Lionel Richie/Commodores: Top 50 Songs

Lionel Richie/Commodores Top 50 Songs

Lionel Richie was born June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama. As a freshman at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, he met the other members of what was to become the Commodores. The group signed with Motown in 1972 and became hugely successful on the pop and R&B charts. In 1980, Richie penned “Lady” for Kenny Rogers and it was a huge crossover hit. The following year, “Endless Love,” his duet with Diana Ross, was even bigger. It paved the way for his solo career, which he launched in 1982. Richie became one of chart history’s most successful crossover artists, landing #1 songs on the pop, R&B, adult contemporary charts and even the country chart (if you count “Lady”). His 1983 album, Can’t Slow Down, won the Grammy for Album of the Year. “Endless Love” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode The Best of Lionel Richie based on this list. Premiere: May 24, 2022 at 7pm CST. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST.

Awards (Lionel Richie):

Awards (Commodores):

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs are solo hits by Richie unless marked otherwise. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Endless Love (with Diana Ross, 1981) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB 2. We Are the World (written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, recorded by U.S.A. for Africa) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB 3. Lady (written by Lionel Richie, recorded by Kenny Rogers, 1980) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 CW 4. All Night Long (All Night) (1983) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB 5. Three Times a Lady (Commodores, 1978) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB 6. Brick House (Commodores, 1977) 7. Say You Say Me (1985) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB 8. Hello (1984) #1 US, #1 AC, #1 RB DMDB Top 2%: 9. Truly (1982) #1 US, #1 AC DMDB Top 5%: 10. Easy (Commodores, 1977) #1 RB 11. Still (Commodores, 1979) #1 US, #1 RB 12. Sail On (Commodores, 1979) 13. Stuck on You (1984) #1 AC 14. You Are (1983) #1 AC DMDB Top 10%: 15. Lady (You Bring Me Up) (Commodores, 1981) 16. Dancing on the Ceiling (1986) 17. Running with the Night (1983) 18. Night Shift (Commodores, 1985) 19. Penny Lover (1984) #1 AC 20. My Love (1983) #1 AC 21. Machine Gun (Commodores, 1974) 22. Love Will Conquer All (1986) #1 AC DMDB Top 20%: 23. Oh No (Commodores, 1981) 24. Sweet Love (Commodores, 1975) 25. Just to Be Close to You (Commodores, 1976) #1 RB 26. Ballerina Girl (1986) #1 AC 27. Deep River Woman (with Alabama, 1986) 28. Do It to Me (1992) #1 RB 29. Se La (1986) 30. Don’t Wanna Lose You (1996) 31. Too Hot ta Trot (Commodores, 1977) #1 RB 32. Wonderland (Commodores, 1979) 33. Old-Fashion Love (Commodores, 1980) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 34. Slippery When Wet (Commodores, 1975) #1 RB 35. Heroes (Commodores, 1980) 36. Fancy Dancer (Commodores, 1976) 37. Flying High (Commodores, 1978) 38. Only You (Commodores, 1983) 39. I Call It Love (2006) 40. Why You Wanna Try Me (Commodores, 1981) 41. Angel (2000) 42. My Destiny (1992) 43. I Feel Sanctified (Commodores, 1974) 44. This Is Your Life (Commodores, 1975) 45. Goin’ to the Bank (Commodores, 1986) 46. Animal Instinct (Commodores, 1985) 47. Janet (Commodores, 1985) 48. Painted Picture (Commodores, 1982) 49. Just for You (2004) 50. Zoom (Commodores, 1977) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Lionel Richie DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Commodores Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 6/20/2017; updated 5/24/2022.