Back to Front

Lionel Richie

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 1992)
• Original Release Date: May 5, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000001AKM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,674 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Lionel Richie's Back to Front isn't just a definitive greatest hits collection, it's a reminder of Richie's supreme strengths as an R&B singer-songwriter. From the gentle sweep of "Do It to Me" to the earnest lovelorn crooning of "Hello," Richie's ballads are timeless. Even the borderline sappy "Endless Love" shines despite cosinger Diana Ross's histrionics. Also featured is "Still" and "Say You, Say Me," and while the faster songs--the Caribbean-inspired rhythms of "All Night Long" and the '80s synthpop of "Running with the Night"--are weaker, they hardly detract from this otherwise sterling survey. --Courtney Kemp

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great buy!, April 25, 2001

By	Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

[One CD, with a running time of 50 minutes] This collection includes the very best of the golden voice of Lionel Richie. Featuring such greats as All Night Long and Three Times A Lady, it's a real treat. (Actually, I could have just listed all the songs, they're all great!) My missing favorite would be Dancing On The Ceiling, but that's a minor quibble. The paperwork contains some great black-and-white pictures, along with the words to the songs. This is a great buy!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly The Best, March 10, 2001

By	Craig Kellagher (Livingston, West Lothian, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This Greatest Hits CD proves that Lionel Richie is truly one of America's greatest ever singer/songwriters. Although Lionel is best know for his huge ballads there are however some outstanding uptempo tracks here as well proving what a versatile songwriter he really was.

Featuring all his major solo hits along with some of the Commodores (he was the lead vocalist) biggest hits as well this CD is a must for any music fan as it higlights great songwriting and if you love love songs there is no way you can do without this - buy it now.

Lionel's vocals show emotion in almost all his songs and everyone is touching in a way and you can feel the pain at times. Prime examples of this are Still, Truly and the phenomenally huge Hello. Other higlights include the more dancey Say You Say Me and possibly his finest achievement All Night Long which is a great dance tune. My favourite however is Three Times A Lady as it has to be one of the most beautiflu songs ever.

This man was a genius and this CD proves it and i highly recommend it to everybody.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eaaaasy, July 22, 2004

By	V. Ryan (London Uk) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is no denying that Lionel Richie is a superstar in the soul music genre.
A lot of soul fans will disagree with this statement as Richie has become very middle of the road with his more recent music. Even some of the songs on this set will have soul boys turning up there noses.

"Back To Front" has tracks on it which will be forever marked as "Classic". Some of the tracks are no doubt on the slushy side. "Hello" the most notable one with the annoying video. But its vintage Richie. Its beautiful, corny and beautiful again.
"My Destiny" is another classic. Its of course catchy but one which showcases the voice that he possess.
"All Night Long" again is classic and one of the many many Richie songs that gets so much radio play. Everyone knows this song. Its typical accessable Lionel Richie - a song for all.
"Easy" is perhaps the best ever song written by the man. Sung while still with the Commadores, "Easy" is a track you can't hate.

Ballads have always been his forte. And all the classics are here in the bucket loads.
One of the best duets of all time, "Endless Love" with Diana Ross is here, with the heart wrenching "Stuck On You" the soulful "Penny Lover and the anthem "Say You Say Me".
Its all here on this excellent and now so cheap history of a superstar - Lionel Richie.

His music may not be "black" enough for some, and yes true he does attract a more middle of the road radio 2 listener - but that doesn't detract from the fact that Lionel Richie has had hit after hit and has made classic after classic.