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.

Reception

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. Fergie sampled "Zoom" in her song "All That I Got " 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.

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Squeeze the Fruit" – 3:00
  2. "Funny Feelings" – 4:51
  3. "Heaven Knows" – 4:41
  4. "Zoom" – 6:43
Side Two
  1. "Won't You Come Dance with Me" – 3:47
  2. "Brick House" – 3:27
  3. "Funky Situation" – 3:39
  4. "Patch It Up" – 3:58
  5. "Easy" – 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

Singles

Samples and Covers