Commodores – United (1986/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 43:51 minutes | 1,88 GB | Genre: Soul, Funk, R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Polydor Records
After over a decade at Motown, the Commodores moved to Mercury/PolyGram with 1986’s United. By that time, the group’s lineup consisted of British singer J.D. Nicholas (a Heatwave graduate who came on board in 1984) and original members Walter Orange (lead vocals, drums), William King (percussion, trumpet, synthesizers), and Milan Williams (keyboards). Lionel Richie (who was selling millions of records as a solo artist), Thomas McClary, and Ronald LaPread were all gone. An abundance of studio musicians and outside songwriters are employed on this high-tech, pop-minded urban contemporary outing, and not surprisingly, the Commodores no longer sound distinctive. Orange (who shares the lead vocals with Nicholas) is still recognizable, but even so, United doesn’t really sound like a Commodores album. Although wildly uneven, the record has its moments. “Goin’ to the Bank” (which climbed to number two on Billboard’s R&B singles chart) and “Take It From Me” (both of which feature Orange) are infectious synth-funk items, and Nicholas has a pleasant spot on the adult contemporary ballad “United in Love.” But most of the material (which was produced by Dennis Lambert, James Carmichael, and others) is forgettable. Again, United has its moments, but it pales in comparison to 1970s classics like Movin’ On, Caught in the Act, and Hot on the Tracks. –Alex Henderson
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Commodores – Nightshift (1985/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 38:49 minutes | 1,47 GB | Genre: Soul, Funk, R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Motown
This 1985 release from The Commodores earned the band its first Grammy Award for the title track, a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, who both died in 1984. The song became the first hit for The Commodores following the departure of Lionel Richie, propelling the album into the top 20.
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Commodores – Natural High (1978/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 42:11 minutes | 1,59 GB | Genre: Soul, Funk, R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Motown
The Commodores’ sixth studio album, Natural High, is best known for the ballad “Three Times a Lady,” which became a staple of adult contemporary radio and reached number one on both the pop and R&B charts. “Three Times a Lady” was their first number one pop hit, and Lionel Richie was being recognized as a major crossover star. Not everyone liked “Three Times a Lady” — some people found the song to be much too sappy, and R&B purists argued that The Commodores were watering their music down. But even if “Three Times a Lady” isn’t your cup of tea, Natural High still has a lot to offer R&B fans. “X-Rated Movie,” “Such a Woman,” and “I Like What You Do” are exhilarating examples of hardcore funk, and those who appreciate artists like Heatwave and the Brothers Johnson will find a lot to admire about “Fire Girl” and “Flying High” (both of which are sleek examples of the sophisticated funk style). Meanwhile, “Say Yeah” (featuring Richie) is a first-rate R&B slow jam. Whatever your opinion of “Three Times a Lady” — whether you love it or hate it — the fact is that Natural High has more plusses than minuses and was a generally respectable, if imperfect, addition to The Commodores’ catalog.
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