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)
Losing You
Commodores Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woman it's fading away from me
'Cause your personal touch has grown cold
as if someone else controls your very soul
I fooled myself long as I can
I can feel the presence of another man
It's there when you speak my name
Oh honey I'm losing you
I can feel it in the air, it's there everywhere
Oh I'm losing you
I can feel it in my bones
any day you'll be up and gone
Oh I'm losing you
It's all over your face someone's takin' my place
Could it be that I'm losing you
When I look into your eyes a reflection of a face I see
Oh Lord I'm losing you
I'm hurt, downhearted and worried girl
'Cause that face doesn't belong to me
Your love is fadin' I can feel it fadin'
Oh away from me
I can feel it in the air, it's there everywhere
Oh I'm losing you
I don't wanna lose you
But I know I'm gonna groove you
Oh Lord I'm losing you
I don't wanna lose you
But I know I'm gonna groove you
Oh Lord I'm losing you, and I'm a losin' you
Your love is fadin' I can feel it fadin'
Oh Lord I'm losing you
The lyrics to Commodores' song Losing You are about a man who has begun to see signs that his partner is losing interest in him and beginning to fall for someone else. He speaks of her love fading and her personal touch growing cold, as if her very soul is being controlled by another man. The man admits to fooling himself for as long as he can, but now he can feel the presence of this other man whenever she speaks his name. He can feel that he is losing her, and it's all over her face. He doesn't want to lose her, but he knows he's going to. The chorus repeats this sentiment, stating that he can feel her love fading away from him, and he's losing her.
The song's lyrics are quite clear, as the man laments the loss of his partner's love and the feeling that someone else has taken her place in his life. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the sense of loss and desperation that the man feels. The lyrics also contain powerful metaphors, such as the idea that someone else "controls your very soul" and the reflection of another man's face in the woman's eyes.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love is fading I can feel your love fading
I can sense that your love for me is diminishing
Woman it's fading away from me
Your love is slipping away from me, woman
'Cause your personal touch has grown cold
Your affectionate behavior towards me has become indifferent and distant
as if someone else controls your very soul
It seems like someone else has taken control of your emotions and feelings
I fooled myself long as I can
I deceived myself for as long as I could that everything was still okay
I can feel the presence of another man
I can sense the existence of another man in your life
It's there when you speak my name
I can detect his influence even when you mention my name
It's just not the same
The way you treat me now is not the same as before
Oh honey I'm losing you
I am losing your love and affection, honey
I can feel it in the air, it's there everywhere
I can feel the absence of your love all around me
Oh I'm losing you
I am losing you, my love
I can feel it in my bones any day you'll be up and gone
I have a gut feeling that you will leave me soon
Oh I'm losing you
I am losing your love and affection, oh dear
It's all over your face someone's takin' my place
Your facial expressions reveal that someone has replaced me in your heart
Could it be that I'm losing you
Is it possible that I am losing your love and affection?
When I look into your eyes a reflection of a face I see
When I gaze into your eyes, I see a reflection of another man's face
Oh Lord I'm losing you
Oh Lord, I am losing your love, my sweetheart
I'm hurt, downhearted and worried girl
I am in pain, disappointed, and anxious, my dear
'Cause that face doesn't belong to me
Because that face I see in your eyes doesn't belong to me
I don't wanna lose you
I don't want to lose your love and affection
But I know I'm gonna groove you
But I know I will eventually hurt you or break your heart
Oh Lord I'm losing you
Oh Lord, I am losing your love, my dear
Your love is fadin' I can feel it fadin'
I can feel your love for me disappearing
I don't wanna lose you
I don't want to lose your love and affection
But I know I'm gonna groove you
But I know I will eventually hurt you or break your heart
Oh Lord I'm losing you, and I'm a losin' you
Oh Lord, I am losing your love, and I am losing you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Cornelius Grant, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind