One Heartbeat cover art

  Studio Album · No. 17

One Heartbeat Songwriting Credits by Smokey Robinson

1987 Tamla 9 tracks 38 min

Produced by William "Smokey" Robinson, Narada Michael Walden

Tamla R&BPop RockAdult Contemporary
78%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 7 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 7 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Smokey Robinson carries a lyricist or composer credit.

78%
7 trackswritten by Smokey Robinson 2 tracksoutside writers
Smokey Robinson's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist78%
Composer78%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
15
Lyricists
2
Producers
1987
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (1988)
Data Insight

One Heartbeat was produced by Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff, with Berry Gordy serving as executive producer, and was recorded at Conway Studios, Ocean Way, and other Los Angeles facilities during 1986-1987. The album peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B Albums chart; USA Today ranked it the top R&B album of 1987. "Just to See Her" reached #8 on the Hot 100 and won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988. "One Heartbeat" reached #10. The album received RIAA Gold certification.

One Heartbeat is the sixteenth solo studio album by Smokey Robinson, released in 1987 on Tamla Records. The album produced 'Just to See Her,' which won Robinson his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male in 1988, a major career milestone for a singer-songwriter who had been defining soul music for over three decades. 'One Heartbeat,' produced by Narada Michael Walden, gave Robinson a polished late-80s pop-soul sound that connected with both R&B audiences and adult contemporary radio. The album represented a commercial and critical resurgence for Robinson, who had spent much of the early 1980s operating in the background of Motown's increasingly pop-driven output. One Heartbeat confirmed that Robinson's voice had aged gracefully and that his gift for romantic expression remained among soul music's most distinctive.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Just to See Her #8
Jimmy GeorgeLou Pardini Jimmy GeorgeLou Pardini William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
2
One Heartbeat #10
Brian RaySteve LeGassick Brian RaySteve LeGassick William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
3
It's Time to Stop Shoppin' Around
Smokey RobinsonMarsha Gold Smokey RobinsonMarsha Gold William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
4
Why Do Happy Memories Hurt So Bad
Smokey RobinsonMarvin Tarplin Smokey RobinsonMarvin Tarplin William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
5
You Don't Know What It's Like
Smokey RobinsonReed NielsenSue Shifrin Smokey RobinsonReed NielsenSue Shifrin William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
6
What's Too Much
Smokey RobinsonIvory StoneLonnie KirtzPepi Talbert Smokey RobinsonIvory StoneLonnie KirtzPepi Talbert William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
7
Love Brought Us Here Tonight
Smokey RobinsonStephen GeyerAllan Rich Smokey RobinsonStephen GeyerAllan Rich William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
8
Love Don't Give No Reason
Smokey RobinsonSteven Tavani Smokey RobinsonSteven Tavani William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)
9
Keep Me
Smokey Robinson Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" RobinsonNarada Michael Walden Smokey Robinson (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 17 contributors

More from Smokey Robinson

Frequently Asked Questions One Heartbeat

What did "Just to See Her" by Smokey Robinson peak at on the Billboard Hot 100?
"Just to See Her" by Smokey Robinson from One Heartbeat peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.
What Grammy Award did "Just to See Her" by Smokey Robinson win?
"Just to See Her" from One Heartbeat won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988.
What did "One Heartbeat" by Smokey Robinson peak at on the Billboard Hot 100?
"One Heartbeat" by Smokey Robinson peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.
Who produced One Heartbeat by Smokey Robinson?
One Heartbeat was produced by Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff, with Berry Gordy serving as executive producer.
What RIAA certification did One Heartbeat by Smokey Robinson receive?
One Heartbeat received RIAA Gold certification.

Sources