Commodores – Midnight Magic

Album Revolution #5:

After "The Commodores" ed over the TOP of the POP World with the MASSIVE #1 HIT, "Three Time A Lady", the group went back into the studio and released "Midnight Magic".....

the PUSH and PULL situation I mentioned? Well, it continued here....The group wanted to be able to continue the balance of Pure FUNK, along with the Smooth ts that the group was NOW recognized for....I am not so sure that they could do that as much anymore....

"Gettin' It' does start the album kind of FUNKY though....Written by "Walter Orange" and "David Cochrane" (from "The Mean Machine"), this 1st Crown Jewel is very enjoyable, and the Bass keeps this t right into the POCKET!!!!!

The "Lionel Richie" and "Thomas McClary" collaboration "Title Track" was an attempt of the group to dab into a little "Disco".....I have to be honest here, it's ok, but compared to the usual "Lionel", "Thomas" ts, this just doesn't measure up to me....

Now the 2nd Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "You're Special", is THE BOMB!!!!!! Even though it was Written by "William King" and "Harold Hudson" (also from "The Mean Machine"), it has "Lionel" providing TERRIFIC Vocals to a Semi-FUNK track.....The Bass, Horns, and Keyboards are the heroes of this t!!!!!!

Now for that for that ONE "Lionel Richie" song of the album in "Still".....

I have a confession to make....

I steered clear of this t for a LONG LONG LONG LONG time!!!!!!! I think my reasoning (even though flawed) was trying to stay away from POP influenced material in my 20's....That's CRAZY, because half of those POP songs from back then are now in my Vinyl collection!!!!

That defiantly applies to "Still" as well....Yes, it has "Lionel" tapping right back in that "Three Times A Lady" Vibe, but this Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, has stood the TEST of TIME!!!!!

Side 2 starts with one of the BEST songs of the album in "Wonderland"......

Written by "Milan Williams", this Super-Dooper Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, stayed the course of that Smooth FUNK that the group was now known for...The beginning Keyboard Vibe (provided by "Williams"), sets the song up PERFECTLY, almost mirroring a slow version of "Machine Gun" (from their 1st album), then goes into a Moody but straight up Groove!!!!! Then the cherry on top, having "Lionel's" Vocals just glide ALL over the track!!!!!

"Sexy Lady" (Written and I believe Sung by "Thomas McClary"), is really the only dud on here to me...It's not terrible, but I believe it would have fit better on one the earlier albums....

"Lovin' You" (Written by "Ronald LaPread") is the next Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel!!!!! The beginning Drum and String Vibe, ushers in this terrific t, again with having "Lionel" just glide over this Smooth track....."Ronald" didn't write songs as much as the other of the group....But when he did, he DID IT RIGHT!!!!!!!

The last Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel in "Sail On", is THE ULTIMATE BOMB!!!!!!

Again served up by Mr. Songwriter "Lionel Richie" (a rare double song appearance from him), this Smooth t captured the hearts of EVERYONE!!!! But unlike "Three Time A Lady" and "Still", this t has a more SOUL Mood to it....Also with how the beginning Guitar was played, and how the groups Vocals were displayed, it brought about their "Country" roots (which was PERFECT!!!!)....We heard it from the group before ( "Gimme My Mule"?), and with them coming from "Tuskegee, Alabama", it just made sense, and it was a BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!!!! It also became an OUTRIGHT "Commodores" FAVORITE!!!!

"12:01 A.M. (Reprise)" ("Richie" and "McClary"), to me was kind of out of place....Maybe the group just wanted to have a little fun, but they really are not an Interlude group to me....I do it being an "Earth, Wind & Fire" (who were the Kings of the Interludes) Guy, I compared it to them, and that really wasn't FAIR!!!!!

Well, there you go....

This album was a MASSIVE seller!!!! "Motown" went through the ROOF behind this one!!!!! Problem is there was criticism behind this....People, especially the "R&B" crowd was complaining that "The Commodores" were becoming TOO POP!!!!! That was because the Songwriting of "Lionel Richie" was beginning to overshadow the group to some degree (I will explain later)....

Again, the PUSH and PULL situation was starting to take hold of the group....Problem was they were SUCCESSFUL!!!!!, so why argue right?!?!?!? Well, even though it had a couple of flaws, "Midnight Magic" is "STILL" a worth while album (Dad Joke).......