Honestly, if you told most people that an 85-year-old would drop one of the most relevant albums of the year in 2025, they’d probably assume you were talking about a "greatest hits" cash grab. But Smokey Robinson isn't most people. He’s the guy Bob Dylan called "America’s greatest living poet," and he’s still proving it. His latest project, Smokey Robinson What the World Needs Now, isn't just a collection of songs. It’s a vibe check for a planet that feels like it’s spinning a little too fast.
Released on April 25, 2025, through Gaither Music Group, this album is a bit of a pivot. After 2023’s Gasms—which, yeah, was a much more "adult" and cheeky record—Smokey decided to go in a completely different direction. He went for hope. He went for covers. And somehow, he made a song written in 1965 feel like it was written yesterday for our specific brand of chaos.
Why Smokey Robinson What the World Needs Now Is More Than a Cover
The title track, "What the World Needs Now Is Love," is a heavy hitter. We all know the Jackie DeShannon version. We’ve heard the Burt Bacharach and Hal David melody a thousand times in elevators or movie trailers. But Smokey does something weirdly intimate with it. He doesn't belt it out. He sort of whispers it with that signature silky tenor that has barely aged in sixty years.
Produced by Warryn Campbell—the guy who has worked with everyone from Kanye West to Mary Mary—the album has this lush, expensive feel. It’s not just "old man music." It’s got a groove. When Smokey sings "Lord, we don't need another mountain," he’s not just reciting lyrics. He sounds like he’s actually asking.
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The project happened because Smokey felt the world was getting a little too mean. He’s been vocal about how social media and the "us versus them" mentality is wearing people down. So, he gathered these tracks to serve as a kind of sonic Band-Aid. It's a 10-song journey that touches on gospel, R&B, and even a bit of reggae.
The Tracklist: A Roadmap of Hope
You’ve got the heavy hitters on here, but the way they are arranged makes them feel like a singular story. Here is what you're actually getting when you press play:
- Be Thankful For What You've Got: A swanky, funky opener that tips its hat to the William DeVaughn original.
- What A Wonderful World: A Louis Armstrong classic that Smokey turns into a soulful lullaby.
- Three Little Birds: Yes, he does Bob Marley. And it works.
- Everything Is Beautiful: A Ray Stevens cover that feels very "Sunday morning."
- What The World Needs Now: The heart of the record.
- Lean On Me: Bill Withers would have been proud of the Wurlitzer swagger on this one.
- I’ll Take You There: A fuller, more sonically dense version of the Staple Singers' hit.
- You’ve Got A Friend: A five-minute-plus epic that really lets Smokey’s voice stretch.
- Be Kind To The Growing Mind: A collaboration with The Temptations (his old friends!).
- Food For Thought: One of the few originals on the record that ties the whole message together.
The Secret Sauce: Warryn Campbell’s Production
A lot of people were surprised to see Warryn Campbell’s name on a Smokey Robinson record. Campbell is known for "New Jack City" vibes and modern gospel. But that’s exactly why the album doesn't sound like a dusty museum piece.
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The strings are stately. The bass is thick. It’s got that "Quiet Storm" DNA that Smokey literally invented back in 1975, but it sounds crisp. It’s the kind of production that makes you want to buy a better pair of headphones just to hear the layering on the backup vocals.
Smokey actually mentioned in a SiriusXM special that he didn't produce this one himself, which is rare for him. He just wanted to be the singer. He wanted to focus on the "honeyed vocals" as people like to call them. By stepping back from the control board, he actually gave us one of his most "present" vocal performances in decades.
Is This Just Nostalgia?
Some critics might say that an album of covers is a safe bet. Sure, it is. But there’s a nuance here that’s easy to miss. Smokey is 85. Most people his age are retired, and most artists with his legacy are content to just play the hits at the Hollywood Bowl.
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Instead, he’s out here promoting "Be Thankful" as a single in 2026. He’s touring with his Legacy of Love Tour. He’s staying vital. The album is essentially a bridge between the Motown era and the present day. When he sings with The Temptations on "Be Kind To The Growing Mind," it’s a full-circle moment for R&B royalty.
The limitations are obvious—he isn't reinventing the wheel. If you’re looking for experimental electronic soul, this isn't it. But if you’re looking for a masterclass in phrasing and emotional delivery, Smokey is still the gold standard. He doesn't oversing. He knows exactly where the beat is.
Moving Forward With Smokey’s Message
If you want to actually get the most out of Smokey Robinson What the World Needs Now, don't just shuffle it. Listen to it as a full project. It was designed to be a "feel-good record" during a "feel-bad time."
Start by checking out the "Be Thankful For What You've Got" video or the mini-documentary Gaither Music released about the making of the album. It shows Smokey in the studio, and his energy is genuinely infectious. It’s hard to stay cynical when you see a guy who has been in the business for 60 years still having that much fun with a microphone.
Actionable Steps for the Soul Fan:
- Stream the "Track-by-Track" Special: If you have SiriusXM, find the Smokey's Soul Town archives from April 2025. He explains the "why" behind every single cover.
- Compare the Originals: Go back and listen to the 1974 William DeVaughn version of "Be Thankful" then hit Smokey’s version. The modernization of the bass line is a masterclass in subtle production.
- Catch the Legacy of Love Tour: He’s still hitting major cities in 2026. Seeing "The Tracks of My Tears" live is a bucket list item, but hearing him do the new covers is surprisingly the highlight of the current setlist.
- Look for the Vinyl: The Gaither Music pressing is notoriously high-quality. If you’re an audiophile, the analog warmth of Smokey’s voice on "What a Wonderful World" is worth the price of the physical disc.
Smokey Robinson isn't trying to compete with the charts. He’s trying to provide a service. In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, a little bit of "sweet love" delivered by a legend might be exactly what the doctor ordered. He’s not just a legacy act; he’s a living reminder that some things—like a good melody and a message of kindness—actually are timeless.