Although it falls short of the magic of the Miracles, [Pure Smoke] is an interesting album…. [Robinson] now deals with subjects that include a mother in her 30s whose turn it is to live, a divorced parent clinging to his visiting rights, and the father of a knocked-up teenager. Such songs plus two sweet ballads should boost Smokey's somewhat disappointing solo career. Unfortunately, a few tracks are trivial … and the album lacks a striking single.

Ken Emerson, "Records: 'Pure Smoke'," in Rolling Stone (by Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. © 1974; all rights reserved; reprinted by permission), Issue 161, May 23, 1974, p. 79.