Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

He's the man responsible for some of Motown's greatest songs including "My Girl" and "Tears Of A Clown". Without doubt he's one of the greatest songwriters alive but it's been 23 years since he last had a number one and 15 years since he graced the British charts. The very first issue of Cross Rhythms back in 1990 broke the news that Smokey Robinson had become a Christian. It's taken him a while to get round to doing a gospel album and was it worth waiting for? Errrr.. No! Frustrating really. I was expecting this to be exceptional and instead I get ordinary. Where are the sensational pop hooks? Where are the original lyrical ideas? That exquisite, sinuously smooth voice is still in place but here he does sometimes disconcertingly sounds a bit like Boy George! And the songs sound like he could have written them in his sleep. There are some highlights like "Jesus Told Me To Love You" and "I Have Prayed On It" which hint that this might be the same man responsible for penning so many genius three minute pop singles. But then you get the atrocious "Gang Bangin'", "Standing On Jesus" and "We Are The Warriors" that all sound like they were recorded in the mid-eighties by a raw beginner. Oh dear!

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