yes Lionel is best known for his cheesy ballads
but what about his Saxophone playing?
Lionel wrote and played classy saxophone licks on
Commodores studio songs and live also,he was Commodores Sax player after all.

Lionel didn't play many saxophone on his records but
he nailed great Saxophone solo on his song Lovers at first Sight.
what do you think of his saxophone playing?

Who ever said his ballads were cheesy? They are some of the best love songs of a generation. Let's review:
"Hello" (#1)
"Se La"
"Truly" (#1)
"Endless Love" (#1)
"Say You, Say Me" (#1)
"Stuck On You" (Top 10)
"You Are" (Top 10)
"Love Will Conquer All" (Top 10)
"Penny Lover" (Top 10)
"Ballerina Girl" (Top 10).

Looks like America loves cheese.

Never paid attention to his sax playing.

yeah man but all the songs you mentioned are nothing compared
to the songs he did in the 70's

and yes America likes cheesy or how would you explain Dancing on Celling was hit song
[Edited 12/25/09 22:21pm]

lionel was the shit when i was a kid honey i would get mad at my mom and turn on some lionel lookin out my bedroom window honey i was imagining i was in a video 2 get over my maddness go lionel

kaptainkrunk said:

He's still the shiz!

ernestsewell said:

I do.

I'm sorry but post-Commodores,,,,he got sappier than a Lifetime network's movies marathon.

On a side note, I think its pretty fuckin' cool that he plays the sax,,,I didn't know that.
[Edited 12/26/09 7:23am]

Harlepolis said:

I just think that's dismissive and not true. The 80's get a bad wrap, but the fact is they ARE good songs, and 25 years later, we're STILL talking about those few middle years that were an explosion of some of the best music ever produced in modern pop music. What makes a ballad sappy? Ballads are SUPPOSED to be sappy. They're love songs most times, pleas for a second chance, angst over heartache, etc. Not every ballad is going to be "We Are The World" or "Man In The Mirror".

ernestsewell said:

I didn't know I gave the impression that my opinion was a fact

And no its not dismissive, I've tried to give Lionel's discography alot of open minded listening and only found myself cringing at one moment after another what can I say, it simply isn't for me.

And no again, ballads are not always "supposed" to be sappy,,thats too much of a limiting definition. Mother's Finest's Love Changes is a ballad,,,,,and its a far far faaaaar cry from being a "sappy" moment, I'm sure there're other countless examples.
[Edited 12/26/09 7:37am]

man you have ballads with balls and sappy

ballads,Quality of Lionel's music went downhill after his departure with the Commodores,weather you are willing to admit or not.
Hello is nice but nothing compared to stuff he wrote in the 70's

Not a fan at all, but who really thinks that Lionel had what it took to survive on straight 80s funk and r&b as a solo artist? He didn't have the voice, looks, or stage presence for it. As a solo artist he fit perfectly into AC and he knew it. If he had tried to keep it funky on his own, esp. in the 80s, he would have failed miserably IMO.

Lionel didn't have the voice?

thebanishedone said:

He left Commodores so he wouldn't have to sound like them or write for/like them. It's apples and oranges w/ that. None of his solo stuff sounded like Commodores material, which was the point.

yeah but he ruined his reputation with derivative balads
he was a funkster b4

...

This thread actually reminded me, in the Brick House video, you can see Lionel in the background with his saxophone....







...

thebanishedone said:

To do the 80s funk and R&B as a solo artist? No, he didn't. Have you heard the song "Can't Slow Down?" What the hell is he trying to sound like? As a solo artist he's pop and AC all the way.

thebanishedone said:

He is still a funkster, but Commodores didn't want to be a ballad band, and Lionel kept writing more and more ballads for them. He was a crooner to some extent; the band wanted to just play funk. It's why they parted ways. No animosity, but the styles weren't meshing anymore.

Ernest thats what lionel said
but the real reason is

Waltr Clyde Orange wanted Lionel to credit whole band
on the songs he wrote
and tensions in the group were because Lionel gave "Lady " to Kenny Rogers instead offering to his band.
that are the reasons why Lionel left the Commodores

thebanishedone said:

We're both right, most likely. There's always many facists to someone leaving a group.

thebanishedone said:

Lionel said he was voted out.

thebanishedone said:

interestingly enough,the Commodores came up with their own "Lady" a year after the Kenny Rogers hit only theirs was titled "Lady (You Bring Me Up").lol.