We all know this slow jam master originally funked it up with the Commodores... don't we?

Yeah, "Too Hot To Trot", "Zoom", "Brick House" and "Three Times A Lady" all involved Lionel.. b4 he was smoooth.


Then came the "Lionel Richie" album...

Hey, I know from where I speak. I personally knew Ken Kragen, (Lionel's personal mangager) who I spoke with regularly via the phone and personal interaction... I was what... 20ish?

He offered me a spot on the "Star Search" show.. I refused, stating... "nah, I wanna make it on my own..." (silly me)... anyway... Ken Kragen aside...

The Commodores!!!

From "Too Hot To Trot" to "Zoom" or "Nightshift"... they had their shit goin' on...

They couldn't hold Lionel though.

He continued with the album "Lionel Richie"... then "Can't Slow Down"...etc...


Remember "All Night Long"...

Remember "Penny Lover"...

Remember "Truly"???

This man could write the most amazing love song.. he could write the most amazing funky dance song.. and still hit the top o' the charts.

What happened?

I know he fucked over his wife Brenda. She was his muse. His Rock. He based his whole career on a monogomous relationship and it exceeded his personal life, and bled in2 his art... and the public ate it up.

When his infidelity came in2 the light... we all turned on his ass... and we haven't heard of him since! Are we so pure???

Anyway.. what's your fave Lionel tune? Your fave video? Do tell..,

Easy (Like Sunday Morning)

ahhh...

However, I don't love him. I still consider him AM Gold, the kind of guy you'd hear at Wal-Mart

"Cuz I'm easy... I'm easy like...[CRACKLE] SANDRA MARTIN TO TILL 3, SANDRA MARTIN TO TILL 3 [CRACKLE] Sunday Morning..."

"Easy" was with the Commodores... yeah. That was a very cool, smooth jam.

But, he was so much more than that... in his day, he was "Outrageous!"

What about "Say You, Say Me"

Nevermind... what about "Endless Love", now that's one for the record books.

Miss Celie's Blues of course, jeez

DEJA VU!

It seems lately I can't get enough of the Commodores. I bought the Greatest Hits and have been playing the shit out of "Easy" and "Sail On".

Anyway my favorite Lionel track is "You Are" from his self titled album released in '82.

"After leaving the Commodores, Lionel Richie became one of the most successful male solo artists of the '80s, arguably eclipsed during his 1981-1987 heyday only by Michael Jackson and Prince. Richie dominated the pop charts during that period with an incredible run of 13 consecutive Top Ten hits, five of them number ones.
As his popularity skyrocketed, Richie moved farther away from his R&B origins and concentrated more on adult contemporary balladry, which had been one of his strengths even as part of the Commodores. After 1987, Richie fell silent, taking an extended break from recording and touring before beginning a comeback toward the tail end of the '90s." - Steve Huey - AllMusicGuide

all night long -i had my first sex experience in 85. and this song was playing on the radio.

i like lionel richie's voice.
other songs i like .say u say me -destiny-angel-dancing on the ceiling-here is my heart.

DJEmale said:

Me too! I bought their 2-CD "Best Of" set last year and it is STILL in my CD player."Easy" and "Sail On" are two of my favorites,along with "Zoom".


But my favorite Lionel Ritchie song is "Love Will Find A Way" from his 1983 album 'Can't Slow Down'.That's the most soulful thing he's done since leaving The Commodores.

as a fan of the funk (and breaks!) I love the commodores track called 'assembly line' it's a monster!!! check it out!!!

I love Lionel

My 14-year-old heart melted when I saw the 'Hello' video.
Plus, no one can deny The Commodores FUNKED things up!

Was it "Running With the Night" that featured Sheila E? I wasn't too crazy about "Hello." I'm mean, that clay bust didn't really look like him. I know, I know, the girl was blind...but, the jaw was abnormally HUGE! Anyway, guess my favorite is "All Night Long." They all look like they're having fun! Did you catch a young Lela Rochon in that one?

My favorite Lionel Richie solo song BY FAR is "Love Will Find A Way" from the Can't Slow Down album. It is unfortunate this incredible track was never released as a single -- especially considering some of the 'music' he considered single-worthy in later years.

todd305 said:

Penny Lover will always be my favorite of his solo jams! It gets me in the heart for a couple of reasons...

As far as the "Lionel Richie" album is concerned, my personal fave is "Wandering Stranger". I just love that one...

I am a wandering stranger
Lost and all alone
I am a million miles away
I know you're waiting for me
To come home again
But I am searching for an answer
Please try to understand...

But I love you
And you love me
Someday we can make it together
Just you and me
Just you and me

Sometimes I'm lonely
But I cannot fool myself
I must keep moving till I find me
Oh I know I'm hurting you
But try to understand
My peace of mind is all I'm after
Help me if you can...

I love you
And you love me
Someday we can make it together
Just you and me
Oh, just you and me

Oh my love
I do love you
In my heart
I do feel you

I am a wandering stranger
Can you help me make it through?
Try to remember
Woman, I love you

(c)1982

"Love Will Find a Way" as for Video goes:"Hello".whenever a Teller Marketing Girl Calls Me I Pull a Linel Richie on her&say is it me you are looking for???

todd305 said:

That's my favorite Lionel Ritchie song too.It is arguably the best song on the 'Can't Slow Down' album.But I think it was never released as a single simply because it sounded "too soulful".At the time,Motown was positioning Lionel as a "pop artist",which explains why the more pop-oriented songs ("Stuck On You","Hello",etc) became singles.

But "Love Will Find A Way" became a staple on jazz/Quiet Storm radio stations.It's a breezy,intoxicating track that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Frankie Beverly and Maze album.

DavidEye said:

Better than Penny Lover?? C'mon, David!! This is a good song and all, but it doesn't have that soulful FEELING that Penny Lover has! Hey, someone's gotta stick up for my jam! LOL!

Er... how can any video in the world ever expect to top the vid for 'Hello' - possibly the funniest music vid of all time IMO.

alexnvrmnd said:

I love "Penny Lover" too! But "Love Will Find A Way" is my jam!! I think Lionel himself was so proud of this song that he even recorded a "clone" of it on his next album..."Love Will Conquer All"(1986).

phunkymunky said:

"Hello...is it me you're looking for?"

Speaking of videos,I would say my favorite Lionel video is "Ballerina Girl"(1986).Yeah,it's a sappy song,but the video was charming,with that little girl.