High Times
Joined: 25 Oct 2004
Posts: 744
Location: music written by JK/Toby Smith
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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 13:38 |
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The COMMODORES
The Commodores were a highly successful soul/funk band in the 1970s and 1980s. They met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now called Tuskegee University) in 1968, and signed to Motown having first caught the public eye supporting The Jackson 5 on tour.
Original Band Personnel
Lionel Richie (vocals, saxophone, piano) - born on 20 June 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Thomas McClary (lead guitar) - born on 6 October 1950, in Eustis, Florida.
Milan Williams (keyboards) - born on March 28, 1948 in Okolona, Mississippi, died of cancer on July 9, 2006 in Houston, Texas.
William King (trumpet) - born on 30 January 1949, in Florida.
Ronald La Pread (bass guitar) - born on 4 September 1946, in Alabama.
Walter Orange (vocals, drums) - born on 10 December 1946, in Florida.
Biography
The group are perhaps best known for their ballads such as "Easy" & "Three Times a Lady", which are not, however, considered representative of their output. Usually, they recorded funky, driven dance floor hits including "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", and "Slippery When Wet", amongst others. Lionel Richie's "Oh No" was highlighted in the movie The Last American Virgin. Later, "Machine Gun", the instrumental title track from their debut album, became a staple at American sporting events, and has similarly been featured in many films, including Boogie Nights. Another instrumental, "Cebu" (named after an island in the Philippines) later became a staple in the Quiet Storm format. Band members typically traded lead vocal duties. After Lionel Richie left to persue a solo career, former Heatwave singer J.D. Nicholas assumed co-lead vocal duties with Drummer Walter Orange. However, with the exception of the Grammy winning "Nightshift," the band never achieved the same level of success it enjoyed with Richie. Ironically, "Nightshift" won the Commodores their only Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.
Over time, founding members began leaving; McClary (1982, shortly after Richie left), LaPread (1986), and Williams, (1989). The group also gradually abandoned their funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena.
In 1985, they performed 2 commercials for NBC affiliate WXIA in Atlanta.
Discography
(1973) Machine Gun
(1974) Caught in the Act
(1975) Movin' On
(1976) Hot On The Tracks
(1977) Commodores
(1977) Zoom
(1978) Natural High
(1979) Midnight Magic (album)
(1980) Heroes
(1981) In The Pocket
(1983) Commodores 13
(1985) Nightshift
The group left Motown in 1986 for Polydor, and released several additional albums, primarily compilations.
CHECK OUT
HOHNER "D6" CLAVINET IN
track called "Machine Gun" from their first album
sounds so cool!!!!
http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF221178-01-02-21.mp3
you all know the track "Girl i think the world about you"
this song is from 1976 album called "Hot On The Tracks".
this album is not so easy to find.
here's the 3rd track sample from "Hot On The Tracks" album called
"High On Sunshine"
http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF143309-01-04-01.mp3 |
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