Song:Nightshift
Album:The Ultimate Collection
Of course The Commodores were one of the top R & B groups of the 70s alternating between funk and ballads usually written by lead singer Lionel Richie. But it might surprise folks that Nightshift was one of their biggest hits and came after Richie left in 1985. They were also one of Motown's biggest acts of the 70s and 80s. The Commodores were all students at Tuskeegee Institute in Alabama. The lineup was William "WAK" King on trumpet, Thomas McClary on guitar, Ronald LaPread on bass, Walter "Clyde" Orange on drums, Lionel Richie on sax and Milan Williams on keyboards. They were called The Jays but knew they would have to change that and picked The Commodores from a dictionary. A 1971 tour opening for The Jackson 5 got them a contract with Motown. Their first single was the Milan Williams instrumental Machine Gun was a top ten R & B hit in 1974. They became known for solid funk like Brick House and ballads like Easy and Three Times A Lady. Orange usually wrote and sang lead on the uptempo funk songs and Richie usually wrote and sang lead on the ballads. They were very successful in the 70s. But Richie left to go solo in 1981 and was replaced by Heatwave lead singer JD Nicholas and McClary left in 1982 and was replaced by Sheldon Reynolds. Instead of fading, Nightshift reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985. Orange and producer Dennis Lambert wrote this tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson and Orange sang most of the lead vocals. The Commodores left Motown for Polydor in 1986 and faded by the late 80s. You can get all their hits on this comp. Orange, Nicholas and King still tour as The Commodores today. Here's the video for Nightshift by The Commodores.
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