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| Commodores | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 30, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1976–1977 | |||
| Studio | Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:22 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Commodores chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Commodores | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [2] |
Commodores is the 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.
The band employed a variety of musical styles for the album, highlighted by the popular anthem "Brick House". With Walter Orange's deep voice on the lead, and Ronald LaPread's bassline, this track peaked on the U.S. Hot 100 at #5, and the U.S. R&B Chart at #4. "Brick House" means a "stacked" woman with an hour-glass figure.
In contrast to "Brick House", "Easy" is a pop ballad with mellow vocals by Lionel Richie.
"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.
In the UK and other Western European countries this album was released as Zoom on Tamla Motown.
The album was dedicated to Kathy Faye LaPread, bass guitarist Ronald LaPread's wife, who died from cancer around that time.[3]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Extended length | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Squeeze the Fruit" | Walter Orange | 3:03 | 3:00 |
| 2. | "Funny Feelings" | 5:57 | 4:51 | |
| 3. | "Heaven Knows" |
| 6:16 | 4:41 |
| 4. | "Zoom" |
| 7:06 | 6:43 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Extended time | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Won't You Come Dance with Me" |
| 4:08 | 3:47 |
| 2. | "Brick House" |
| 3:46 | 3:27 |
| 3. | "Funky Situation" | King | 4:12 | 3:39 |
| 4. | "Patch It Up" | Williams | 4:03 | 3:58 |
| 5. | "Easy" | Richie | 4:50 | 4:16 |
Personnel
[edit]Commodores
- Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophones, keyboards
- Milan Williams – keyboards
- Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars
- Ronald LaPread – vocals, bass
- Walter Orange – vocals, drums, percussion
- William King – vocals, trumpet
Additional musicians
- Cal Harris – synthesizers
- Darrell Jones – guitars
Production
[edit]- Commodores – producers, arrangements
- James Anthony Carmichael – producer, arrangements
- Cal Harris – engineer, mixing
- Jane Clark – engineer
- Jack Andrews – mastering
- Carl Overr – graphics director
- Stan Martin – design
- Tom Nikosey – illustration
- Gene Gurley – photography
- Benjamin Ashburn – album coordinator, manager
Charts
[edit]| Year | Chart positions[4] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | Aus[5] | |
| 1977 | 3 | 1 | 62 |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Chart positions[6] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Dance | ||
| 1977 | "Brick House" | 5 | 4 | 34 |
| "Easy" | 4 | 1 | — | |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Commodores - Commodores Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 159.
- ^ The Story Behind the Song: "Zoom" by the Commodores SoulTracks
- ^ "The Commodores US albums chart history". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "The Commodores US singles chart history". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
