Commodores (album)

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.

Commodores
Studio album by
Commodores
ReleasedMarch 30, 1977
Recorded1976–1977
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: 1977

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

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 roundtone bassline, this track peaked on the U.S. Hot 100 at #5, and the U.S. R&B Chart at #4. As their second single, "Brick House" helped to propel the Commodores into the spotlight as a leading R&B act.

In contrast to "Brick House", "Easy" is a pop-soul ballad with mellow vocals by Lionel Richie with a Southern country twist.

"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.[2] Fergie sampled "Zoom" in her song "All That I Got (The Make-Up Song)" on the album The Dutchess.

In the UK, this album was released as Zoom on Tamla Motown STML 12057.

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

  1. "Squeeze the Fruit" (Walter Orange) – 3:00
  2. "Funny Feelings" (Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary) – 4:51
  3. "Heaven Knows" (Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary) – 4:41
  4. "Zoom" (Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread) – 6:43

Side Two

  1. "Won't You Come Dance with Me" (Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary) – 3:47
  2. "Brick House" (Shirley Hanna-King [uncredited], Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Ronald LaPread, Thomas McClary, William King) – 3:27
  3. "Funky Situation" (William King) – 3:39
  4. "Patch It Up" (Milan Williams) – 3:58
  5. "Easy" (Lionel Richie) – 4:16

Extended track time release:

  1. "Squeeze the Fruit" – 3:03
  2. "Funny Feelings" – 5:57
  3. "Heaven Knows" – 6:16
  4. "Zoom" – 7:06
  5. "Won't You Come Dance with Me" – 4:08
  6. "Brick House" – 3:46
  7. "Funky Situation" – 4:12
  8. "Patch It Up" – 4:03
  9. "Easy" – 4:50

Personnel

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

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

Samples and Covers

See also

References
  1. Wynn, Ron. "Commodores - Commodores Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  2. Songfacts. "Zoom by Commodores - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  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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