The Commodores - C or D?

'Muppets From Space' has a kick-ass soundtrack, btw.

Yes they were funky, and great instrumentalists. There was a kind of tension in the band and on the records between Lionel Richie's sentimental balladry and keyboardist Milan Williams' funk inclinations. I initially was attracted to the funk material, but I've grown to love Richie's stuff as well. I like the way these separate impulses bump up against one another on the albums. In fact, "Sweet Love" from the Movin' On record is one of my favorite Commodores tracks and certainly my favorite thing Richie's been involved with. The whole breakdown towards the end, with him singing "I know you're searchin'...", just really beautiful.

Great funk tracks to seek- "Machine Gun" (obv) and "Young Girls Are My Weakness" (sampled by Schooly D!) from the 1st one; "Slippery When Wet" and "The Bump" from Caught in the Act (these guys got pretty lewd!), "Free" and "Mary, Mary" from Movin' On. Good pumping horn-driven stuff like the Ohio Players or a grittier Earth, Wind & Fire.

Hmm.. yeah I probably should have recommended a compilation instead of a buncha old albums. Problem is I'm not that familiar with them, but a quick look reveals this one to have - at least on the first disc - a pretty nice selection of some of the good funky album cuts; though the second disc bogs down with the eighties stuff (although I like "Lady (You Bring Me Up)"). The problem is this one is apparently out of print. I should emphasize that the funk songs really dominate the early records. In fact, Machine Gun doesn't contain a single ballad! You wouldn't even realize Lionel Richie had anything to do with it, if you didn't know that beforehand. So if that's the sound you're really after/into, you might just want to take a flyer on that record (which is in print on cd).

Girl, I Think the World About You

Stormy OTM about those first four albums

(Mr. Diamond too)

"Nightshift," y'all...

otm

ever since watching the fabulous 35 Shots Of Rum - Nighshift pop into my head once in a w while

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlsfYDj2HWA&feature=fvw

I think the first 5 Commodores albums are all totally classic especially Zoom. Squeeze the Fruit, Won't You Come Dance With Me, Brick House and Easy are all amazing tracks. It's about time they were all reissued.

Also I have to say The Zoo (Human Zoo) from Machine Gun is one of my top 10 songs of all time despite having the one of the strangest intro's to a song I've ever heard. It's so clumsy and pretty out of tune but it's a thrilling song I never get tired of.

One of my top 10 songs of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSgwLEoVkIE

search "Machine Gun" & "Brick House" trash the goopy ballads

ha, already a 35 shots of rum-inspired revive

I see that all of their 70s albums (apart from 1979's "Midnight Magic") are available in full on Spotify. Does this mean there is some way somewhere that they can actually be purchased? Checking my online stores here, "Machine Gun" is the only one of their 70s albums available, but that one is probably my least favourite of them, as I liked them better the more of a leader Lionel Richie would become.

Nightshift (the album) is insanely good

i love the song

I was the weirdo who put "Nightshift" at #1 on my Motown ballot last year, so I really should listen to the album one of these days.

one of the best bands of the 70s imo

never did hear the whole NIghtshift album though, should remedy that

Classic!

'The Assembly Line', people!