When Smokey Sings

"When Smokey Sings" is a song by the English duo ABC, released as the first single from their fourth studio album, Alphabet City (1987). The lyrics and title of the song are a tribute to R&B and soul singer Smokey Robinson. Robinson himself was on the pop charts with his single "One Heartbeat" at the same time as this tribute song, marking one of the only times to date that a singer simultaneously was the performing artist of one Top 40 hit, while the subject of another chart hit. For the week ending 3 October 1987, both songs were in the Top 10 simultaneously. In 1964, the Carefrees hit No. 39 with "We Love You Beatles" during a time when the Beatles had several hits simultaneously in the Top 40.

"When Smokey Sings" and its B-side, "Chicago" also topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and proved to be their second American Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. There is a slight difference in the lyrics between the album and single version in the bridge of the song.

In the album version, references are made to "Luther", "Sly", "James" and "Marvin" (most likely referring to Luther Vandross, Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown and Marvin Gaye, respectively). In the single version, this is replaced by alternate lyrics, followed by a short saxophone solo.

Pitchfork Media were favourable for the Miami Mix, saying "can you fuck with...the proto–freestyle of the "Miami mix" of ABC's "When Smokey Sings"?...No, of course you cannot."