The Commodores & Lionel Richie

Welcome all of you time travelers to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I’m Jumpin’ John, and this episode will highlight the career of the American funk and soul group who called themselves the Commodores!  I will focus on the group's most successful period, the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer.  I will also briefly highlight some of the accomplishments of Lionel Richie’s impressive career as a solo singer, songwriter, and producer.

All podcasts on the Rock and Roll Flashback Podcast are produced by brothers-in-law Bill Price and "Jumpin' John" McDermott.  The Podcast Theme Song, "You Essay", was written by John.  It was initially recorded by Bill and John on April 1, 2004 with several revisions since then. 
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Bill and John welcome your feedback and comments, and they can be emailed to rockandrollflashback@outlook.com.
Thank you for listening to Rock and Roll Flashback Podcasts!
Until next time...
Rock On!

Transcript

Thank you for that introduction, and welcome all of you time travelers to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I’m Jumpin’ John, and this episode will highlight the career of the American funk and soul group who called themselves the Commodores!  I will focus on the group's most successful period, the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer.  I will also briefly highlight some of the accomplishments of Lionel Richie’s impressive career as a solo singer, songwriter, and producer.

Let's travel back in time to 1968 at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.  The Commodores were initially formed that year from the merger of two former student groups: the Mystics and the Jays.  After winning the college's annual freshman talent contest, they played at fraternity parties and had a weekend gig at the Black Forest Inn, a Tuskegee club that catered to college students.  The original lineup consisted of William King on trumpet, Thomas McClary on guitar, Ronald LaPread on bass, Walter “Clyde” Orange on drums, Lionel Richie on saxophone, and Milan Williams on keyboards.  To come up with a group name, Clyde Orange gave William King a dictionary and told him to pick a name.  The word King chose was “commodore.”

The Commodores opened for the Jackson 5 on a tour in 1971.  As a result of that tour, they signed with Motown Records in November 1972.  The early band was managed by Benny Ashburn.  Ashburn took them to his family's vacation lodge on Martha's Vineyard in 1971 and 1972.  There, Ashburn test-marketed the group by having them play in parking lots and summer festivals.

[excerpt from Commodores version of "Machine Gun"]

The group made its Motown debut recording the up-tempo instrumental dance cut “Machine Gun” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.  The song was the title track from the band's debut album, which reached #22 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart and would later be certified Gold.  The song “Machine Gun” became a staple at American sporting events, and is also heard in many films, including Boogie Nights and Looking for Mr. Goodbar.  “Machine Gun” was released as a single on April 23rd, 1974.  It peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, #22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #20 on the UK Singles chart.  The band followed it up with 1974’s “I Feel Sanctified” single, which reached #12 on Billboard’s Soul Singles chart.  

February 1975 saw the release of the LP Caught In The Act.  It rose to #7 on the Billboard R&B/Soul Albums chart and #26 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums listing during the summer of 1975.  On April 2nd, 1975, Motown released the album’s second cut, the single “Slippery When Wet.”  “Slippery When Wet” was written by guitarist McClary and sung by Richie.  It was the Commodores first single to reach #1 on the soul singles chart in the US.  It was also their second top 40 pop single, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Movin' On was the third studio album by the Commodores, released in October 1975.  The album reached #29 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and #7 on the R&B albums chart.  The only single released from the album, "Sweet Love", reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1976, making it the group's first top ten hit on that chart. 

In June 1976 Motown released the LP Hot on the Tracks. The album was the band's first #1 album on the R&B albums chart.   It included the single "Just to Be Close to You".  “Just to Be Close to You”, written and sung by Lionel Richie, spent two weeks at the top of the Hot Soul Singles chart and became the Commodores second Billboard Hot 100 top ten, peaking at #7.  Another single release from the album, “Fancy Dancer” peaked at #9 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and #39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The band’s next album, simply called Commodores, spent eight weeks at the top of the R&B/soul albums chart, the second of their albums to top that chart.  The LP was their first Top 5 pop album, reaching #3 in the Billboard 200 Albums chart.  Two singles from the album were very successful.  Released on March 18th, 1977, "Easy" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The next release, on August 26th, 1977, was "Brick House”.  "Brick House” reached #4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The funky dance smash “Brick House,” quickly became the group’s anthem.  While Lionel Richie often wrote and sang lead on their songs, Walter “Clyde” Orange performed the lead vocals on “Brick House”, giving the song its distinctive funky style.

Here is the Commodores version of “Brick House”:

On November 17th, 1977 Motown released the single "Too Hot ta Trot" from their 1977 live album called Commodores Live!.  It spent a week at #1 on the R&B singles chart and peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1978.  The Commodores made a brief appearance in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday.  They performed the song "Too Hot ta Trot" during the dance contest.  The songs "Brick House" and "Easy" were also played in the movie.

June 1978 saw the release of the single "Three Times a Lady", the closing song on Side 1 of their album Natural High.  Written by lead singer Lionel Richie, it was the Commodores' first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for two weeks.  "Three Times a Lady was the only Motown song to reach the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 that year.  It also reached #1 on the Billboard soul singles chart for two weeks, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks, #1 on the Canadian Singles chart for four weeks, and #1 on the UK Singles chart for five weeks.

Here is the Commodores version of “Three Times a Lady”:

“Three Times a Lady” launched the Commodores into a higher level of fame and notice.  The band was named the top R&B group of the year by Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Cashbox.  Billboard also named them the #3 pop group of 1978, making them one of the historically few non-white performers listed.  "Three Times a Lady" was nominated for two Grammy awards, for Song of the Year and for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus.  The song won a 1979 American Music Award and a People's Choice Award.

[excerpt from Commodores version of "Sail On"}

On July 27th, 1979 Motown released the Commodores’ seventh studio album, Midnight Magic.  Midnight Magic was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.  Two singles from the LP became hits.  "Sail On" reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  Then the single entitled “Still” performed even better, becoming their  second #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Still” also hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and the Cash Box 100 chart.

Here is an excerpt from the Commodores version of “Still”:

The last Commodores album to feature Lionel Richie was 1981’s In the Pocket.  The LP’s lead off song, "Lady (You Bring Me Up)", was released as a single in June 1981.  It peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.  The ballad "Oh No" was the closing number of side 1 of the Commodores 1981 album In the Pocket.  Written by Lionel Richie, the song was released as a single in September 1981, and “Oh No” became Lionel’s last hit with the Commodores before pursuing a solo career.  

Here is an excerpt from the Commodores version of  "Lady (You Bring Me Up)":

In 1982, the group decided to take a hiatus from touring and recording.  Richie left the group to pursue a successful solo career, and Skyler Jett replaced him as co-lead singer for two years.  Also in 1982, band manager Benny Ashburn died of a heart attack at the age of 54.  Founding member Thomas McClary left in 1984 to pursue a solo career and to develop a gospel music company. 

The band carried on, despite numerous personnel changes.  In 1984 the Commodores courted tenor James Dean “J.D.” Nicholas to join the group.  In 1985 they had a hit with the single "Nightshift", the title track from their album of the same name.  The song was written by lead singer Walter Orange in collaboration with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde as a tribute to soul/R&B singers Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, both of whom died in 1984.  The song was released as the album's first single in January 1985, and "Nightshift" became their biggest hit after Lionel Richie's departure.  The single peaked at #3 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart.  “Nightshift” also rose to #1 on the Hot Black Singles chart and was the group's final top ten hit.  “Nightshift” won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group.  

Here is an excerpt from the Commodores version of “Nightshift”:

The Commodores left the Motown label in 1985 and signed with Polydor the same year.  In 1986 the group returned to the Top 10 with “Goin’ to the Bank.”  "Goin' to the Bank” was released as the first single from their twelfth studio album, United.  The single peaked at #2 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.  During the 1990's, the band’s lineup was reduced to a core of three Commodores:  Orange, King, and Nicholas.  The trio later established its own label, Commodore Records.  The Commodores were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.  The Commodores have sold over 70 million albums worldwide.  The group is credited with 50 albums that produced seven #1 songs and a host of other Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts.  As of the year 2026 the current lineup of the Commodores continues to perform, playing at arenas, theaters, and festivals around the world.

Lionel Richie’s career beyond the Commodores would flourish.  In 1980 he wrote and produced the Billboard Hot 100 #1 single "Lady" for Kenny Rogers.  In 1981, Richie wrote and produced the single "Endless Love", which he recorded as a duet with Diana Ross.  “Endless Love” remains among the top 20 bestselling singles of all time, and the biggest career hit for both artists.  

Here is an excerpt from Lionel Richie and Diana Ross's duet version of "Endless Love":

As mentioned earlier, in 1982 Lionel officially launched his solo career with the album Lionel Richie, which sold over four million copies and produced the singles "You Are", "My Love", and the #1 single "Truly".  Richie’s second solo album, 1983’s Can't Slow Down, is his most successful.  The album spent 59 consecutive weeks inside the Billboard Top 10, including the entire year of 1984, and a total of 160 weeks over three years on the Billboard 200 chart.  It became the third best-selling album of 1984, and eventually sold over 20 million copies worldwide.  Five singles were released from the album, all of which hit the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including two that reached #1: "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello". Can't Slow Down has been certified Diamond by the RIAA, selling over 10 million copies in the United States and over 20 million copies worldwide, making it Richie's best-selling album, and one of the best-selling albums of the 1980's. The album subsequently won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards in 1985.

In 1985 Lionel co-wrote and sang in the charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson.  The single, produced by Quincy Jones, was credited to USA for Africa.  Released on March 7th, 1985, it topped music charts throughout the world.  “We Are the World” became the fastest-selling US pop single in history and the first single to be certified multi-platinum.  It was eventually certified quadruple platinum, selling over 20 million copies.  Its awards included four Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award.

In 1986, Richie released his third solo album, Dancing on the Ceiling.  Dancing on the Ceiling produced a run of five US and UK hits.  “Say You, Say Me" reached #1 in the US. "Say You, Say Me” appeared in the 1985 film White Nights.  The singles "Dancing on the Ceiling" reached #2 in the US, "Love Will Conquer All" reached #9 in the US, "Ballerina Girl" reached #7 in the US, and "Se La" reached #20 in the US.  Later, Richie's eleventh studio album, Tuskegee, was released in 2012 and peaked at #1 on the US Billboard 200, making it his third #1 album on the chart.  In addition to multiple pop, R&B, and adult contemporary hit singles, two of Richie’s singles reached the Top 30 of the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.  "Deep River Woman", which features country music group Alabama, was a Top 10 hit on the country music charts in 1987.

During his solo career, Lionel Richie became one of the most successful balladeers of the 1980’s.  He released 11 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 7 compilation albums.  Richie has released over 40 singles, 5 of which became #1 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100.  He has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.  He has won four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year for "We Are the World", and Album of the Year for Can't Slow Down.  In 1981 "Endless Love" was nominated for an Academy Award.  In 1986 "Say You, Say Me" won both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe award for Best Original Song.  In 2016, Richie received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award.  On December 3rd, 2017, Richie received the Kennedy Center Honors.  In 2022, he received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress, as well as the American Music Awards Icon Award.  He was also inducted into Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.  Richie was the first person to receive an RIAA diamond album award.  Lionel Richie has joined the singing competition American Idol to serve as a judge, from 2018 to present (2026). 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Rock and Roll Flashback, where I discussed highlights of the careers of the Commodores and Lionel Richie.  I will close out this episode with the Commodore's version of "Easy".  So, fellow time travelers, may your path be smooth and your music always be rockin’.  And until next time...rock on!