The Story of How Lionel Richie Captured Our Hearts in the 1970s and 1980s | VOX | Professor of Rock

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#LionelRichie #1970s #1980s

Lionel Richie has one of the most recognizable voices ever. For an 1980s kid like me, he was such a huge part of my childhood and beyond, that hearing one of his songs is akin to having a amazing dinner with an old friend. His music is comfort food for the soul. I remember when Casey Kasem announced that he was one of only two artists who had written or co-written a number one hit for 9 consecutive years. It was no surprise. There are very few in the history of music who can write and record hits #1 hits in their sleep, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Lionel Ritchie, maybe a few others. As part of the Commodores and solo, Lionel has written and sung some of the greatest standards of the popular music canon including All Night Long (All Night), Sail On, Three Times A Lady, Still, Hello, Easy, Penny Lover, Stuck on You, and many more. We celebrate his impact here. Hey music junkies The Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time. Join our community below by subscribing for our daily content and become a patron to help us curate this great history of the rock era .

It’s time for another Edition of Vox where we celebrate that greatest, most unique vocalist of the Rock and Roll me. For me this one is no brainer. There are a lot of singers who are so great at delivering a song that we take them for granted, even when they have sold tens of millions of records. Artists like Neil Diamond, Diana Ross and today’s honoree Lionel Richie. Here's our 5er

#5- From 1983….“Running with the Night."

From Lionel’s essential 2nd solo album release Can’t Slow Down.
“Running with the Night” spotlights the rock n’ roll side of Lionel Richie’s multi-faceted vocal skill.

The writing and recording of “Running With the Night” was a star-studded experience:The track was co-produced by James Anthony Carmichael, a Grammy Award winning arranger & musician, who’s credits when all the way back to work he did with the legendary crooner Bing Crosby.

#4- “Easy” from 1977- performed by Lionel Richie and The Commodores.The beautiful tranquility of Lionel Richie’s vocal, and deeply resonating lyrics make this song a timeless standard.
Lionel gave us an invigorating ‘come to terms’ ballad about facing the reality of a failed relationship.


#3- “Still" Lionel Richie’s misty-eyed love letter released in 1979- inspired by the true-life breakup of his friend William “Smitty” Smith’s marriage.
Lionel wrote “Still” after a long, heavy conversation with “Smitty” about his failing marriage. The conversation between Lionel & Smitty started in the evening, and went well after sunrise the following morning. The two friends reached the conclusion that Smitty should end his marriage, in order to save the deep friendship that still existed with his wife. The dissolution of matrimony didn’t have to mean the end of a relationship between two people that really cared for each other.

#2- From the 1979 Commodores album Midnight Magic….. “Sail On” As Lionel wrote and sang…when you breakaway from a toxic relationship...“Good times never felt so good,” “Sail On” rose to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #8 in the UK, and was a top 10 single on the R&B and AC charts.

There’s some really cool changeups in Lionel’s vocal performance on “Sail On” that make this song standout from other amazing Lionel Richie compositions. “Sail On” has the hurt and frustration of a country & western song reminiscent of the golden era of country music that included fellow Alabamans Hank Williams, and Vern Gosdin. And like I mentioned a moment ago, Lionel’s interpretation of this song is so achingly beautiful. It’s so heart wrenching at times that as a listener you’re on the verge of tears at almost every turn.

#1- The fiesta forever….. “All Night Long.” Lionel’s signature composition from the award winning Can’t Slow Down LP.
Lionel, a self described “hopeless romantic” gave us one of the ultimate party tunes that makes us want hang out with our friends, and jam in the streets- proving that he has vocal versatility that goes beyond his eminence as a balladeer.