A more rhythmic vocalist can bump in sexy syncopation off a complement of polyrhythms, but Smokey is all melodic caress; his cool, aching lyricism must float free and uncomplicated. Being with You, by all means a pop triumph, allows him that simplicity and generates more potential hitpower than any of his previous solo outings. In fact, the title cut sounds better on the radio (and spends more time there) than any post-Miracles tune in his catalogue….

Less viable is the reggae imitation "Food for Thought," not because the steel drum riff doesn't generate the Caribbean breeze it's supposed to, but because it has nothing to do with the protest-for-the-hell-of-it of Robinson's lyric, which attacks first cigarette manufacturers, then industrial pollution, then stud machismo, and then wives' lack of interest in their husbands. Though the chorus and instrumentation are catchy, Smokey's vocal charm is considerably diminished by the uncomfortable...