' Through His First Tour. USA Today: 14.D. November 1, 1995.
  15. Shapiro (2006), p. 104.
  16. Metal Lungies: Remix Tuesdays - D’Angelo Part 4. Metal Lungies. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  17. W & A's Record Reviews: D'Angelo. Warr.org. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  18. Discogs: Bob "Bassy" Brockmann Discography. Discogs. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  19. "Australian-charts.com – Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis – Cruisin'". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  20. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (24.11–1.12 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 24, 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  21. "Charts.nz – Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis – Cruisin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  22. "Cruisin'". lp3.polskieradio.pl. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  23. "Gwyneth Paltrow Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  24. "Gwyneth Paltrow Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  25. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2001". ARIA. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  26. "End of Year Charts 2001". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  27. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  28. "New Zealand single certifications – Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow – Cruisin'". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  29. "Foreward: Album". Answers.com.
  30. "An Interview with Wayman Tisdale". SmoothViews.com.
  31. "Jazz Albums: Hang Time Wayman Tisdale". JazzTimes.com.
  32. "Amazon.com". Amazon.
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