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)
Oh No
Commodores Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm goin' crazy knowin' he will be your lover tonight
And when he comes I'll let you go
I'll just pretend as you walk out the door
Oh no, I can't sleep
Oh no, I'm goin' crazy with love over you
I need you to need me
When I close my eyes I see your face
I'm just not sure how much my heart can erase
Oh no, I can't think
Oh no, I'm goin' crazy with love over you
Oh, honey
Oh, sugar
Oh no, I can't sleep anymore, baby
Oh no, I can't think anymore, baby
Oh no, I'm goin' crazy with love over you
The lyrics to The Commodores' "Oh No" speak to the pain of unrequited love. The singer is agonizing over the fact that the person they love is with someone else. The first verse conveys the singer's knowledge that their love interest will be with someone else and the pain that knowledge causes them. They are willing to let the person they love go, but it causes them immense emotional pain. The chorus reinforces the singer's feelings of desperation, conveying that they cannot sleep or think because of their love for this person.
The second verse reiterates the singer's desire for their love interest, even though that person is with someone else. The this verse, the singer imagines their love interest's face, reminding themselves of what they are missing out on. The chorus again reinforces the singer's agony, as they cannot sleep or think due to their love for this person.
Overall, "Oh No" is a powerful song that captures the agony of unrequited love. The lyrics are poignant and relatable, making the song a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you to want me
The singer desires for the person he loves to have feelings for him in return.
I'm goin' crazy knowin' he will be your lover tonight
The singer is feeling anxious and restless thinking about the person he loves being with someone else.
And when he comes I'll let you go
The singer knows that he has to accept that the person he loves is with someone else, and that he needs to let her go.
I'll just pretend as you walk out the door
The singer plans to act like everything is okay and that he's not bothered by the person he loves leaving with someone else.
Oh no, I can't sleep
The singer is unable to sleep due to the emotional pain he feels from not being with the person he loves.
Oh no, I'm goin' crazy with love over you
The singer is overwhelmed with love for the person he desires, and is experiencing intense emotional pain from not being with her.
I need you to need me
The singer desires to be needed by the person he loves, and feels that having her love and affection would alleviate his suffering.
I wanna hold you but you're holdin' someone else in your arms
The singer wants to physically hold the person he loves, but is aware that she is currently in a relationship with someone else.
When I close my eyes I see your face
The singer is unable to get the person he loves out of his thoughts, so he sees her face when he closes his eyes.
I'm just not sure how much my heart can erase
The singer is unsure if he will ever be able to fully get over the person he loves, and if he will be able to forget about her.
Oh, honey
The singer is addressing the person he loves affectionately.
Oh, sugar
The singer is addressing the person he loves affectionately.
Oh no, I can't sleep anymore, baby
The singer is still struggling to sleep due to the emotional pain he feels from not being with the person he loves.
Oh no, I can't think anymore, baby
The singer is still struggling to think clearly due to the intense emotional pain he feels from not being with the person he loves.
Oh no, I'm goin' crazy with love over you
The singer is still overwhelmed with love for the person he desires, and is experiencing intense emotional pain from not being with her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LIONEL RICHIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind