For 10 solid years,soft-rock superstar Lionel Rithcie just couldn't slow down.He scored at least one #1 hit every year from 1977-85 during his Commodores and solo days,one of which held that spot for an amazing nine weeks ("Endless Love" with Diana Ross).Each of his first three albums drew in multi-platinum sales as well: 'Lionel Richie' (1982),'Can't Slow Down' (1983) and 'Dancing On The Ceiling'(1986).


This month,Motown/UME revisits the songwriter's golden era with remastered,nugget-heavy versions of those albums.The diamond-selling 'Can't Slow Down' arrives in Deluxe Edition form,with a second CD comprised entirely of unreleased working versions,alternates and session jams.The albums have not been remastered since they were originally introduced onto CD in the 80s.

'Can't Slow Down'--an album composed of eight songs,most of which were hits---is now furthered with out-of-print single remixes on Disc One: the 12-inch and instrumental versions of "All Night Long (All Night)",a 7-inch,vastly different take on "Penny Lover" and the "Running With The Night" B-side instrumental.

Disc Two,nicknamed "The Ground Floor",contains a dozen unissued working versions.Asterisked titles are songs that have never been out in any form whatsoever: "Can't Slow Down","Ain't No Sayin No"*,"Tell Me"*,"All Night Long (All Night)","Penny Lover","Stuck On You","Can't Find Love"*,"Love Will Find A Way","The Only One","The Groove (instrumental interlude)"*,"Running With The Night" and "Hello".


In addition,the 'Lionel Ritchie' CD includes two bonus tracks of previously unreleased material.The 'Dancing On The Ceiling' CD includes four bonus tracks of previously unreleased material.The CDs are due today (May 6).



(Information taken from www.IceMagazine.com and Lionel Ritchie's official site).



[This message was edited Tue May 6 4:59:57 PDT 2003 by DavidEye]

Oh,Ellis Dee and Calhoun,I'm sorry but the song "Do It To Me" is nowhere to be found on these three albums

Hell yeah!!! This is what I'm talkin' about! I'll be at Best Buy on my way home today!

No doubt, Lionel is a great singer/songwriter, but i've always seen him as a bit square and cheesey, something my parents bought back when i was 14, but this is reason enough for me to buy my first Lionel Album.

closet fan.

This is the full tracklist for the expanded 2-CD 'Can't Slow Down' remaster...


Disc 1---
"Can't Slow Down"
"All Night Long (All Night)"
"Penny Lover"
"Stuck On You"
"Love Will Find A Way"
"The Only One"
"Running With The Night"
"Hello"
"All Night Long (All Night) 12" Version
"All Night Long (All Night) Instrumental Version
"Penny Lover" (7-inch version,different from album version)
"Running With The Night" (B-Side instrumental)

Disc 2---alternate versions,demos,session jams,etc
"Can't Slow Down"
"Ain't Sayin No"
"Tell Me"
"All Night Long (All Night)"
"Penny Lover"
"Stuck On You"
"Can't Find Love"
"Love Will Find A Way"
"The Only One"
"The Groove (instrumental interlude)"
"Running With The Night"
"Hello"

alexnvrmnd said:

Me too

Are you buying all three albums?

DavidEye said:

DavidEye said:

Of course!! You too, I take it?!

I only want Can't slow down&I'll down-load the rest.I wish Motown would re-release THomas Mcclary's Debut Album it was Smoking.

Soft rock superstar???

Love most of Lionel Richies music!

When I was 12 [editor: 1993] I did a pause-tape beat mixing the beginning of "Can't Slow Down" by Lionel Richie with the drums from Edwin Birdsong "Rapper Dapper Snapper" (can't remember where I stole that break from).

Lionel's solo stuff is dope, man. I had the Dancing On The Ceiling cassette too.

alexnvrmnd said:

Oh yeah! But I have to admit,I really wasn't too impressed with the 'Dancing On The Ceiling' album.Maybe the newly remastered version will change my mind?

DavidEye said:

Shit, David! I didn't get to Best Buy yesterday!! I'll have to go today or tomorrow. Did you get all three there, and were they even in stock? A lot of times I see they don't have these re-issues the day they come out.

alexnvrmnd said:

I didn't get the chance to go pick them up either.I think I'll wait til the weekend,when I will have more time to listen to them.Man,I'm dying to hear a good,remastered version of the song "Love Will Find A Way"!!

DavidEye said:

that's my cut as well&I'm looking toward the Up-dated Sound on that Cut.Peace

I bought his "Definative Collection" CD not to long ago and he really was and is something. I was kind of interested in that remastered "Can't Slow Down" CD...until I saw it in the storewith a price tag of $28.99!

This cd does get my attention...and that's all it gets for now.

Although - I agree that the cd was a huge event in the 80's, I will wait until I see it at a Used CD Warehouse, at a Used CD Warehouse price.

VinnyM27 said:

Yeah,these 2-CD Deluxe Editions are rather expensive,aren't they? But you get alot of music and bonus tracks,plus extensive liner notes/commentary too.In the end,I think it's worth it.

DavidEye said:

This is how Prince's albums should be remastered and re-released.

With one disc the original and then of course all the fascinating outtakes, 12" versions, B-Sides, etc...wow.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

EXACTLY!! It's a damn shame that Prince's amazing catalog can't get the same treatment.These days,EVERY longtime artist is having their old CDs remastered.

DavidEye said:

It IS a hefty price tag, but I think it's definitely worth it, like you said. Regarding that Definitive Collection that VinnyM bought, I was somewhat disappointed with that!! I was expecting the full, not single, versions of those songs, and hearing Penny Lover so short just made me pull out my Can't Slow Down album and listen to that instead. It was like, "What was the use in gettin' this?" LOL!

alexnvrmnd said:

Doesn't that "Definitive Collection' contain a second bonus disc with a few new tracks,including a duet with Enrigue Iglesias? Is that the one you guys bought? I was thinking of buying it too.

DavidEye said:

Yeah, that's the one. Maybe that's why I bought it (along with thinking the full versions of songs would be on there)!

David, or anyone else, have you got these albums (or at least one of them) yet? I just did this past Thursday, and I'm just getting a chance to listen to Can't Slow Down right NOW, but it's off the hook!! I'm lovin' the liner notes thus far, and the second disc is truly something to hear. The alternate version of my fav track, Penny Lover, is crazy, but in a GOOD way with a nice band sound. More impressions later, but just checking to see if you copped this yet!

Dammit, I JUST realized that my "Can't Slow Down" set came with TWO disc 2's. So, I don't even have the first disc. I'm not sure if I should even keep this one and get another or go exchange it for a correct one altogether! LOL! Crazy. Anyone else with this problem?
[This message was edited Mon May 19 4:13:53 PDT 2003 by alexnvrmnd]

alexnvrmnd said:

No,I haven't got them yet.I've been too busy to go and pick them up.I'll wait a few weeks when I go on vacation.I'll actually have time to sit and listen to them.Any more details?

alexnvrmnd said:

You mean,it came with TWO discs of the alternate stuff? And it is missing the regular album? Oh man,take it back asap!

DavidEye said:

Yeah, crazy ain't it?! This morning was the first time I've really gotten a chance to open it, so I'm reading and listening to everything for the first time. It's kinda cool hearing Melvin Franklin's deep voice on the chorus of the alternate Penny Lover too. Not as "quiet" as the original, but still VERY nice. Also, they actually got to interview James Anthony Carmichael for this project too, which is quite a rarity!! He gives some great insight, along with of course Richie, himself on the creative process to the album and about how he first felt about working with The Commodores (let's just say he almost thought like it was a slap in the face since he was already working with the group they were opening for, The Jackson 5).

What do you think of the other 2 albums,did you get those yet? The bonus tracks on those aren't as interesting...it's just 12" versions,I believe.