Customer Reviews

Lionel Richie

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This remastered/expanded Lionel Richie debut album is an absolute gem. Glad that an early version of Endless Love is included, the same for the instrumental version of You Are (which is still my favourite on the album). There is a rumour that Kenny Rogers' version of Lady (written by Lionel) was also recorded for this album, but never included in the final stages. I like the new 'sound' much better than the original CD-version. I like the 2 bonus tracks a lot; they add a lot to the whole feel of the album. I think Serves You Right and Tell Me sounded much better that before and My Love (duet with Kenny Rogers) is simply outstanding quality... My favourite L.R.-album

This cd is my personal best lionel Richie cd but there are other great ones as well.However for me this cd is a cut above because it speaks to the warm romantic side of me and it feels good.

A los que vivimos la transición entre Commodores y el solista Lionel Richie, recomiendo este album, que es uno de los mejores de los años 80.

Why am I giving five stars to an albums where I am not 100% crazy about every song?The simple reason is that,in terms of everything Lionel Richie is musically this debut album is one of his most overall richest experiences. Conceptually Lionel's style of blending contemporary funk/R&B styles with slow,sentimental "countrypoliton" types of ballads really feels at it's most down to earth and organic here. It would have been nice if Lionel had included more uptempo songs here but that is more of a preference on my part.But for those who feel the same way it is true:the funk type tunes that are here are some of the very best he ever made."Serves You Right" and "Tell Me" are great jams,more in keeping with a a kind of "naked sophisti-funk" type of groove then the more polished urban styled jams on Lionel's final album with the Commodores In the Pocket.The other song of this type here is "You Are"-it isn't exactly what I'd call funk but definately a great peppy,uptempo R&B love song.It was really not a bad early solo hit for Lionel and frankly a musical style worth persuing further.Of course the majority of this album is weighed toward the ballad end of things,the style Lionel chose to make his musical calling but.......well to be honest not his greatest strengh.Romantically and sentimentally satisfying fare such as "Wandering Spirit","Truly" and the brief final two cuts "You Mean More To Me" and "Just Put Some Love In Your Heart" are musically excellent for such slow paced songs.However unlike with fellow Motowners Smokey Robinson,Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye,Lionel seemed to have difficulty inflecting his slow songs with any real sense of emotional expression:vocally these types of songs tend to come off as...well overly sentimental in his hand.He basically sounds like a black version of Kenny Rogers on these types of tunes and therefore it's no doubt their musical connection and that Kenny appears on this album.Of course the bonus tracks really showcase another side of his talent.The demo of "Endless Love" shows the nucleus of a song that,while overproduced to the extreme in it's final form really gives you an inside peak into Lionel's technique as a composer with this demo having a more bare,folksy flavor. The instrumental version of "You Are" is not only great to dance to but solid proof of Lionel's 70's-born concept that the catchiness of a great dance tune didn't just come from the singing:it was the horns,the keyboards and most importantly the rhythm. If you a Commodores fan just getting into Lionel Richie's solo music and want an easy starting point,in this case it might be best to start at the beginning here. The next album Can't Slow Down was of course hugely more successful commerically (not that this was any slouch in that respect either) but musically that album is a whole other beast entirely,for better or worse. This definately finds Lionel with one foot in his past and the other in things to come musically and in any case is more then worth hearing.

This is some of the best music ever recorded - 'Wandering Stranger'; 'My Love'. They just don't make them like they used to.

This is one of Lionel Richie's best albums. I would recommend it to anyone who loves his music. Lyrics also provided. Enjoy!

... I'll admit it - I'm a fan of Lionel Richie's uptempo tracks and I wish he'd do more of them, because I've always despised most of his megahit ballads (although "Easy" is one of the greatest slow dancers of all-time)... but some of his very best are found here and here only (you won't find "Serves You Right", "Round And Round" or "Tell Me" on any compilations)... all you really need are this CD and "Can't Slow Down" before Lionel descended into self-parody with "Dancing On The Ceiling". Recommended if you can sit through the slow stuff.