"Cruisin'" is a 1979 single written, produced, and recorded by Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. One of Robinson's most successful singles outside of his work with The Miracles, "Cruisin'" hit number one on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 and was also a major Billboard Pop hit, peaking at number four the week of February 2, 1980. It was a Top Five hit on the Soul chart as well. 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". In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".
musician D'Angelo recorded a cover of the song for his 1995 album Brown Sugar. 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. the album reached sales of 500,000 copies in the United States by October 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. 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. Flutist Lauryn Vivino contributes with piccolo. The track also features steady piano-playing by D'Angelo, with Brooklyn Funk Essentials-member Bob "Bassy" Brockmann playing the trumpet.
and Huey Lewis performed a cover of the song in the 2000 filmDuets. The song is included on the soundtrack of the film. 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.
In 2001, saxophonist Jaared covered this song on his album Foreword. Three years later, the late bassist Wayman Tisdale included a cover of the song on his album Hangtime.
In 2011, former Jackson 5 member Tito Jackson recorded a cover of the song, and Filipino acoustic band MYMP released their version on the album The Unreleased Acoustic Collection and again on Back to Acoustic in 2013.
