The Commodores - Commodores

Technical info for funkophiles and Commodores fanatics

I have ended up with 2 digital copies of Commodores 1977 over the years and upon putting them in my computer, recently discovered they are of different lengths!

First version:
1. Squeeze The Fruit 2:58
2. Funny Feelings 5:57
3. Heaven Knows 4:48
4. Zoom 6:43
5. Won't You Come Dance With Me 3:49
6. Brick House 3:28
7. Funky Situation 3:44
8. Patch It Up 3:59
9. Easy 4:14
Total time - 39:49

Second version:
1. Squeeze The Fruit 2:58
2. Funny Feelings 5:57
3. Heaven Knows 6:17
4. Zoom 7:05
5. Won't You Come Dance With Me 4:08
6. Brick House 3:45
7. Funky Situation 4:11
8. Patch It Up 4:02
9. Easy 4:49
Total time - 43:17

There are no massive auditory quality differences between the two versions; other than slightly more volume and separation with the shorter version. The songs of the second version start identically, but last significantly longer in some cases. "Heaven Knows," for instance, has an extra 1:29 which results in an entire verse, chorus and verse fade out! With "Zoom" it adds another string crescendo with Lionel going falsetto to the end. "Won't You Come Dance With Me" is only extended by 3 more rounds of bridge. The smash hit "Brick House" only has an extra 0:17, which means the shorter version fades at 3:15 and the longer at 3:23; adding nothing more than an extra drum riff. With "Funky Situation" it adds Lionel screaming "Bad" "Sweet Thang, Sweet Thang," "Do It To Me" and "Uhhh" over the 4 more rounds of group vocals. "Patch It Up"s extra 3 seconds adds nothing more than the rest of the sentence on the fade 'cause if you (want me to).' The other smash hit "Easy," benefits from 0:25 of Lionel riffing on the chorus 3 more times over the prominent piano. All in all, only 3:28 of extra music, but in the case of "Heaven Knows," "Funky Situation" and maybe "Zoom" and "Easy", it's worth finding if you're a Commodores fanatic. (Sorry - I have no idea which versions are being sold where, or how to identify them by catalog number, as I got rid of the physical discs.) May 6, 2008

The Commodores-Commodores review

Got this for my hubby who is a total music fan. He is enjoying this project for it has all the favorites we've come to know and love. There's nothing like their sound (horns, drums,etc). Their music is happy and puts you in "feel good groovin' mood".

We both are enjoying listening to it. Received it during the timeframe indicated with no damage done to it during transport. Enjoyed purchasing with Amazon for it is truly hassle free. Will continue to do business with Amazon in the future.

Thanks March 28, 2008

A funky album!

Yes,this is a funky album featuring two Top 10 hits,BRICK HOUSE and EASY. It was 1977 and disco was very much dominating the music world even with some white artists like The Bee Gees and K.C. & The Sunshine Band. Lionel Richie,the Commodores' staple member brings fans the nice,subtle piece EASY(for those who can't stand funk will like that track). BH really rocks,funkily. BH is a popular favorite amongst many infamous cover bands,whether their forte(s) is/are pop,rock or soul(those categories inarguably describe the style of Daryl Hall and John Oates). The Commodores put out four more albums following this one and Richie would then leave for a successful solo career(his first three solo releases were best-selling megahits). The Commodores carried on for a few years without Richie,possibly with a replacement for him. Fans of the Commodores are also fans of The Gap Band,Kool & The Gang,Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio and Chic. February 7, 2007

Commodores cross over, but are still funky

The year was 1977 - and this was the album that turned the Commodores into certifiable superstars in the crossover and commercial market. Not that they weren't popular before - they had a huge R&B following, consistently amazing albums, and some pop music success, but nothing like it was after this album was released. 1977 was the year that the group embarked upon a massive nationwide tour, and their audience grew and grew to monumental proportions. This album was flying off the shelves in the music stores. Three of the songs from it that would go on to be classics were responsible for that. Ad campaigns, movie and TV roles for the funk sextet from Alabama followed as a result.

1977...we had not yet lost Lionel Richie to the pop world, so we get some wonderful funk jams and ballads penned by him and his Commodore brothas in this self-titled album, their fifth. They had not yet compromised the sound that made them famous (that wasn't until 1978), so that's what makes this CD such a triumph. Opening with "Squeeze The Fruit" and closing out with the unlikely #1 R&B smash, "Easy" (I say unlikely because "Easy" might as well had been a country/western song), COMMODORES is a perfect example of just how versatile these guys were. It also includes "Brick House" (what more can be said about this Southern-fried funk smash that still moves the crowd today - except that too many people think that Lionel Richie sang lead...nope! It's the group's drummer/percussionist, Walter "Clyde" Orange on lead vocals, you know, the short guy with the glasses) and "Zoom"...you'll want to fly away too, because hearing this song takes you to another time and place...gorgeous!!! "Patch It Up" should have been a single on its own; it's a rumbling slice of funk that is written by group keyboardist Milan Williams, whom IMO, was the best lyricist in the group.

I love all the songs on the album. There are several that should have received more attention, like "Won't You Come Dance With Me", "Funky Situation" and especially the R&B/funk ballads "Funny Feelings" and "Heaven Knows". Although I enjoy "Funny Feelings", it does tend to lumber along just a little bit. The version of that song from the guys' incredible live album released later that year is much better and absolutely a MUST HAVE! "Heaven Knows" shows the growing potential of Lionel as a romantic composer, even though at this point he had not opted to go the sweet, syrupy route with his lyrics and production. We had seen it the year before on the hit single "Just To Be Close To You" from HOT ON THE TRACKS (1976), and this is basically a continuation of that theme. Starting off with a mellow R&B groove, it then goes into a raunchy vamp, and then back to being mellow...and then the change comes at you again.

Check this CD out and you too will have to agree that the Commodores were one of the best funk bands of the 1970s...before Lionel had solo aspirations, and they were all into having a good time. Squeeze the fruit, give up the juice and enjoy!!! Owww!! January 9, 2005

Caught In The Transition!

By 1977 The Commodores became known for songs like
"Easy" and "Zoom",both mushy ballads to be found here.On the
other end "Squeeze Th Fruit" and "Funky Situation" lean too far
into funk-by-numbers stylings and don't stand out as much more
then album filler.This is where The Commodores funk tunes
began to become songless album tracks,bar the bands stunning
theme song "Brick House",clearly the best thing on the record.
So I baught this expecting a consistant album on a par with
"Brick House" and ended up with an uneven collection,but that was a vinyl LP with a poster.So why would you want the CD?Because it's available I suppose. July 25, 2004

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