The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was co-lead singer. The band's biggest hit singles are ballads such as "Easy", "Three Times a Lady", and "Nightshift"; and funky dance hits which include "Brick House", "Fancy Dancer", "Lady (You Bring Me Up)", and "Too Hot ta Trot". In 1986 the Commodores won their first Grammy for the song "Nightshift".
Band history
The Commodores originally came together from two former groups, the Mystics and the Jays. There was even a Jazz aspect to one of the groups. They wanted to change the name. Together, a six-man band was created from which the notable individuals were Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, and William King from the Mystics; Andre Callahan, Michael Gilbert, and Milan Williams were from the Jays. To choose a new name, William "WAK" King opened a dictionary and randomly picked a word. "We lucked out", he remarked with a laugh when telling this story to People magazine. "We almost became 'The Commodes!
The band originated while its members attended Tuskegee University in Alabama. After winning the university's annual freshman talent contest, they played at fraternity parties as well as a weekend gig at the Black Forest Inn, one of a few clubs in Tuskegee that catered to college students. They performed mostly cover tunes and some original songs with their first singer, James Ingram (not the famous solo artist). Ingram, older than the rest of the band, left to serve active duty in Vietnam, and was later replaced by Walter "Clyde" Orange, who would write or co-write many of their hit tunes. Lionel Richie and Orange alternated as lead singers. (Orange was the lead singer on the Top 10 hits "Brick House" and "Nightshift".)
The Commodores made a brief appearance in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday. They performed the song "Too Hot ta Trot" during the dance contest; the songs "Brick House" and "Easy" were also played during the movie.
"Machine Gun", the instrumental title track from the band's debut album, became a staple at American sporting events, and is similarly featured in many films, including Boogie Nights and Looking for Mr. Goodbar. It reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Another instrumental, "Cebu" (named after an island in the Philippines), later became a staple in the Quiet storm format. Three albums released in 1975 and 1976 (Caught in the Act, Movin' On, and Hot on the Tracks) are considered the peak of their harder funk period. After those recordings the group started to move towards a softer sound. That move was hinted at in their 1976 Top Ten hits "Sweet Love" and "Just to Be Close to You". In 1977 the Commodores released "Easy", which became the group's biggest hit yet, reaching No. 4 in the U.S., followed by "Brick House", also top 5, both from their album The Commodores, as was "Zoom". The group reached No. 1 in 1978 with "Three Times a Lady". In 1979 the Commodores scored another top-five ballad, "Sail On", before reaching the top of the charts once again with another ballad, "Still". In 1981 they released two top-ten hits with "Oh No" (No. 4) and their first upbeat single in almost five years, "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (No. 8).
In 1982, Lionel Richie left to pursue a solo career. A transition that was smooth but slow, Richie's departure was evident after it was mentioned to the band why his distinct sound would never be a part of The Commodores; Skyler Jett replaced Richie as co-lead singer. Also in 1982, their manager Benjamin Ashburn who also managed another band Platinum Hook died of a heart attack aged 54.
Over time, several founding members left - McClary left in 1983 (shortly after Richie) to pursue a solo career and to develop a gospel music company. McClary was replaced by guitarist-vocalist Sheldon Reynolds while LaPread left in 1986 and moved to Auckland, New Zealand and Reynolds departed for Earth, Wind & Fire in 1987, which prompted trumpeter William "WAK" King to take over primary guitar duties for live performances. Keyboardist Milan Williams exited the band in 1989 after allegedly refusing to tour South Africa.
The group also gradually abandoned its funk roots and moved into the more commercial pop arena. In 1984 former Heatwave singer James Dean "J.D." Nicholas assumed co-lead vocal duties with drummer Walter Orange. The band remained hitless until 1985 when their final Motown album, Nightshift, produced by Dennis Lambert—all prior albums were produced by James Anthony Carmichael)—delivered the Grammy Award-winning title track "Nightshift" (No. 3 in the U.S.). It was a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson. In 2010 a new version was recorded, dedicated to Michael Jackson. The Commodores were on a European tour performing at Wembley Arena, London, on June 25, 2009, when they walked off the stage after they were told that Michael Jackson had died. Initially the band thought it was a hoax. However, back in their dressing rooms they received confirmation and broke down in tears. The next night at Birmingham's NIA Arena, J.D. Nicholas added Jackson's name into the lyrics of the song, and thenceforth the Commodores have mentioned Jackson and other deceased R&B singers. Thus came the inspiration upon the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death, to re-record, with new lyrics, the hit song "Nightshift" as a tribute. "Nightshift" won The Commodores their first Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals in 1985.
In 1990 the Commodores formed Commodores Records and re-recorded their 20 greatest hits as Commodores Hits Vol. I & II. They have recorded a live album Commodores Live! along with a DVD of the same name, and a Christmas album titled Commodores Christmas. In 2012, the band was working on new material, some contributions written by current and former members.
The Commodores now consist of Walter "Clyde" Orange, James Dean "J.D." Nicholas, and William "WAK" King, along with their five-piece band, known as the "Mean Machine". The group continues to perform, playing at arenas, theaters, and festivals around the world.
Studio albums
Machine Gun (1974)
Caught in the Act (1975)
Movin' On (1975)
Hot on the Tracks (1976)
Commodores (1977)
Natural High (1978)
Midnight Magic (1979)
Heroes (1980)
In the Pocket (1981)
Commodores 13 (1983)
Nightshift (1985)
United (1986)
Rock Solid (1988)
Commodores Christmas (1992)
No Tricks (1993)
I Feel Sanctified
Commodores Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, I feel sanctified
Yeah, I feel sanctified
I just left my baby's house
And I got the strength I needed
Knowing that the beast of man
Is very hard to please
I'm so glad the sun is shining
To brighten up the day
Cause behind last night
I see things in a different way
Yeah, I feel sanctified
(Feel it, feel it my soul, yeah)
Yeah, I feel sanctified
She led me to the brink of love
And no words could ever describe
Oh, when you get that kind of loving
It's a blessing to be alive
Ooh, the sacred feeling
Just blows through my soul
Searching for sanctuary
To rested my ???
Yeah, I feel sanctified
Yeah, I feel sanctified
Yeah, I feel sanctified
In the song "I Feel Sanctified" by Commodores, the singer talks about feeling sanctified after leaving his lover's house. He describes the strength he received from his lover's love and how it gave him a new perspective on life. He also talks about the sacred feeling that runs through his soul and how he's searching for sanctuary to rest his soul.
The song talks about the transformative power of love and how it can bring light to darkness. The singer seems to have a new lease on life after experiencing the love of the woman he left. He feels sanctified, which means to be made holy or purified. To him, his lover's love is a blessing that makes him feel alive.
Overall, "I Feel Sanctified" is a song about the power of love to transform and purify. It shows how love can be a source of strength and light in our lives, and how it can give us a new perspective on the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I feel sanctified
The singer is expressing a sense of purification and being blessed.
I just left my baby's house
The singer has recently been with their significant other.
And I got the strength I needed
Being with their significant other gave the singer strength.
Knowing that the beast of man
The difficulties of being human.
Is very hard to please
It's difficult to be content and fulfilled as a human.
I'm so glad the sun is shining
The singer is happy to see and feel the sun.
To brighten up the day
The sun is making the day better.
Cause behind last night
Reflecting on the past.
I see things in a different way
Reflecting on the past has changed the artist's perspective.
She led me to the brink of love
The artist's significant other helped them experience love.
And no words could ever describe
Words can't accurately describe the depth of emotion the singer feels.
Oh, when you get that kind of loving
Experiencing deep love.
It's a blessing to be alive
Experiencing love is a blessing that makes life worth living.
Ooh, the sacred feeling
A sense of something holy or special.
Just blows through my soul
This special feeling is affecting the singer deeply.
Searching for sanctuary
Seeking refuge or a safe place.
To rested my ???
To find peace or rest in their soul.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFFREY BOWEN, LIONEL RICHIE, MILAN WILLIAMS, RONALD LAPREAD, THOMAS MCCLARY, WALTER ORANGE, WILLIAM MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tweak3871
Okay... so I feel really sad that the first time I've heard of this song was on Ozarks, but I'm so glad they used it because now I'm aware of this masterpiece
@tyler_rake88
Great ending credits song to Ozark season 4 part 1 it ended with a cliffhanger just have to wait Ozark season 4 part 2 the final season how it ends
@mijualdavis8632
Same here dis shit is tough
@davidsheppard9882
Me too… awesome. I heard first in the credits for an obscure tv show
@fivehathcocksthefam592
SAME¡ Just finished season 4 .
@sherryhansberry8463
So did I. I never heard them sing this. Ozark brought it back!! 🎶🎙️
@oldskoolmusicforever0724
AT 59 YEARS OLD,LET ME JUST GIVE IT UP FOR 1970'S MUSIC.SOME OF THE BEST MUSIC EVER MADE CAME FROM THE 1970'S.
@jplew138
PREACH!!!
@adamlam9600
True that brother
@SuperAmeda
Also 59. Liked the song then. Also loved machine gun