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Cruisin' (Smokey Robinson song)

{{Short description|1979 single by Smokey Robinson}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Cruisin'

| image = Cruisin by smokey robinson US single side-A.png

| alt = side-A label by Tamla Records

| caption = One of side-A labels of the US single

| type = single

| artist = Smokey Robinson

| album = Where There's Smoke...

| B-side = Ever Had a Dream

| released = {{start date|1979|8|20}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Soul{{cite book|title= Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s|first1=Don|last1=Breithaupt|first2= Jeff|last2= Breithaupt|date= July 17, 2000|chapter= The Wonder Years: Soul|page= 98|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=978-0-312-19821-3|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kh04AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT95}} |quiet storm{{cite web|first= Eric |last= Harvey |title= The Quiet Storm |website= Pitchfork |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/underscore/8822-the-quiet-storm/|date= May 19, 2012|access-date= October 11, 2022}}}}

| length =

  • {{Duration|m=5|s=53}}
  • 4:11 (7-inch edit)

| label = Tamla (Motown)

| writer = {{hlist|Smokey Robinson|Marv Tarplin}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Get Ready

| prev_year = 1979

| next_title = Let Me Be the Clock

| next_year = 1980

}}

"Cruisin'" is a song written, produced, and performed by the American singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released in August 1978 as a single from his eighth album, Where There's Smoke... (1978). One of Robinson's most successful singles outside of his work with the Miracles, "Cruisin'" hit number one on the US Cash Box Top 100 and was also a US Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at number four the week of February 2, 1980.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/smokey-robinson/chart-history/hsi/|title=Smokey Robinson|website=Billboard.com|access-date=April 23, 2021}} It was a top-five hit on the Soul chart as well.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=497}}

Background

The song was co-written by fellow Miracle Marv Tarplin. "Cruisin'" was an even bigger hit in New Zealand, hitting number one on that country's chart. It is included on Robinson's ninth studio album, Where There's Smoke.... Reportedly, Robinson had a cold when he recorded the song. It was originally intended as a B-side for a remake of "Get Ready".

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1979–1980)

!Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report)

| style="text-align:center;"|70

Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite web |url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9461b&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=ele707hbso7b5h68nn7tn0tt84 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019075734/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"|66

New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)

| style="text-align:center;"|1

US Billboard Hot 100

| style="text-align:center;"|4

US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)

| style="text-align:center;"|4

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=202}}

|align="center"|34

US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19800216.html |title=Top 100 1980-02-16 |work=Cashbox Magazine |access-date=January 3, 2015 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1980)

!Rank

New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1980-12-31 |title=Top Selling Singles of 1980 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart |website=Nztop40.co.nz |date=December 31, 1980 |access-date=October 14, 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

US Top Pop Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine |date=December 20, 1980 |title=1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GyUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT63 |page=TIA-10 |magazine=Billboard |volume=92 |issue=51|access-date=April 5, 2020}}

|align="center"|13

US Cash Box Top 100

| style="text-align:center;"|23

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Cruisin|title=Smokey Robinson|award=Gold|id=1980-06-13|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1980}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

D'Angelo version

{{Infobox song

| name = Cruisin'

| cover = D'Angelo-Cruisin'.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = D'Angelo

| album = Brown Sugar

| released = December 5, 1995

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul}}

| length =

  • 6:24 (album version)
  • 3:58 (radio edit)

| label = Cooltempo

| writer =

| producer = Bob Power

| prev_title = Brown Sugar

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Lady

| next_year = 1996

| misc =

{{External music video|{{YouTube|JAfuUZRou7g|"Cruisin'"}}}}

}}

American neo soul musician D'Angelo recorded a cover of the song for his debut album, Brown Sugar (1995). The cover was released as the album's second single on October 12, 1995, and was commercially successful charting within the top ten of the US R&B charts.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r217756/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}} Billboard Singles: Brown Sugar]. AllMusic. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Lady&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=Virgin%20Records&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - September 24, 2015 |website=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=March 21, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151606/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }} the album reached sales of 500,000 copies in the United States by October 1995.{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage%3D1%26table%3DSEARCH_RESULTS%26action%3D%26title%3DBrown+Sugar%26artist%3D%26format%3D%26debutLP%3D%26category%3D%26sex%3D%26releaseDate%3D%26requestNo%3D%26type%3D%26level%3D%26label%3D%26company%3D%26certificationDate%3D%26awardDescription%3D%26catalogNo%3D%26aSex%3D%26rec_id%3D%26charField%3D%26gold%3D%26platinum%3D%26multiPlat%3D%26level2%3D%26certDate%3D%26album%3D%26id%3D%26after%3D%26before%3D%26startMonth%3D1%26endMonth%3D1%26startYear%3D1958%26endYear%3D2010%26sort%3DArtist%26perPage%3D25 |title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - October 18, 2015 |website=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=May 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019022802/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Brown%20Sugar&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date=October 19, 2015 }}Ayers, Anne. "[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/enter/music/lem018.htm D'Angelo Cruisin' Through His First Tour]. USA Today: 14.D. November 1, 1995.

This version appeared in the third episode of the UPN sitcom, Moesha in 1996.

=Composition and arrangement=

"Cruisin", a cover of Smokey Robinson's 1979 hit of the same name, here features a predominant string section.Shapiro (2006), p. 104. The longest track on the album, it employs violin, viola and cello, as well as shakers and light percussion, while sleigh bells are featured in the chorus.[http://metallungies.com/2008/07/remix-fridays-dangelo-part-4/ Metal Lungies: Remix Tuesdays - D’Angelo Part 4]. Metal Lungies. Retrieved on February 1, 2009. Flautist Lauryn Vivino contributes with piccolo. The track also features steady piano-playing by D'Angelo,[http://www.warr.org/dangelo.html W & A's Record Reviews: D'Angelo]. Warr.org. Retrieved on February 1, 2009. with Brooklyn Funk Essentials-member Bob "Bassy" Brockmann playing the trumpet.[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Bassy+Bob+Brockmann?anv=Bob+%22Bassy%22+Brockmann Discogs: Bob "Bassy" Brockmann Discography]. Discogs. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.

=Track listing=

  1. "Cruisin'"
  2. "Brown Sugar"

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1995)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|New Zealand|27|artist=D'Angelo|song=Cruisin'|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|Scotland|76|date=19960225|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|UK|31|date=19960225|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|UKdance|15|date=19960225|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|UKrandb|6|date=19960225|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|53|artist=DAngelo|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|25|artist=DAngelo|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|10|artist=DAngelo|access-date=March 14, 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|20|artist=DAngelo|access-date=March 14, 2023}}

Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis version

{{Infobox song

| name = Cruisin'

| cover = Cruisin'_-_Gwyneth_Paltrow_and_Huey_Lewis.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis

| album = Duets: Original Soundtrack

| B-side =

  • "Feeling Alright"
  • "Beginnings / Endings"

| released = {{start date|2000|9|11}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

  • {{duration|m=4|s=52}} (album version)
  • {{duration|m=3|s=34}} (radio edit)

| label = Hollywood

| writer =

| producer = Larry Klein

| chronology = Huey Lewis

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Workin' for a Livin'

| next_year = 2008

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Gwyneth Paltrow singles

| type = single

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title = Cruisin'

| year = 2000

| next_title = Bette Davis Eyes

| next_year = 2001

}}

}}

American actors and singers Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis performed a cover of the song in the 2000 film Duets. The song is included on the soundtrack of the film and released as a single on September 11, 2000. The duet spent one week at number one on the US Adult Contemporary chart. It was an even bigger hit in Australia and New Zealand, reaching number one on both country's singles charts, and in Iceland, where it climbed to number four in November 2000.

=Track listing=

  • Australian and German CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Cruisin'|others=Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis|year=2000|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Hollywood Records, Festival Mushroom Records|id=019892}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Cruisin'|others=Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis|year=2000|type=German CD single liner notes|publisher=Hollywood Records|id=0122175HWR}}
  1. "Cruisin'" (by Paltrow and Lewis) – 4:51
  2. "Feeling Alright" (by Lewis) – 4:02
  3. "Beginnings / Endings" (by David Newman) – 1:59

=Charts=

{{col-begin|width=74%}}

{{col-2}}

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (2000–2001)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|1|artist=Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis|song=Cruisin'|access-date=October 7, 2019}}
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/3008607#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (24.11–1.12 2000)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=10|date=November 24, 2000|access-date=October 7, 2019}}

|align="center"|4

{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis|song=Cruisin'|access-date=October 7, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|9|artist=Gwyneth Paltrow|access-date=October 7, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Gwyneth Paltrow|access-date=October 7, 2019}}

{{col-2}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable"

!Chart (2000)

!Position

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Best of 2000: Most Played Adult Contemporary Songs|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=50|date=December 22, 2000}}

|align="center"|35

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (2001)

!Position

Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2001/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001|publisher=ARIA|access-date=May 29, 2021}}

|align="center"|27

New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2001-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 2001|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=October 7, 2019}}

|align="center"|12

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url={{Google books|sBIEAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA39-IA20|plainurl=yes}}|title=The Year in Music 2001: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=52|page=YE-81|date=December 29, 2001|issn=0006-2510|access-date=September 4, 2021}}

|align="center"|10

{{col-end}}

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|access-date=October 7, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow|title=Cruisin'|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|id=2001-01-26|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|September 11, 2000

|Adult contemporary radio

|rowspan="2"|Hollywood

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-09-08.pdf|title=Huey Lewis Gwyneth Paltrow: Cruisin'|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1367|page=39|date=September 8, 2000|access-date=May 29, 2021}}

scope="row"|New Zealand

|November 27, 2000

|CD

|{{cite web|url=http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html|title=New Releases|website=netcd.co.nz|date=November 27, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001201202300/http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html|archive-date=December 1, 2000|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

Other covers

  • In 1988, crossover thrash band Beowülf covered the song on their album Lost My Head... But I'm Back on the Right Track.
  • Holly Cole, a Canadian jazz singer, covered "Cruisin'" on her 1990 album Girl Talk.
  • In 2001, saxophonist Jaared covered this song on his album Foreword.{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/foreward-2001-album-by-jaared-1|title=Foreward: Album|work=Answers.com}} Three years later, the late bassist Wayman Tisdale included a cover of the song on his album Hangtime.{{cite web|url=http://www.smoothviews.com/interviews/tisdale0105.htm|title=An Interview with Wayman Tisdale|work=SmoothViews.com}}{{cite web|url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/15267-hang-time-wayman-tisdale|title=Jazz Albums: Hang Time Wayman Tisdale|work=JazzTimes.com}}
  • Filipino acoustic band MYMP released their version on the album The Unreleased Acoustic Collection and again on Back to Acoustic in 2013.
  • Japanese singer Maki Ohguro (大黒 摩季 Ōguro Maki) released her version on the 2007 compilation album Best of Best 1000.{{cite web|title=Amazon.com|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/BEST-OF-1000-%E5%A4%A7%E9%BB%92%E6%91%A9%E5%AD%A3/dp/B000XT63OU|website=Amazon}}
  • Coolio has also sampled this song on his album Gangsta's Paradise. Although the verse lyrics are changed in his song, the chorus is the same.

Popular culture

  • In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/news/25-best-slow-jams-all-time/|title=25 Best Slow Jams of All Time|website=Essence.com|date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}
  • Robinson's version appears in a 2021 TV commercial for Allstate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/|title=iSpot.tv | TV Ad Measurement and Attribution Platform|website=Ispot.tv|access-date=April 23, 2021}}
  • Robinson's version appears in a 2025 TV commercial for Häagen-Dazs with vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez that originally appeared during Super Bowl LIX.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/|title=iSpot.tv | TV Ad Measurement and Attribution Platform|website=Ispot.tv|access-date=February 3, 2025}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://genius.com/Smokey-robinson-cruisin-lyrics Lyrics of this song]
  • {{YouTube|HE_knYX_JXI|Smokey Robinson - Cruisin'}}

{{Smokey Robinson}}

{{D'Angelo}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1979 singles

Category:1995 singles

Category:2000 debut singles

Category:Smokey Robinson songs

Category:D'Angelo songs

Category:Gwyneth Paltrow songs

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Songs written by Smokey Robinson

Category:Songs written by Marv Tarplin

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Song recordings produced by Smokey Robinson

Category:1979 songs

Category:Motown singles

Category:Hollywood Records singles

Category:Tamla Records singles

Category:Cooltempo Records singles

Category:Rhythm and blues ballads

Category:Soul ballads

Category:1970s ballads