Commodores
The Commodores are an American funk/soul band, which was at its peak in the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour.
The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was co-lead singer. The band's biggest hit singles are ballads such as "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", and "Nightshift"; and funky dance hits which include "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", "Lady (You Bring Me Up)", and "Too Hot ta Trot". However it was in 1986 that the Commodores won their first Grammy for the song "Nightshift".
Band history
The Commodores originally came together from two former groups, the Mystics and the Jays. There was even a Jazz aspect to one of the groups. They wanted to change the name. Together, a six-man band was created from which the notable individuals were Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, and William King from the Mystics; Andre Callahan, Michael Gilbert, and Milan Williams were from the Jays. To choose a new name, William "WAK" King opened a dictionary and randomly picked a word. "We lucked out", he remarked with a laugh when telling this story to People magazine. "We almost became 'The Commodes!
Commodores (album)
Commodores is the self-titled fifth studio album by the Commodores, released in 1977. The album spent eight weeks at the top of the R&B/soul albums chart, the second of their albums to do so, and was their first Top 5 pop album.
There is also a previously released extended version.
Reception
The band employed a variety of musical styles for the album, highlighted by the popular anthem "Brick House". With Walter Orange's squeaking/growling voice on the lead, and Ronald LaPread's roundtone bassline, this track peaked on the U.S. Hot 100 at #5, and the U.S. R&B Chart at #4. As their second single, "Brick House" helped to propel the Commodores into the spotlight as a leading R&B act.
In contrast to "Brick House", "Easy" is a pop-soul ballad with mellow vocals by Lionel Richie with a Southern country twist.
"Zoom" is one of the Commodores' best known tunes, despite not being released as a single in the US. It reached #38 on the UK singles chart.Fergie sampled "Zoom" in her song "All That I Got (The Make-Up Song)" on the album The Dutchess.
Commodores 13
Commodores 13 is the tenth studio album by the Commodores, released in 1983. It is their first album after Lionel Richie left the group, and their last album with guitarist Thomas McClary before his departure from the band (McClary recorded a solo album for Motown Records in 1984, and then retired from the music industry). The song "Turn Off the Lights" was written as a sequel to 1981's "Lady (You Bring Me Up)".
Track listing
Chart positions
Personnel
Podcasts:
Commodores
ALBUMS
- Dinner Party - Smooth Sounds released: 2007
- Let's Rock released: 2007
- ...But I Can Write Songs Okay released: 1996
- Die Grössten Hits Aus 25 Ronny's Pop Show released: 1995
...But I Can Write Songs Okay
Released 1996- Pull Down the Shades (live)
- You're So Foolish
- Something New
- Joe 90
- Success Story (live)
- 1979
- Dunedin Sound on 45
- Anyone Else Would
- Starless Road
- Hey Man
- Ralta (live)
- Wheatfields
- What You Should Be Now
- Fate of the Human Carbine
- Fire
- Randolph's Going Home
- Great White Snakes
- Husband House
- My Command
- For Today
- She Speeds
- Such a Daze (live)
Die Grössten Hits Aus 25 Ronny's Pop Show
Released 1995- The Best
- The Power of Love
- This Is Not America
- Here Comes the Rain Again
- Maneater
- Manic Monday
- Cruel Summer
- Club Tropicana
- Stand by Me
- Who Can It Be Now
- Wouldn’t It Be Good
- An Angel
- Kyrie
- Karma Chameleon
- Twist in My Sobriety
- Fading Like a Flower
- You’re the Voice
- The Final Countdown
- Weil ich dich liebe
Commodores
ALBUMS
- Natural High released: 2012
- Gold released: 2008
- Soul Legends released: 2006
- Gold released: 2006
- Gold released: 2005
- The Collection released: 2004
- The Collection released: 2002
- Anthology released: 2001
- Early Gold and New Spins released: 2000
- Classic released: 2000
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Commodores released: 1999
- The Real Thing released: 1998
- Machine Gun released: 1998
- Commodores released: 1998
- The Ultimate Collection released: 1997
- The Very Best of the Commodores released: 1995
- Anthology: The Best of the Commodores released: 1995
- Rise Up released: 1994
- XX No Tricks released: 1993
- Motown Legends - The Commodores released: 1993
- Hits, Volume II released: 1992
- Hits, Volume I released: 1992
- Rock Solid released: 1988
- Heroes / Commodores released: 1986
- Natural High / Midnight Magic released: 1986
- United released: 1986
- Nightshift released: 1985
- All the Great Love Songs released: 1984
- 14 Greatest Hits released: 1984
- 14 Greatest Hits released: 1983
- Commodores 13 released: 1983
- All the Greatest Hits released: 1982
- In the Pocket released: 1981
- Heroes released: 1980
- Midnight Magic released: 1979
- Greatest Hits released: 1978
- Live! released: 1977
- Hot on the Tracks released: 1976
- Movin' On released: 1975
- Caught in the Act released: 1975
- All the Great Commodores Songs released:
- Diamond Star Collection released:
- The Very Best Of released:
- Greatest Hits released:
- Gold released:
- Motown Legends: The Commodores released:
- Keep on Dancing released:
Soul Legends
Released 2006- Machine Gun
- I Feel Sanctified
- Zoo (The Human Zoo)
- Slippery When Wet
- Too Hot Ta Trot (Single Version)
- Brick House
- Don’T You Be Worried
- Funky Situation
- Flying High (Single Version)
- Easy
- Wide Open
- Let’S Get Started
- Gonna Blow Your Mind
- Sweet Love (Single Version)
- Nightshift
- Endless Love
- Truly
- All Night Long
- Running With The Night
- Stuck On You
Gold
Released 2005- Let's Get Started
- Machine Gun
- The Zoo (The Human Zoo)
- Are You Happy
- Don't You Be Worried
- Slippery When Wet
- I Feel Sanctified
- Young Girls Are My Weakness
- The Bump
- This Is Your Life
- Sweet Love
- Just to Be Close to You
- Easy
- High on Sunshine
- Fancy Dancer
- Cebu
- Zoom
- Brick House
- Too Hot ta Trot
- Three Times a Lady
- I Like What You Do
Anthology: The Best of the Commodores
Released 1995- Let's Get Started
- Machine Gun
- The Zoo
- Are You Happy
- Don't You Be Worried
- Slippery When Wet
- I Feel Sanctified
- Young Girls are My Weakness
- The Bump
- This Is Your Life
- Sweet Love
- Just to be Close to You
- Easy
- High on Sunshine
- Fancy Dancer
- Cebu
- Zoom
- Brick House
- Too Hot Ta Trot (Live)
- Three Times a Lady
- I Like What You Do
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Sail On
by: CommodoresSail on down the line, 'bout a
Half a mile or so, and I
Don't really wanna know, a
Where you're going
Maybe once or twice, you see
But time after time, I tried
To hold onto what we got, but
Now you're going
And I don't mind
'Bout the things you're gonna say Lord
I gave all my money and my time
I know it's a shame
But I'm givin' you back your name, yeah, yeah
Yes, I'll be on my way
I won't be back to stay
I guess I'll move along
I'm looking for a good time
Sail on down the line, ain't it
Funny how the time can go, all my
Friends say the told me so, but it
Doesn't matter
It was plain to see, that a
Small town boy like me, just a
Wasn't your cup of tea, I was
Wishful thinkin'
I gave you my heart
And I tried to make you happy
But you gave me nothin' in return
You know it ain't so hard to say
Would you please just go away, yeah, yeah
I've thrown away the blues
I'm tired of bein' used
I wanna everyone to know
I'm looking for a good time
Good time
Woah, sail on, honey
Good times never felt so good
Sail on, honey
Good times never felt so good
Sail on, sugar
Good times never felt so good
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