The first record i’m going to share with you here is one that I found about a year and a half ago for $1.50, and I’ve really grown to love it.

Released as a single from 1984’s Essar album, the And I Don’t Love You single benefits greatly from the “Instrumental (Dub)” remix on the B-side, laid down by the incomparable Larry Levan.  Dubbed out and spacey, this is a gem from an otherwise undistinguished period in Smokey’s career.  Essar was Smokey’s only album not to produce a top 10 R&B hit, and his lowest charting album to date, failing to reach the Top 100.

A nasty synth bassline, reverberated funk guitar, driving beat and sparse echoing vocals really make this one of the great “forgotten” Levan remixes.  Let me know what you think!

smokey robinson – and I don’t love you (instrumental dub mix by larry levan)