Commodores
Studio album by
Commodores
ReleasedMarch 30, 1977 (1977-03-30)
Recorded1976–1977
StudioMotown Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
Genre
Length38:22
LabelMotown
Producer
Commodores chronology
Hot on the Tracks
(1976)		 Commodores
(1977)		 Commodores Live!
(1977)
Singles from Commodores
  1. "Easy"
    Released: March 18, 1977
  2. "Brick House"
    Released: August 26, 1977
  3. "Zoom"
    Released: 1978 (UK)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[2]

Commodores is the fifth studio album by the Commodores, released in 1977. The album spent eight weeks at the top of the R&B/soul albums chart, the second of their albums to do so, and was their first Top 5 pop album. There is also a previously released extended version.

The band employed a variety of musical styles for the album, highlighted by the popular anthem "Brick House". With Walter Orange's deep voice on the lead, and Ronald LaPread's bassline, this track peaked on the U.S. Hot 100 at #5, and the U.S. R&B Chart at #4. "Brick House" means a "stacked" woman with an hour-glass figure.

In contrast to "Brick House", "Easy" is a pop ballad with mellow vocals by Lionel Richie.

"Zoom" is one of the Commodores' best known tunes, despite not being released as a single in the US. It reached #38 on the UK singles chart. Fergie sampled "Zoom" in her song "All That I Got (The Make-Up Song)" on the album The Dutchess.

In the UK and other Western European countries this album was released as Zoom on Tamla Motown.

The album was dedicated to Kathy Faye LaPread, bass guitarist Ronald LaPread's wife, who died from cancer around that time.[3]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Extended lengthLength
1."Squeeze the Fruit"Walter Orange3:033:00
2."Funny Feelings"Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary5:574:51
3."Heaven Knows"Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary6:164:41
4."Zoom"Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread7:066:43
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Extended timeLength
1."Won't You Come Dance with Me"Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary4:083:47
2."Brick House"Shirley Hanna-King [uncredited], Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Ronald LaPread, Thomas McClary, William King3:463:27
3."Funky Situation"William King4:123:39
4."Patch It Up"Milan Williams4:033:58
5."Easy"Lionel Richie4:504:16

Personnel

Commodores

Additional musicians

  • Cal Harris – synthesizers
  • Darrell Jones – guitars

Production

  • Commodores – producers, arrangements
  • James Anthony Carmichael – producer, arrangements
  • Cal Harris – engineer, mixing
  • Jane Clark – engineer
  • Jack Andrews – mastering
  • Carl Overr – graphics director
  • Stan Martin – design
  • Tom Nikosey – illustration
  • Gene Gurley – photography
  • Benjamin Ashburn – album coordinator, manager

Charts

Year Chart positions[4]
US US
R&B		 Aus[5]
1977 3 1 62

Singles

Year Single Chart positions[6]
US US
R&B		 US
Dance
1977 "Brick House" 5 4 34
"Easy" 4 1 —

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wynn, Ron. "Commodores - Commodores Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 159.
  3. ↑ The Story Behind the Song: "Zoom" by the Commodores SoulTracks
  4. ↑ "The Commodores US albums chart history". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ↑ "The Commodores US singles chart history". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
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