What is the smoothest song of all time?

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Inspired by watching too many 'Yacht Rock' episodes in a row. What is the smoothest song of all time? I'm thinking '70s and 80s soft rock, disco, R&B, some early '90s hip-hop...

― geeta (geeta), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:06 (twenty years ago)

Smooth Operator was the first thing to come to mind.

I just can't decide whether I though of it because of the name, or because of its actually smoothness.

― Tokyo Ghost Stories (Tokyo Ghost Stories), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:25 (twenty years ago)

Ha! I had both the same reaction and the same reaction-to-reaction!

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:26 (twenty years ago)

I have to go with "For The Love of You" by the Isley Brothers. Smooth, smooth, smooth.

― Jeff Reguil0n (Talent Explosion), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:39 (twenty years ago)

"Electric Relaxtion" by A Tribe Called Quest

― stone (stone), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:44 (twenty years ago)

"Wood Beez" or "The Word Girl." Or actually anything off C&P1985.

Though the real answer is, of course, 4'33". Smooooooove.

― owen moorhead (i heart daniel miller), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:47 (twenty years ago)

I don't see how the answer could be anything but Delegation's "Oh Honey."

― Richj (Rich), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:47 (twenty years ago)

'let me put love on your mind' - con-funk-shun
'be thankful for what you've got' - william devaughn

― gear (gear), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:51 (twenty years ago)

Chuck Mangione - "Feels So Good" or Spyro Gyro - "Morning Dance"

has to be one of those two. if you deny you are just flat-out wrong.

Gear -- William DeVaughn????? are you out of youir mind???

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:55 (twenty years ago)

i think it's smooth!

― gear (gear), Monday, 17 April 2006 04:11 (twenty years ago)

It is Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze."

― ks, Monday, 17 April 2006 04:16 (twenty years ago)

nah ... William DeVaughan can't be thought of in the same breath as some of the names being thrown around here. ..... sure, Curtis Mayfield lite, but yet ... CURTIS MAYFIELD lite ... no freakin way is anything William DeVuaghan had anything to do with even remotely related to anything that could considered smoothest "of ALL TIME"; that guy rocked it

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 17 April 2006 04:22 (twenty years ago)

10CC: "I'm Not In Love"

― Mike McG, Monday, 17 April 2006 04:34 (twenty years ago)

Smooth Operator & I'm Not in Love glide to first place tie.

― Sparkle Motion's Rising Force, Monday, 17 April 2006 04:37 (twenty years ago)

Reminiscing - Litlle River Bnad

― timmy tannin (pompous), Monday, 17 April 2006 04:44 (twenty years ago)

Little River Band

― timmy tannin (pompous), Monday, 17 April 2006 04:44 (twenty years ago)

"Aja"?

― ramon fernandez (ramon fernandez), Monday, 17 April 2006 04:50 (twenty years ago)

Faze-O - Ridin High

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Monday, 17 April 2006 05:06 (twenty years ago)

'avalon' is pretty smooth!

― lil' merzbow wow (haitch), Monday, 17 April 2006 05:21 (twenty years ago)

As far as smooth, I'd go for "I Need You" and "Slow Hand" by the Pointer Sisters, "My Love's Leaving" by Steve Winwood, "Snowfall on the Sahara" by Natalie Cole, and "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt

― Daniel Anglada, Monday, 17 April 2006 05:58 (twenty years ago)

"'Til Tomorrow" from "Midnight Love" is "smooth." Not particularly great, but smooth, right down to the horribly dated early-80's keyboards. Or you could just listen to "Let's Get it On" and hear a better song.

― vartman (novaheat), Monday, 17 April 2006 06:15 (twenty years ago)

Peaches & Herb, "Reunited". (Nothing smoother than a peach!)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 17 April 2006 08:13 (twenty years ago)

i guess it'd be a bossanova song. but which one to pick? most of them are smoother than smooth.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 17 April 2006 08:42 (twenty years ago)

"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel. That sax...those keyboards....AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

― M. Biondi (M. Biondi), Monday, 17 April 2006 11:01 (twenty years ago)

"Lost in Love" - Air Supply (until the key change)

+The Girl from Ipanema, if that counts...

"Smooth Operator" is also the first thing I thought of and also I wasn't sure if it was the name or the smoothness (tenor sax.)

― dave vire think (dave225.3), Monday, 17 April 2006 11:03 (twenty years ago)

will downing - A LOVE SUPREME

― piscesboy (piscesboy), Monday, 17 April 2006 11:05 (twenty years ago)

"Smooth Operator" is damn smooth, no matter the subject matter.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 17 April 2006 11:12 (twenty years ago)

miles davis' in a silent way owns this thread.

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Monday, 17 April 2006 11:41 (twenty years ago)

Bobby Caldwell, What You Won't Do For Love!

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 17 April 2006 11:57 (twenty years ago)

Roy Ayres Music Project-Wanna See Daylight

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 17 April 2006 12:10 (twenty years ago)

Quiet Storm--Smokey Robinson

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 17 April 2006 12:34 (twenty years ago)

Also: A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)--Ray Parker Jr.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 17 April 2006 12:35 (twenty years ago)

FM. No static at all.

― Justin Shumaker (shueytexas), Monday, 17 April 2006 13:40 (twenty years ago)

Second the Mangione, though I think Herb Alpert's "Rise" might do as well.

― drench, Monday, 17 April 2006 13:41 (twenty years ago)

I don't tknow that Herb Alpert song - not by title anyway - but I'm imagining Herb Alpert playing a faster version of Rise by PiL.

― dave vire think (dave225.3), Monday, 17 April 2006 13:50 (twenty years ago)

I'd guess you'd know the Herb Alpert song if you heard it, just because it's fairly ubiquitous.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Phil Collins - Easy Lover

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:10 (twenty years ago)

xp - my dad had all his records and I used to listen to them all the time when I was 8 - But I only remember a few titles.

― dave vire think (dave225.3), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:17 (twenty years ago)

Bobby Caldwell seconded.

― Confounded (Confounded), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:19 (twenty years ago)

commodores - easy

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:32 (twenty years ago)

Kenny G - Songbird

― joygoat (joygoat), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:33 (twenty years ago)

― Confounded (Confounded), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:40 (twenty years ago)

y'all fronting on Boz Skaggs - "Lowdown" that's yacht rock for the streets.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:42 (twenty years ago)

Sailing by Christopher Cross.

― Herr Fahrstuhl (Herr Fahrstuhl), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:51 (twenty years ago)

Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin

George Benson - Breezin'

― Ash (ashbyman), Monday, 17 April 2006 14:54 (twenty years ago)

I'll agree on "For the Love of You," the Isley Brothers track. Also, "All This Love" and "I Like It" by DeBarge. Almost anything off Anita Baker's (jazz influenced) first album. And how could I (almost) forget all that rosy colored Luther Vandross stuff? It's a quiet storm, indeed.

― Kali (Kali), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:01 (twenty years ago)

was just listening to Candido's "Thousand Fingered Man" in the car yesterday and thought to myself, this must be the smoothest track ever recorded

― rentboy (rentboy), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:08 (twenty years ago)

Teddy P - "Love TKO"

― matt2 (matt2), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:40 (twenty years ago)

Roxy Music, "More Than This"

― mike a, Monday, 17 April 2006 15:57 (twenty years ago)

Ash is correct: Breezin' is the smoothest song ever.

― DrFunktronic (DrFunktronic), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:55 (twenty years ago)

Anything written and sung by this man after 1980:

http://www.manzanera.com/RoxyArchive/RoxyMusicTour2001/images/Tour2001/36bf.jpg

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 17 April 2006 21:49 (twenty years ago)

The right answer is, of course, "Rock Your Fucking Baby"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 17 April 2006 21:52 (twenty years ago)

Ash is correct: Breezin' is the smoothest song ever.

Just downloaded this to hear for myself its smoothosity. Lo and behold, it's that wonderfully smooth instrumental I've been looking for online, but never knew the title.

So Breezin' is the smoothest instrumental. But Ray Parker Jr's A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) is the smoothest track with vocals.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 17 April 2006 22:37 (twenty years ago)

Maybe, but I'm votin' for Harvest Moon.

― jim wentworth (wench), Monday, 17 April 2006 22:46 (twenty years ago)

I second "Songbird". Or anything else by Kenny G.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 17 April 2006 23:42 (twenty years ago)

MFSB-"Love is the Message"

― Chantilly Bass (ChantillyBass), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 03:36 (twenty years ago)

"miles davis' in a silent way owns this thread"

Now, see, to me, In a Silent Way, particularly the first track (Sshh/Peaceful) is anything but. It's edgy, tense, repetitive & nerve jangling. Narcotic induced paranoia. Exciting, but not relaxing.

is this just me?

― bham (bham), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 07:56 (twenty years ago)

" don't see how the answer could be anything but Delegation's "Oh Honey."

yep it's the smoothest, with "for the love of you" by the Isley Brothers not far behind. I'm making a box set of sorts for a friend of mine of quiet strom music, right now it's at 4 cds. I'm looking for photos to put on the covers, if anyone has any suggestions?

― Jacobs (LolVStein), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 10:55 (twenty years ago)

"rosalinda's eyes" billy joel
and, if we're dealing with contemporary stuff, i'd say that omar kills in this category. "in the morning", "essensual", "there's nothing like this"--seriously.
i'd also throw in dwele, peven everett, and d'angelo as runners-up.

― cybele (cybele), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 11:23 (twenty years ago)

Martine Girault 'Revival'
Jodeci 'Feenin'
Marvin Gaye 'T Plays It Cool'

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 11:40 (twenty years ago)

omar 'there's nothing like this'

― emsk ( emsk), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 12:34 (twenty years ago)

I was driving to see a movie last night and heard a good contender: Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You"

― Jeff Sumner (Jeff Sumner), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 20:06 (twenty years ago)

"Loving You" is so up there. Can't believe I missed that. I also deserve a hair shirt for forgetting Groovin' by the Young Rascals.

― Kali (Kali), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Boris Gardener - I Want To Wake Up With You

― Ben Dot (1977), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 21:10 (twenty years ago)

Beast of Burden

― douglas eklund (skolle), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 01:15 (twenty years ago)

When I think of smooth, I always think of Lou Rawls singing You'll Never Find a Love Like Mine.

― camandas (camandas), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 02:56 (twenty years ago)

"Drowndeep:Hula" by Maxwell

― j. brotherlove, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

Champaign How 'bout us?

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 19:28 (twenty years ago)

bob jones' smooth jazz take on pachbel's canon in d is pretty silky and totally a bad idea.

― odtron5000 (odtron5000), Thursday, 20 April 2006 00:41 (twenty years ago)

er, bob james.

― odtron5000 (odtron5000), Thursday, 20 April 2006 00:42 (twenty years ago)

low rawls has one of the smoothest voices ever.

but i'd say frank sinatra or nat king cole take the cake. maybe sade too.

― Emily B (Emily B), Thursday, 20 April 2006 01:08 (twenty years ago)

that one toni braxton song where people are making her high

― Kim (Kim), Thursday, 20 April 2006 01:36 (twenty years ago)

The Sound Of Philadelphia - MFSB

― Petey, Thursday, 20 April 2006 02:08 (twenty years ago)

chet baker's my funny valentine?

― cigar_no, Thursday, 20 April 2006 21:18 (twenty years ago)

"Juicy Fruit", Mtume
"Midnight At The Oasis", Maria Muldaur
"Float On", The Floaters
"What About This Love", Mr. Fingers
"Atlantis (I Need You)", LTJ Bukem

― hank (hank s), Thursday, 20 April 2006 23:38 (twenty years ago)

Al Green- Let's Stay Together.

― Øystein (Øystein), Thursday, 20 April 2006 23:54 (twenty years ago)

Hey, I was gonna say Let's Stay Together too. Good call. I was thinking that because it starts out so smooth but it does have horns later so maybe it's not the smoothest.

― Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Sunday, 23 April 2006 09:43 (twenty years ago)

"Caravan of Love", Isley Jasper Isley
"Elements", Psyche
"Sueno Latino", Sueno Latino
"Happy", Surface
"Mr. Telephone Man", New Edition
"Can't Change That", Raydio (Ray Parker, Jr.)
"Don't Disturb This Groove", The System
"Other Side of the World", Luther Vandross
"Light my Fire", Jose Feliciano
"Bellona', Junior Boys

― hank (hank s), Sunday, 23 April 2006 12:58 (twenty years ago)

I dunno about smoothest of all time (his voice certainly isn't smooth), but of all Robbie Robertson's post Band material I really like "Unbound".

― shorty (shorty), Sunday, 23 April 2006 13:25 (twenty years ago)

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