Commodores Album: “Commodores”

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.)

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

The COMMODORES...ah, how they bring back memories...After purchasing this self-titled CD, it took longer to get it into my car system that it took getting to my front door. But, once I unwrapped it and plopped it in, this CD has yet to be removed from my player. And although I hadn't heard the COMMODORES CD since the times my parents had a versión, possibly on 8 track player, an we'd curse the highway taking my sister to and from college, I still remember every word to every song!!! I have also purchased 3 other CD's by various artists, and look forward to getting several more "hard to get" music items HERE!

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!!

By far, easily the best album by them in the 70's. The next being "Hot on the tracks" the year before. The give us a little bit of everything on this album. FUNK ON.....FUNK ON!