Nightshift (album)
Encyclopedia
Nightshift is a nine-track album by the Commodores
, released January 15, 1985, on Motown Records
, their last album on that label before switching to Polydor.
, who left the band in 1982, and their last album with founding member/bassist Ronald LaPread. Commodores 13
(1983) featured only the interim lead vocalist, Harold Hudson of Mean Machine, and so it is with Nightshift that they permanently replaced Richie with British-born, J.D. Nicholas (formerly of Heatwave
). Dennis Lambert was chosen to take the rein
s as producer, hoping to find the same magic created by producer–arranger James Anthony Carmichael, with whom they had worked since 1974 and who was a major impetus in their prior success.
Additional Musicians involved in this album include among others: Peter Wolf
, Paul Fox, John Robinson
, Neil Stubenhaus
, Jeff Lorber
, Peter Maunu, Harold Hudson, Dennis Lambert, Paulinho da Costa
, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Hey
, Gary Grant, Gary Herbig, and Larry Williams.
charts for a month, and it peaked at #3 on the pop chart. By and large, the album's popularity was due to its smash title-cut, "Nightshift
." Penned by Clyde Orange, Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde
, the song "Nightshift" ended up being their biggest post-Lionel Richie hit, reaching #3 on The Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on Billboard's chart for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles. Paying tribute to the late soul singers Marvin Gaye
and Jackie Wilson
who both died in 1984, the song "Nightshift" also earned the group its first and only Grammy
.
Although never reaching the success of the "Nightshift" single, two other tracks from the album were released. Regarded as an out-of-the-ordinary track for the Commodores, "Animal Instinct," featuring Orange on lead vocals, was released almost six months after "Nightshift," and petered out at #23 on the R&B charts, while only making it to #43 on the pop charts.The single, "Janet," barely made Billboard's Top 100 and never made it into the R&B top 50; however, it did reach #8 on the Adult Contemporary
charts.
With their follow-up album, United
, only reaching #17 on the R&B charts, Nightshift would become The Commodores last album to grace the top ten, and the song "Nightshift" would be their second-to-last song to reach the top ten, with 1986's "Goin' to the Bank" being their last.
Commodores
The Commodores are an American funk/soul band of the 1970s and 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour...
, released January 15, 1985, on Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
, their last album on that label before switching to Polydor.
Album credits; staff changes
Nightshift is the Commodores' second album without Lionel RichieLionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
, who left the band in 1982, and their last album with founding member/bassist Ronald LaPread. Commodores 13
Commodores 13
Commodores 13 is a 1983 album by the Commodores. It was also the first such album without lead singer, Lionel Richie, in the group. It is also the last album to feature guitarist Thomas McClary before he left and recorded a solo album for Motown in 1984, then leaving the music business altogether...
(1983) featured only the interim lead vocalist, Harold Hudson of Mean Machine, and so it is with Nightshift that they permanently replaced Richie with British-born, J.D. Nicholas (formerly of Heatwave
Heatwave (band)
Heatwave was an international funk/disco musical band featuring Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder of Dayton, Ohio, Englishman Rod Temperton , Swiss Mario Mantese , Czechoslovak Ernest "Bilbo" Berger , Jamaican Eric Johns and Briton Roy Carter .They were known for their successful...
). Dennis Lambert was chosen to take the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s as producer, hoping to find the same magic created by producer–arranger James Anthony Carmichael, with whom they had worked since 1974 and who was a major impetus in their prior success.
Additional Musicians involved in this album include among others: Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf is an American Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Rock and Roll musician, best known as the lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983; and for a successful musical solo career to date with writing partner Will Jennings.- Life and career :Wolf was born in the Bronx, New York...
, Paul Fox, John Robinson
John Robinson (drummer)
John Robinson is an American drummer and session musician...
, Neil Stubenhaus
Neil Stubenhaus
Neil Stubenhaus is an American bass guitarist.-Career:He started his musical training playing drums and switched to bass guitar at the age of 12. He studied at the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in 1975...
, Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
, Peter Maunu, Harold Hudson, Dennis Lambert, Paulinho da Costa
Paulinho Da Costa
Paulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussionist born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio...
, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Thriller and the distinctive flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit Longer....
, Gary Grant, Gary Herbig, and Larry Williams.
Success on the "Nightshift"
Despite the album's middling reviews, the album remained at the top of the R&BRhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
charts for a month, and it peaked at #3 on the pop chart. By and large, the album's popularity was due to its smash title-cut, "Nightshift
Nightshift
"Nightshift" is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores and title track from the album of the same name. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984....
." Penned by Clyde Orange, Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde
Franne Golde
Franne Golde is a songwriter, musician, singer and writer. Her songs have appeared on more than 100 million records worldwideFranne has received BMI awards for singles with The Pussycat Dolls , Randy Travis’s "A Man Ain't Made of Stone", The Kinleys' "Somebody's Out There Watching" from the Touched...
, the song "Nightshift" ended up being their biggest post-Lionel Richie hit, reaching #3 on The Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on Billboard's chart for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles. Paying tribute to the late soul singers Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
who both died in 1984, the song "Nightshift" also earned the group its first and only Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
Although never reaching the success of the "Nightshift" single, two other tracks from the album were released. Regarded as an out-of-the-ordinary track for the Commodores, "Animal Instinct," featuring Orange on lead vocals, was released almost six months after "Nightshift," and petered out at #23 on the R&B charts, while only making it to #43 on the pop charts.The single, "Janet," barely made Billboard's Top 100 and never made it into the R&B top 50; however, it did reach #8 on the Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
charts.
With their follow-up album, United
United (Commodores album)
United is an album released by The Commodores in 1986 as the follow-up to their extremely successful Nightshift album from the previous year. This album included one of The Commodores' last significant hits in "Goin' to the Bank," and it has been the group's last major charting album to date, even...
, only reaching #17 on the R&B charts, Nightshift would become The Commodores last album to grace the top ten, and the song "Nightshift" would be their second-to-last song to reach the top ten, with 1986's "Goin' to the Bank" being their last.
Track listing
- "Animal Instinct"
- "NightshiftNightshift"Nightshift" is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores and title track from the album of the same name. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984....
" - "I Keep Running"
- "Lay Back"
- "Slip of the Tongue"
- "Play This Record Twice"
- "Janet"
- "Woman in My Life"
- "Lighting Up the Night"
External links
- The Official Commodores Website
- [ AllMusic.com: Nightshift Overview]
See also
- CommodoresCommodoresThe Commodores are an American funk/soul band of the 1970s and 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour...
- Lionel RichieLionel RichieLionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
- Nightshift SingleNightshift"Nightshift" is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores and title track from the album of the same name. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984....