"Cruisin'" is a song co-written, produced, and performed by the American singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released on August 20, 1979, as the lead single from his seventh studio 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. It was a top-five hit on the Soul chart as well.
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 Chart (1979–1980)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)70Canada Top Singles (RPM)66New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)1US Billboard Hot 1004US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard) 4US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)34US Cash Box Top 1001
Year-end charts Chart (1980)RankNew Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)3US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)13US Cash Box Top 10023
Certifications
D'Angelo version
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.[ Billboard Singles: Brown Sugar]. AllMusic. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. the album reached sales of 500,000 copies in the United States by October 1995.Ayers, Anne. "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.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,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.Discogs: Bob "Bassy" Brockmann Discography. Discogs. Retrieved on February 1, 2009.
Track listing "Cruisin'" "Brown Sugar"
Weekly charts Chart (1995)Peak position
Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis version
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 "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)PeakpositionIceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)4
Year-end charts Chart (2000)PositionUS Adult Contemporary (Billboard)35 Chart (2001)PositionAustralia (ARIA)27New Zealand (RIANZ)12US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)10
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesSeptember 11, 2000Adult contemporary radioHollywoodNew ZealandNovember 27, 2000CD
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. Three years later, the late bassist Wayman Tisdale included a cover of the song on his album Hangtime. 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. 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". Robinson's version appears in a 2021 TV commercial for Allstate. 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.
See also List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2000 List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1980
References
External links Lyrics of this song