Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down

Can't Slow Down is probably Lionel Richie's best solo album, full of songs that would become hits--"All Night Long (All Night)," "Running with the Night," "Penny Lover," and "Hello." Like all of Richie's best music, the vocals are spare and the choruses inviting, with each track falling somewhere between straight-up pop and smoochy R&B. --Courtney Kemp Amazon.com

Seering With the Night.........

Don't know if you heard the news or not, but yesterday Punxsutawney Phyllis (an emortional vampire friend of mine) did not see her reflection in a mirror. You know what this means don't you? Yes. 6 more months of Metamorpho's reviews! And I just know there will be great celebration today because of it. What? You say the celebration will be for the Super Bowl? Parties etc.? Ohno- you must be mistaken. It's for me - I'm sure it is. ;)

That said, I am reviewing this Lionel Ritchie c.d. "Can't Slow Down" was a stand-out in the 80's. In a season with one hit wonders and safety pants (or was that dance?), this selection is a refreshing breeze. Some people may consider this too middle of the road. However, there are real reasons for it's success, which I will tell you because you asked nicely.

Certainly the smart videos he produced for MTV were a big part of it. Classy and well done. By the time this music had arrived, he was well-known as a considerable artist, given that he was with the Commodores and had also put out a previous solo album (also quite excellent). His songwriting was crisp, smooth, easy on the ear and he was also a lyrical master of the love ode. Earnest, heartfelt; alot of these songs wrap you in a comfort that is hard to qualify. But, it's there. One listen and you'll feel it too.

There is a nice mix here. There are beautiful, hook-filled ballads ("Penny Lover","Stuck On You" "Hello"), which play like pure velvet on the ears. An easy groove like "Love Will Find a Way" and harder groove like "Can't Slow Down". Lionel also possesses the creativity to write a calypso-flavored party classic "All Night Long", to the surprise of no one.

One of my favorites, "Running With the Night" employs a pop-rock chug a-long with smokin' silken guitar lead. In all honesty, he hits upon something for everyone here and the effort is flawless. Oh, I can hear the complaints now - the music is too studio polished, the music is too saccharin, Lionel sold out. I don't go along with any of it. He assembled top notch musicians here and paid alot of attention to his craft with great care. It shows. That is why it was a shining light back then and, I think, is so today.

In closing, this is a fine, easy listening selection to play when someone like Sondra the Seeress comes to visit your astute Metamorpho. Music in the background-- me with brandy - she with chardonnay - the lovelight twinkle in both our eyes. Ahhhhhhhhhh..........

Let the music play on, play on, play on....... Metamorpho ;)



February 3, 2008

a motown classic from the '80s

can;t slow down is a motown classic from the '80s. it has the hit songs allnight long, hello,penny lover stuck on you,and running with the night. the only one and love will find a way are good songs too. why don't you dig out your old copy of this album and listen to it again? oryou can buy it on cd. you will love it all over again. ed wilson July 10, 2007

Good for an 80's album.

The volume is a little low, but all the songs are great nonetheless. I am really in love with track number 6 "the only one" followed by penny lover. Those two are my all time favorites! March 25, 2007

No Need To Slow Down

Lionel Richie ex. Commodores had archieved great success with his eponumous debut album in 1982 and even experienced two solo #1 hits, "Endless Love" a duet with Diana Ross (which didn't appear on his debut) and then "Truly". There was no need to slow down at all and the year after this fantastic album was released. Lionel continues with the same kind of music, but now he does it better and smarter then ever. This album is well calculated with a great production and all singles seems to be exactly on point with good hooks and arrangements. Even if it's calculated to work for the charts, there are a few diffrent numbers here that shows a new side of Richies music., I'm talking about the Countryish "Stuck on You", the mega hit "All Night Long" with world Beat sound, simular to what Michael Jackson did on "Wanna Be Starting Something" and Madonna later did on "La Isla Bonita". Exotic pop songs that didn't sound like anything else on the charts at the time. The song topped the Billboard charts in 1983. The third song that comes to mind is the rock-pop hit "Running With the Night", not as edgy as MJ but not far from. Two more fantastic songs should be mentioned as highlights "Penny Lover" a midtempo love song and obviously the massive ballad hit "Hello" with a blind girl in the video. It topped both charts of the atlantic and was one of the biggest hits of that year. "Can't Slow Down" is a decent midtempo with great arrangements but lacks a good hook and was no single. Neither were the dry ballad "Love Will Find A Way" nor "The Only One" another ballad. Out of only 8 songs 5 were hits, which is quite amazing. Just like another reviewer mentioned, This is probably the best Pop album of 1983 and it made Lionel Richie a superstar. It got something for everyone and it's fullpacked with memorable hits that rocked the music charts in the early 80's. Just like the previous album Lionel also wrote all songs. Unfortunately some of the songs are too long. "All Night Long" really is all night, since it's 6.30 minutes and goes on forever. Shorting down some of the songs and adding a few more would have been better then having songs that never ends. However, this album shows Lionel at his peak when everything he made was a hit and I warmly recommend this to people that like good music and want a classic pop album in their collection. February 10, 2007

lionel will always be a classic artist to me

I was born in spring 1983 and by the time I was a year or two old I discovered lionel's songs all night long, hello & penny love thanks to my parents playing them. This is a great album to own. It's short and sweet, and as one reviewer stated, THE PERFECT answer to Thriller, which is also great to play back to back with this album. January 5, 2007

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