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.

Kenny Rogers topped the pop charts with “Lady”

Lady Kenny Rogers

Writer(s): Lionel Richie (see lyrics here) Released: September 29, 1980 First Charted: September 26, 1980 Peak: 16 US, 14 CB, 15 HR, 15 RR, 14 AC, 11 CW, 12 UK, 2 CN, 16 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 16.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 93.1 video, 63.33 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: In 1980, Kenny Rogers was the biggest draw in country music. To capitalize on his status – and a year which had already seen three top five hits on the country charts – his record label wanted a Greatest Hits package to ring in the Christmas season. Rogers had just ended his five-year relationship with producer Larry Butler and was seeking new blood to spark his creativity. He turned to Lionel Richie, who wasn’t yet the solo superstar he was to become within a few years. At the time, he still fronted the Motown group The Commodores. Like Rogers, Richie had experienced major crossover success. The 1978 hit “Three Times a Lady” had topped the pop, R&B, adult contemporary, and UK charts. The country-tinged “Easy” (1977) was a hit on all four formats as well. The pair of songs caught Rogers’ attention. Rogers contacted Motown founder Berry Gordy about working with the Commodores. Because of a motorcycle accident to drummer Walter Orange, the group had delayed a concert tour and Richie and Co. had time on their hands. Lionel flew to Las Vegas to meet with Rogers. Richie played demos of “Lady” and “Goin’ Back to Alabama”, songs he’d written two years earlier. FB Rogers cut both in an 8 ½ hour session; the former included some lyrical tweaking to reference Rogers’ relationship with his wife. TR As Rogers said, “The idea was that Lionel would come from R&B and I’d come from country, and we’d meet somewhere in the middle.” FB The song became Rogers’ fourth million-selling single and his first #1 on the pop charts. BB It was also the biggest pop song of 1980 WHC and the first song of the decade to hit all four of the major Billboard charts (pop, country, adult contemporary, R&B). FB It hit #1 on the first three of those. Resources: BB Billboard (9/08). “All-Time Hot 100” FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 533. TR Tom Roland (1991). The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 272. WHC Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. Page 109. Related Links: First posted 11/15/2011; last updated 10/29/2022.

Commodores hit #1 with “Three Times a Lady”

Three Times a Lady Commodores

Writer(s): Lionel Richie (see lyrics here) Released: June 8, 1978 First Charted: June 16, 1978 Peak: 12 US, 14 CB, 16 GR, 15 HR, 13 AC, 12 RB, 15 UK, 14 CN, 15 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.91 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 17.3 video, 82.19 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: It doesn’t get more successful than this. “Three Times a Lady,” the first #1 pop song for the Commodores, topped the Billboard Hot 100 as well as comparable U.S. pop charts Cashbox and Hit Records. It was also a #1 on Billboard’s R&B and adult contemporary charts. Internationally, it reached the pinnacle in the UK (where it was the biggest hit for Motown Records SF), Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Phillipines, and South Africa and reached the top 5 in 25 other countries. WK Lionel Richie was a freshman at Tuskegee Institute in 1968 when he met his fellow bandmates who would become the Commodores. In 1971, they were signed ast the opening act for a tour for the Jackson Five. It would be two more years before they made their first recordings with Motown. One was an instrumental called “Machine Gun” which reached the top 10 on the R&B chart. In 1975, the Commodores hit #1 on the R&B chart with “Slippery When Wet,” which also reached the top 20 on the pop charts. That song was written by guitarist Thomas McClary. However, Lionel Richie would soon become the breakout star of the group with more ballad-oriented fare through hits like “Sweet Love,” “Just to Be Close to You,” and “Easy.” All were top ten hits on the pop charts and the latter two reached #1 on the R&B chart. Still, when Richie first wrote “Three Times a Lady” he wasn’t sure it was right for the Commodores. The song was inspired by the 37th anniversary party for Lionel Richie’s parents. His father toasted his mother, Alberta, saying, “She’s a great lady, she’s a great mother, and she’s a great friend.” WK Richie decided to pen a thank you to Brenda, his wife at the time. He envisioned the song, which he wrote as a waltz, being sung by Frank Sinatra. However, when he played it for James Carmichael, who was producing the Commodores, he insisted it be on their album. WK According to Richie, his neighbor said “if a man wanted to buy her a present, all he need do is buy her that record.” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Commodores DMDB encyclopedia entry for Lionel Richie FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 487. KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits: The Stories Behind Every Number One Single Since 1952. London, Great Britain: Omnibus Press. Page 240. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 5/22/2022; last updated 12/26/2022.