Smokey Robinson Shares Elton John Duet, 'Tracks Of My Tears' [LISTEN]

Motown legend Smokey Robinson has shared the opening track from his upcoming duets album Smokey & Friends, a reinterpretation of the classic Miracles song “The Tracks of My Tears” featuring Elton John. You can check it out right now over at Rolling Stone.

Smokey & Friends features 11 of Smokey Robinson’s classic songs and reinterprets them as duets, featuring appearances by John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Steven Tyler, Cee-Lo Green, James Taylor, and Miguel. The album will be released through Verve Records on August 19, and can be pre-ordered right now through iTunes.

Elton John personally selected “The Tracks of My Tears” to sing with Robinson, saying in an interview, “I’ve always loved the song. Probably one of the best lyrics of all time…maybe the best pop song ever written.”

Check out Elton John’s entire interview right here:

Elton John Talks Smokey Robinson Duet "Tracks of My Tears" from Verve Music Group on Vimeo.

No less a songwriter than Bob Dylan reportedly once called Smokey Robinson "America's greatest living poet." Do you agree with Elton John that "Tracks of My Tears” has some of the best lyrics of all time? Read them for yourself and let us know down in the comments section:

People say I'm the life of the party
'Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue

So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you

Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute, she's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one

So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
Yeah, look a little bit closer and it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you

Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown ooh yeah since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you

Baby take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
Yeah just look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears baby, baby baby baby

Take a good look at my face
Yeah you'll see my smile looks out of place
Look little bit closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears

Tags

Smokey Robinson, Elton John, Bob Dylan