The Very Best Of The Commodores by The Commodores - DeepRiffs

COMPILATION

For a spell during the '80s, it seemed like many forgot that Lionel Richie wasn't always a solo artist, but began as a member of the Commodores. The group of six Alabama college chums would go on to become one of the world's leading funk and R&B artists of the '70s, and their penchant for heartwarming ballads only broadened their fan base. With countless compilations of the group surfacing over the years, 1995's The Very Best of the Commodores is a fine choice for a single-disc set, doing a fine job of collecting all the hits and a few best-known album tracks. Weighing in at a hefty 20 tracks, all facets of the band are covered -- a funk band that could give the big guns a run for their money ("Machine Gun," "Brick House," "The Zoo [The Human Zoo]"), more laid-back fare ("Zoom," "Nightshift"), and perhaps what the band would become most well-known for -- tender ballads that showcased Richie ("Easy," "Sweet Love," "Three Times a Lady," "Oh No"). There are other more extensive Commodores collections on the market (2001's Anthology), but for a succinct collection that manages to include all the hits, The Very Best of the Commodores is "it."
© Greg Prato /TiVo

1. Easy

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Performer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Mixing: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other

3. Nightshift

by The Commodores

Background Vocals: William King
Ronald Lapread; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Drums: Walter Orange; Performer
Keyboard: Milan Williams
William King; Performer
Performer: Ronald Lapread
Peter Wolf
William King
Walter Orange
J.d. Nicholas
Milan Williams; Performer
Vocals: J.d. Nicholas; Performer
Composer: Dennis Lambert
Walter Lee Orange
Francine Vicki Golde; Composer
Lyricist: Francine Vicki Golde
Dennis Lambert
Walter Lee Orange; Composer
Associate Producer: Peter Wolf
Jeremy Smith; Production
Producer: Peter Wolf
Dennis Lambert
Jeremy Smith; Production
Recording Arrangement: Peter Wolf; Production
Composer Lyricist: Dennis Lambert
Francine Vicki Golde
Walter Lee Orange; Other

4. Brick House

by The Commodores

Lyricist: Thomas Mcclary
William King Jr.
Walter Lee Orange
Ronald Lapread
Lionel Richie
Milan Williams; Composer
Mixing: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Composer: Walter Lee Orange
Ronald Lapread
Milan Williams
Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary
William King Jr.; Composer
Drums: Walter Orange; Performer
Guitar: Thomas Mcclary; Performer
Keyboard: Lionel Richie
Milan Williams; Performer
Percussion: Walter Orange; Performer
Performer: Ronald Lapread
Lionel Richie
James Anthony Carmichael
William King
Commodores
Thomas Mcclary
Walter Orange
Milan Williams; Performer
Saxophone: Lionel Richie; Performer
Trumpet: William King; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Mcclary
Walter Orange
Lionel Richie; Performer
Recording: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ronald Lapread
Thomas Mcclary
Milan Williams
Lionel Richie
Walter Lee Orange
William King Jr.; Other
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production

5. Machine Gun

by The Commodores

Lyricist: Milan Williams; Composer
Mixing: Jane Clark; Production
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Composer: Milan Williams; Composer
Drums: Walter Orange; Performer
Guitar: Thomas Mcclary
Milan Williams; Performer
Keyboard: Milan Williams
Lionel Richie; Performer
Percussion: Walter Orange
William King; Performer
Performer: Ronald Lapread
Lionel Richie
James Anthony Carmichael
William King
Commodores
Thomas Mcclary
Walter Orange
Milan Williams; Performer
Saxophone: Lionel Richie; Performer
Trumpet: William King; Performer
Vocals: Walter Orange
Thomas Mcclary
Lionel Richie; Performer
Recording: Jane Clark; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark; Production
Composer Lyricist: Milan Williams; Other
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Producer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production

8. Sail On

by The Commodores

Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Drums: Walter Orange; Performer
Guitar: Thomas Mcclary; Performer
Keyboard: Milan Williams; Performer
Performer: Thomas Mcclary
Lionel Richie
Ronald Lapread
Milan Williams
Walter Orange
William King
James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Performer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Mixing: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Trumpet: William King; Performer
Vocals: Thomas Mcclary
Lionel Richie; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Strings Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael; Composer
Vocal Arrangement: Lionel Richie; Composer
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other
Rhythm Arranger: James Anthony Carmichael; Other

9. Lady (You Bring Me Up)

by The Commodores

Performer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: William King Jr.
Harold Hudson
Shirley King; Composer
Lyricist: Harold Hudson
Shirley King
William King Jr.; Composer
Mixing: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Harold Hudson
Shirley King
William King Jr.; Other

10. Oh No

by The Commodores

Performer: Gene Page
James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Strings Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael; Composer
Mixing: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Studio Personnel: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other
Rhythm Arranger: Gene Page; Other

12. The Zoo (The Human Zoo)

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Drums: James Ingram; Performer
Guitar: Thomas Mcclary; Performer
Performer: James Ingram
Ronald Lapread
Gloria Jones
Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary
Commodores; Performer
Vocals: Lionel Richie; Performer
Composer: Gloria Jones
Pamela Sawyer; Composer
Lyricist: Pamela Sawyer
Gloria Jones; Composer
Producer: Gloria Jones
Pam Sawyer; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
Gloria Jones; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pamela Sawyer
Gloria Jones; Other

15. Janet

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Bobby Caldwell
Paul Fox
Franne Golde; Composer
Lyricist: Franne Golde
Bobby Caldwell
Paul Fox; Composer
Producer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Composer Lyricist: Franne Golde
Paul Fox
Bobby Caldwell; Other

16. Flying High

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Performer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary; Composer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary; Composer
Engineer: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Mixing: Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Studio Personnel: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Composer Lyricist: Thomas Mcclary
Lionel Richie; Other

17. Only You

by The Commodores

Performer: Milan Williams
Bruce Miller
Walter Orange; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Vocals: Walter Orange; Performer
Composer: Milan Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Milan Williams; Composer
Strings Arrangement: Bruce Miller
Milan Williams; Composer
Producer: Milan Williams; Production
Recording Arrangement: Milan Williams; Production
Composer Lyricist: Milan Williams; Other
Horn Arranger: Milan Williams
Bruce Miller; Other

18. Animal Instinct

by The Commodores

Performer: Peter Wolf; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Martin Page; Composer
Lyricist: Martin Page; Composer
Associate Producer: Jeremy Smith
Peter Wolf; Production
Producer: Dennis Lambert
Jeremy Smith
Peter Wolf; Production
Recording Arrangement: Peter Wolf; Production
Composer Lyricist: Martin Page; Other

19. Just To Be Close To You

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Performer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Engineer: Calvin Harris; Production
Mixing: Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Studio Personnel: Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other

20. Wonderland

by The Commodores

Performer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Milan Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Milan Williams; Composer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Composer Lyricist: Milan Williams; Other

2. Three Times A Lady

by The Commodores

Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Drums: Walter Orange; Performer
Guitar: Thomas Mcclary; Performer
Keyboard: Lionel Richie
Milan Williams; Performer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Mixing: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Percussion: Walter Orange; Performer
Performer: Commodores
William King
James Anthony Carmichael
Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary
Ronald Lapread
Milan Williams
Walter Orange; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Bass Guitar: Ronald Lapread; Performer
Recording: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Saxophone: Lionel Richie; Performer
Trumpet: William King; Performer
Vocals: Walter Orange
Thomas Mcclary
Lionel Richie; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Strings Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael; Composer
Vocal Arrangement: Lionel Richie; Composer
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other
Rhythm Arranger: James Anthony Carmichael; Other

6. Zoom

by The Commodores

Performer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Ronald Lapread
Lionel Richie; Composer
Lyricist: Ronald Lapread
Lionel Richie; Composer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ronald Lapread
Lionel Richie; Other

7. Old-Fashion Love

by The Commodores

Performer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Milan Williams
Milan B. Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Milan Williams
Milan B. Williams; Composer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Production
Composer Lyricist: Milan Williams
Milan B. Williams; Other

11. Too Hot Ta Trot

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Performer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Composer: Ronald Lapread
William King Jr.
Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary
Walter Orange
Milan Williams; Composer
Lyricist: Ronald Lapread
William King Jr.
Lionel Richie
Thomas Mcclary
Walter Orange
Milan Williams; Composer
Engineer: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Mixing: Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Studio Personnel: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ronald Lapread
Walter Orange
Thomas Mcclary
Milan Williams
Lionel Richie
William King Jr.; Other

13. Still

by The Commodores

Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Performer: Commodores
Lionel Richie
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Vocals: Lionel Richie; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Strings Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael; Composer
Mixing: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording: Jane Clark
Calvin Harris; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Studio Personnel: Calvin Harris
Jane Clark; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other
Rhythm Arranger: James Anthony Carmichael; Other

14. Sweet Love

by The Commodores

Performer: Commodores
James Anthony Carmichael; Performer
Primary Artist: Commodores; Main Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Composer
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Recording Arrangement: James Anthony Carmichael
Commodores; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

20 tracks available

Type

COMPILATION

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 14 minutes and 22 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1411x1411 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

18/20 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

12/20 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

R&B, Soul, Rock, Funk, Quiet Storm, Funk Soul, Northern Soul, Motown

Label

Motown

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

Afrikaans
English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1994

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

731453054721