Lionel Richie is the debut solo studio album by American singer Lionel Richie, released on October 6, 1982, on Motown Records. Originally intended as a side project at the suggestion of Motown, it was recorded and released while Richie was still a member of the Commodores; he left the group shortly after the album's release. The first single from the album, "Truly", topped the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up single "You Are" reached number four, and "My Love" reached number five. The album reached number one on the Cashbox albums chart on December 11, 1982.[5]

Lionel Richie
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 6, 1982
Recorded1981–1982
StudioA&M (Hollywood)
GenrePop soul[1]
Length38:27
LabelMotown
ProducerJames Anthony Carmichael, Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie chronology
Lionel Richie
(1982)
Can't Slow Down
(1983)
Singles from Lionel Richie
  1. "Truly"
    Released: September 1982
  2. "You Are"
    Released: January 1983
  3. "My Love"
    Released: April 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauC+[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

In 2003, Lionel Richie was re-released as part of a remaster series that saw two additional tracks added: a solo version of "Endless Love" and an instrumental version of "You Are". Eagles member Joe Walsh provided the guitar solo for the song "Wandering Stranger".

Track listing

edit

All tracks written by Lionel Richie, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Serves You Right"
5:14
2."Wandering Stranger" 5:38
3."Tell Me"
  • Richie
  • David Cochrane
5:32
4."My Love" 4:08
5."Round and Round"
  • David Cochrane
  • Richie
4:57
6."Truly" 3:26
7."You Are"
  • Brenda Harvey-Richie
  • Richie
5:05
8."You Mean More to Me" 3:08
9."Just Put Some Love in Your Heart" 1:27
2003 remaster bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Endless Love" (solo demo) 3:58
11."You Are" (instrumental)
  • Harvey-Richie
  • Richie
5:06

Personnel

edit

Musicians

Horns, strings and woodwinds

  • Louise Di Tullo – flute (3, 6, 9)
  • Art Maebe – French horn (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Richard Perissi – French horn (3, 6, 9)
  • Henry Sigismonti – French horn (3, 6, 9)
  • Jim Atkinson – French horn (4, 8)
  • David Duke – French horn (4, 8)
  • Brian O'Connor – French horn (4, 8)
  • William Green – saxophone (5, 7)
  • Ernie Watts – saxophone (5, 7)
  • Lew McCreary – trombone (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Gary Grant – trumpet (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Walter Johnson – trumpet (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Warren Luening – trumpet (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Bob Findley – trumpet (5, 7)
  • Don Ashworth – woodwinds (4, 8)
  • Gene Cipriano – woodwinds (4, 8)
  • Gary Herbig – woodwinds (4, 8), saxophone (5, 7)
  • Larry Williams – woodwinds (4, 8)
  • Jesse Ehrlich – cello (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Armand Kaproff – cello (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Paula Hochhalter – cello (2, 6, 9)
  • Dennis Karmazyn – cello (2, 6, 9)
  • Arni Egilsson – double bass (2, 6, 9)
  • Buell Neidlinger – double bass (2, 6, 9)
  • Ray Brown – double bass (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Morty Corb – double bass (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Gayle Levant – harp (2, 4–9)
  • Alan DeVeritch – viola (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Allan Harshman – viola (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Virginia Majewski – viola (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Gareth Nuttycombe – viola (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Bonnie Douglas – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Assa Drori – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Endre Granat – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Joy Lyle – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Donald Palmer – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Henry Roth – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Sheldon Sanov – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Jack Shulman – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Paul Shure – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Mari Tsumura-Botnick – violin (2, 3, 6, 9), strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Charles Veal, Jr. – violin (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Rollice Dale – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Henry Ferber – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Ronald Folsom – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • William Henderson – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • William Kurasch – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Erno Neufeld – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Nathan Ross – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Myron Sandler – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • David Schwartz – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Fred Seykora – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • David Speltz – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Tibor Zelig – strings (4, 5, 7, 8)

Production

edit
  • Producers – James Anthony Carmichael and Lionel Richie
  • Production Assistant – Brenda Harvey-Richie
  • Recorded and Mixed by Calvin Harris
  • Second Recording Engineer – Jim Cassell
  • Second Mix Engineers – Michael Johnson, Fred Law and Stephan Smith.
  • Additional Mixing – Jane Clark
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Creative Assistant – Rita Leigh
  • Art Direction – Johnny Lee
  • Photography – David Alexander

Charts

edit

Certifications and sales

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] 4× Platinum 400,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[18] Gold 10,000*
South Africa 100,000[19]
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ AllMusic review
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: lionel richie". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ "Lionel Richie: Lionel Richie : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-11-30.
  5. ^ "楽天が運営するポータルサイト : 【インフォシーク】Infoseek". Msdb.hp.infoseek.co.jp. 2000-01-01. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 252. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lionel Richie – Lionel Richie" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  8. ^ "Charts.nz – Lionel Richie – Lionel Richie". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  9. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Lionel Richie – Lionel Richie". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  10. ^ "Lionel Richie | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  11. ^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  12. ^ "Black LPs". Billboard - November 27, 1982. 27 November 1982. p. 56. Retrieved August 29, 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  13. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1983". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  14. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1983 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1983". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1983". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Lionel Richie – Lionel Richie". Music Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  18. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1984". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  19. ^ "Richie LP Hits Big In South Africa". Billboard. September 13, 1986. Retrieved June 1, 2020 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Lionel Richie – Lionel Richie". British Phonographic Industry.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – Lionel Richie – Lionel Richie". Recording Industry Association of America.