A Quiet Storm

Critical reception

In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, Robert Palmer said A Quiet Storm proved Robinson was "still a dynamic creative force" as it succeeded on the strength of his singing and production, although he highlighted the "sexy directness" of the title track and "Baby That's Backatcha". Vince Aletti ranked it as the year's third best album in his ballot for the 1975 Pazz & Jop critics poll. Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic, believing the title track was somewhat bold for concentrating Pure Smokey's "drift into a style", but finding much of the record lacking rhythm, with the exception of "Love Letters" and "Coincidentally".

A Quiet Storm was later named one of the greatest Motown albums of all time in a 1999 edition of Q. According to Pitchfork journalist Eric Harvey, the record reinvented Robinson's brand of "contemplative romantic soul" with the Miracles, revitalized his career after two underperforming solo albums, and typified what would become known as quiet storm music.

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Smokey Robinson; except where indicated.

1. "Quiet Storm" 7:47 (Robinson, Rose Ella Jones {Robinson's real-life sister})
2. "The Agony and the Ecstasy" 4:43
3. "Baby That's Backatcha" 3:36
4. "Wedding Song" 3:20
5. "Happy" – Love Theme from Lady Sings the Blues (Robinson, Michel Legrand) 7:05
6. "Love Letters" 4:04
7. "Coincidentally" 4:22

Personnel