Food for the Spirit (album)

Food for the Spirit is a Gospel music album by American vocalist Smokey Robinson, released in 2004. A departure from Robinson's typical soul music work, the album received mixed reception and Robinson returned to soul after this release.

Food for the Spirit
A photo of Robinson's face
Studio album by
Released2004 (2004)
StudioCreative Source Studios (Woodland Hills, California)
GenreGospel music[1]
Length44:21
LanguageEnglish
LabelLiquid 8
ProducerMichael Stokes
Smokey Robinson chronology
Intimate
(1999)
Food for the Spirit
(2004)
My World (The Definitive Collection)
(2005)

Reception

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Editors at AllMusic Guide scored this release 2.5 out of five stars, with critic Thom Jurek calling it "a slick, very contemporary soul-gospel recording" and that Robinson has a "still gorgeous voice", but the performance competes with the production.[1] Writing in Rolling Stone, Bud Scoppa gave this release three out of five stars, praising Robinson's vocals, but decrying "heavy-handed social commentary".[2]

Track listing

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All songs written by Smokey Robinson

  1. "Jesus Told Me to Love You" – 5:55
  2. "Let Your Light Shine On Me" – 4:41
  3. "The Road to Damascus" – 5:34
  4. "Standing On Jesus" – 3:19
  5. "He Can Fix Anything" – 3:50
  6. "I Have Prayed On It" – 5:48
  7. "Gang Bangin'" – 5:02
  8. "I Praise & Worship You Father" – 4:29
  9. "We Are the Warriors" – 5:43

Personnel

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  • Smokey Robinson – vocals
  • Michael Stokes – keyboards, acoustic piano, programming, arrangements, horn and string arrangements
  • D'Andre Franklin – keyboards, acoustic piano, programming, horn and string arrangements
  • Clint Stokes III – keyboards, acoustic piano, programming
  • Kelvin Thomas – keyboards
  • Sydney Stokes – guitars
  • Rick Whitfield – guitars
  • Andrew Gouche – bass guitar
  • Alexandra Brown – backing vocals
  • Carmen Carter – backing vocals
  • Louis Price – backing vocals
  • Jacquelyn L. Similey – backing vocals
  • Oren Waters – backing vocals

Production

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  • Michael Stokes – producer, engineer, mixing
  • D'Andre Franklin – associate producer, assistant engineer, mix assistant
  • Clint Stokes III – associate producer
  • Khaliq Glover – assistant engineer, mix assistant
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
  • Sherman Keith Hill – art supervision
  • Deja Daije and SKH – artwork, design
  • Christina M. Lopez and SKH – art direction

Chart performance

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Food for the Spirit reached 44 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Smokey Robinson – Food for the Spirit". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Scoppa, Bud (May 5, 2004). "Food for the Spirit". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "Smokey Robinson - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
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