Cruisin' (Smokey Robinson song)
1979 single by Smokey Robinson
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"Cruisin'" is a song co-written, produced, and performed by the American singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released in August 1979 as a single from his eighth album, Where There's Smoke... (1979). 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.[3] It was a top-five hit on the Soul chart as well.[4]
| "Cruisin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
One of side-A labels of the US single | ||||
| Single by Smokey Robinson | ||||
| from the album Where There's Smoke... | ||||
| B-side | "Ever Had a Dream" | |||
| Released | August 20, 1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Tamla (Motown) | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Smokey Robinson | |||
| Smokey Robinson singles chronology | ||||
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Background
"Cruisin'" was co-written by fellow Miracle Marv Tarplin. It was an even bigger hit in New Zealand, hitting No. 1 on that country's chart. Reportedly, Robinson had a cold during recording. It was originally intended as a B-side for a remake of "Get Ready".
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[10] | Gold | 10,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
D'Angelo version
| "Cruisin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by D'Angelo | ||||
| from the album Brown Sugar | ||||
| Released | December 5, 1995 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Cooltempo | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Bob Power | |||
| D'Angelo singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Cruisin'" on YouTube | ||||
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.[11][12] the album reached sales of 500,000 copies in the United States by October 1995.[13][14] 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.[15] 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.[16] Flautist Lauryn Vivino contributes with piccolo. The track also features steady piano-playing by D'Angelo,[17] with Brooklyn Funk Essentials-member Bob "Bassy" Brockmann playing the trumpet.[18]
Track listing
- "Cruisin'"
- "Brown Sugar"
Weekly charts
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] | 27 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[20] | 76 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[21] | 31 |
| UK Dance (OCC)[22] | 15 |
| UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23] | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[24] | 53 |
| US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[25] | 25 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] | 10 |
| US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[27] | 20 |
Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis version
| "Cruisin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis | ||||
| from the album Duets: Original Soundtrack | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | September 11, 2000 | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Hollywood | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Larry Klein | |||
| Huey Lewis singles chronology | ||||
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| Gwyneth Paltrow singles chronology | ||||
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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
- "Cruisin'" (by Paltrow and Lewis) – 4:51
- "Feeling Alright" (by Lewis) – 4:02
- "Beginnings / Endings" (by David Newman) – 1:59
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2000–2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[30] | 1 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[31] | 4 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] | 1 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[33] | 9 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[35] | 35 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[39] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[40] | Platinum | 10,000* |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[41] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | September 11, 2000 | Adult contemporary radio | Hollywood | [42] |
| New Zealand | November 27, 2000 | CD | [43] |
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.[44] Three years later, the late bassist Wayman Tisdale included a cover of the song on his album Hangtime.[45][46]
- 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.[47]
- 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".[48]
- Robinson's version appears in a 2021 TV commercial for Allstate.[49]
- 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.[50]