Under The Covers

The output of great songs written by Smokey Robinson is astounding. "The Tracks Of My Tears," You Really Got A Hold On Me," "My Girl," "Cruisin'," and "Ooo Baby Baby," are just a countless few. In 1965 The Temptations scored a hit with "Since I Lost My Baby," a song composed by Smokey and Pete Moore. The song was featured on the album The Temptin' Temptations. Full of heartbreak, "Since I Lost My Baby" finds lead singer David Ruffin narrating the story of a man losing the one he loved. In a world where everything was near perfection and everyone had all they could ask for, all he wanted was his baby.17 years later, Luther Vandross would revive the classic song for his sophomore album, Forever, For Always, For Love. In classic Luther Vandross style, Luther wrapped his smooth vocals around "Since I Lost My Baby" and slowed it down and made it an essential 'Quiet Storm' song. Much like he did with Dionne's "A House Is Not A Home," Luther made "Since I Lost My Baby" his own. Without a doubt Smokey Robinson is "America's Poet Laureate of Love," peep the last verse of "Since I Lost My Baby":

"My determination is fading fast

So fast so fast so fast

Exploration is a thing of the past

I can't see how my hopes gonna last

Good things are bad and what's happy is sad

So sad, so sad, so sad"