Lionel Richie - Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie's solo career began while he was still in the Commodores, as he wrote and sang (as a duet with Diana Ross) the theme to the Brooke Shields romance Endless Love, which became a bigger hit than any of the group's singles, thereby setting the stage for his departure and his 1982 self-titled solo debut. He wasn't working in unfamiliar territory, or with new musicians. The Commodores decided to work as their own band, so their producer, James Anthony Carmichael, was able to devote his energy to working on Richie's album. Using the pop-crossover ballad style of "Endless Love," "Three Times a Lady," and "Easy" as their template, the duo turned Lionel Richie into a sleek, state-of-the-art record that, at its best, provides some irresistible pop pleasures. The key to its success -- and the reason it was scorned by some Commodores fans -- is that Richie doesn't even make a pretense of funk here, leaving behind the loose, elastic grooves of his previous bands (a move that makes sense, since his voice never suited that style particularly well), choosing to concentrate on ballads and sparkly mid-tempo pop, peppered with a few stylish dance grooves. The ballads, of course, provided two big hits with "My Love" and "Truly," two numbers that illustrate that he was moving ever-closer to mainstream pop, since these are unapologetic AOR slow-dance tunes. The other big hit, "You Are," is an effervescent, wonderful pop tune that showcases Richie at his sunniest; it's one of his greatest singles. Throughout the first part of the record, the dance numbers are served up and they're very good -- "Serves You Right" has a shiny, propulsive groove, while "Tell Me" jams nicely. After "You Are," the record bogs down with a couple of ballads that are on the wrong side of adult contemporary -- too formless, too hookless to really catch hold -- but they don't hurt the first seven songs, which form a dynamic mainstream pop-soul record, one of the best the early '80s had to offer. It's the sound of Lionel Richie finding his solo voice, and, the next time out, he knew how to use it even better than he does here. [The 2003 reissue of Lionel Richie includes two bonus tracks: a solo demo of "Endless Love" which not only fits perfectly with this record, but is less cloying, and an instrumental of "You Are" whose primary worth is to hear the detail and expertise in the production Richie and Carmichael assembled.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits A. Maebe French Horn Alan DeVeritch Viola Allan Harshman Viola, Strings Armand Karpoff Strings, Celli, Cello Arni Egilsson Bass, Double Bass Arthur Maebe Horn Assa Drori Vocals, Strings, Violin B. Douglas Violin, Vocals B. Findlay Trumpet B. O'Conner French Horn Bernie Grundman Mastering Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone Brenda Harvey Ritchie Production Assistant Brian O'Connor Horn Buell Neidlinger Double Bass, Bass Calvin Harris Mixing Engineer, Engineer Charles Veal Vocals Charles Veal, Jr. Violin Chuck Findley Trumpet Clarence McDonald Fender Rhodes, Keyboards D. Palmer Violin Darrell Jones Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Darryl Jones Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Dave Cochran Saxophone, Vocals, Synthesizer, Guitar David Alexander Photography David Cochrane Soloist, Arranger, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background), Guitar (Bass), Synthesizer Bass, Piano, Prophet 5, Synthesizer, Saxophone David Duke Horn, French Horn David Palmer Vocals David Schwartz Strings David Speltz Strings Deborah Thomas Vocals, Vocals (Background) Dennis Karmazyn Celli, Strings Don Ashworth Woodwind, Wind E. Cipriano Woodwind E. Watts Saxophone Endre Granat Vocals, Violin Ernie Watts Saxophone Erno Neufeld Strings F. Sekura Strings Fred Law Mixing Engineer Fred Tackett Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar G. Vant Harp G.A. Grant Trumpet Gareth "Garry" Nuttycombe Cello, Viola Gary Grant Trumpet Gary Herbig Woodwind, Saxophone Gary LeVant Harmonica, Harp Gene Cipriano Wind Gene Page Arranger Greg Phillinganes Arranger, Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Mini Moog, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Jupiter 8, Moog Synthesizer H. Roth Vocals, Violin Harry Bluestone Strings, Concert Master Henry Ferber Strings Henry Sigismonti French Horn Howard Kenney Vocals (Background) Howard Kenny Vocals, Vocals (Background) J. Llyle Vocals, Strings J. Shulman Violin, Vocals James Anthony Carmichael Producer, Vocals James Atkinson French Horn Jane Clark Mixing Jerry Hey Trumpet Jesse Ehrlich Cello, Celli Jim Atkinson Horn, French Horn Jim Cassell Engineer Jimmy Connors Vocals (Background), Vocals Joe Chemay Guitar (Bass), Bass Joe Walsh Soloist, Guitar John "J.R." Robinson Drums Johnny Lee Art Direction, Art Direction Kenny Rogers Vocals, Vocals (Background) Kin Vassy Vocals (Background), Vocals L. Williams Woodwind LaMar Nathan Watts Bass Larry Williams Wind Le Vant, G. Harp Lenny Castro Percussion Leon "Ndugu" Chancler Drums Leonard Castro Percussion Lew McCreary Trombone Lionel Richie Rhythm Arrangements, Drums, Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Piano, Producer, Fender Rhodes, Vocals (Background), Arranger, Keyboards Louise Di Tullio Flute Mari Botnick Strings Mari Tsumura Vocals Mari Tsumura-Botnick Violin Michael "Mike Dee" Johnson Mixing Engineer Michael Boddicker Synthesizer, Vocoder Michael Lang Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Piano Morty Corb Bass Myron Sandler Strings Nancy Ross Strings Nathan East Bass, Brass Nathan Ross Strings Nathan Watts Bass P. Hochalter Cello, Celli P. Shure Strings, Violin, Vocals Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Paul Leim Drums Paul Liem Drums Paulinho Da Costa Percussion R. Brown Bass Ray Brown Bass Richard Marx Vocals (Background), Vocals Richard Perissi French Horn Richie Zito Guitar, Soloist Rick Shlosser Percussion Rob Dale Strings Rollice Dale Strings Ronald Folsom Strings S. Sanov Violin, Vocals Stephan Smith Mixing Engineer Stephen Amate Smith Mixing Engineer Terry Williams Vocals, Vocals (Background) Tibor Zelig Strings Tim May Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Virginia Majewski Viola, Cello W. Green Saxophone W. Henderson Strings W. Johnson Trumpet W. Kurash Strings W. Lucning Trumpet Warren Luening Trumpet William Green Saxophone William Kurash Strings William Payne Keyboards, Fender Rhodes William Reichenbach Trombone