The Commodores: Commodores Live! CD Track Listing

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The Commodores Commodores Live! (1977)
Commodores Live!\n\nOriginally Released October 1977\nCD Edition Released March 26, 2002\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Hot on the heels of their 1977 self-titled LP -- which included studio versions of the classics "Brick House" and "Easy" -- Commodores Live! was issued as a seasonal offering the same year. The band wisely included extended readings of not only its most recent hits, but also a healthy sampling from its previous four studio albums, as well as the track "Too Hot ta Trot," which had been featured in the motion picture Thank God It's Friday. The six-man original Commodores were a powerful and self-contained unit that could effortlessly alternate between turning over mean and serious funk jams or a slow, sexy power ballad. Heralded as the Black Beatles, the Commodores were able to fuse a more traditional pop music headlong into the funk stylings of their contemporaries: Parliament, the Ohio Players, and Earth, Wind & Fire. However, instead of being propelled by seemingly endless -- and often aimless -- jams, William King (trumpet), Thomas McClary (guitar), Ronald LaPread (bass), Walter "Clyde" Orange (drums), Lionel Richie (alto saxophone), and Milan Williams (keyboards) were able to tighten up their arrangements and make them more potent in the process. From right out of the gate, the opening trio of "Won't You Come Dance With Me," "Slippery When Wet," and "Come Inside" pounce and bounce around with undeniably hardcore funk grooves -- replete with distorted and screaming electric lead guitar lines, emphatic accents from the horns, and an authoritative rhythm section that James Brown would have been proud of. The mellower side of the band is equally represented by several key Lionel Richie ballads. "Just to Be Close to You" shimmers and is notable for Richie's extended vocal interlude. "Easy" -- an audible audience favorite -- swings with an urgency and passion conspicuously lacking in the more familiar studio version. Milan Williams' tasty keyboards are also a highlight as they lightly soar above the rest of the band. Without a doubt it is the ten-plus-minute version of "Brick House" that allows the band to reach a funkified critical mass. Ronald LaPread's rubbery basslines adhere themselves around "Clyde" Orange's Latin-tinged percussion inflections. The searing Richie and William King sound more akin to a full-fledged horn section than the hard-workin' duo behind their wall of solid brass. Commodores Live! is overall one of the finest R&B concert albums of the '70s -- of which there are far too few. -- Lindsay Planer \n\nAmazon.com Product Description (Import CD Edition)\n1993 reissue on Motown of their 1977 live album for the label (which reached #3 in the U.S.!). Lionel Richie, who left the band in 1982, is vocalist on all 12 tracks, which include the studio version of their top 30 smash 'Too Hot TaTrot', plus concert renditions of many of their biggest & best, including 'Brickhouse', 'Easy', 'Fancy Dancer', 'Just To Be Close To You', 'Sweet Love' & 'Slippery When Wet'. \n \nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA trip back in time...., March 27, 2004\nReviewer: The Fancy One "blackprincess" (New York, NY)\nMy older sister had this album when I was a kid. The Commodores were LARGE back then, I mean, everything they touched turned to gold. I am so glad this is on CD for me to own. This is one of the most enjoyable live CDs that I own, just all around fun to listen to. These guys knew how to rock a party, and on a dime, slow it down to make it romantic and mellow. \n\nThe CD kicks off with a fantastic high-energy version of "Won't You Come Dance With Me", and that sets the tone for everything you hear afterwards. You can hear and feel the excitement the Commodores were giving out, and the love the crowd was giving right back to them. I especially loved the live versions of the funk/jazz groove of "Funny Feelings" and the hit "Just To Be Close To You"...at the end Lionel Richie and Clyde Orange do some gorgeous doo-wop harmony! It has to be heard to be believed, their voices sound so good together! \n\nOther standouts are "Fancy Dancer" (which breaks into a hot dancehall beat at midpoint!), "Sweet Love" (another harmonic masterpiece - look out, Temptations! Clyde hits a high falsetto note that reaches to the rafters - whoa!), "Zoom" and "Easy". I loved how the guys go from "I Feel Sanctified" into a bangin' ten minute version of "Brick House"...and they have the "Brick House" contest, another high point of the recording. I found myself laughing along with the guys! I loved the friendly stage rivalry between Lionel and Clyde...hey yall, you REALLY need to reunite and show every just WHY yall got the name "The Funkiest Band In The Land"! You have so many fans out here who would love for that to happen. Just like Lionel said on this live version of "Sweet Love"...yall reached your goals TOGETHER...which is where yall need to be now...BACK TOGETHER! \n\nI highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes live concert recordings. You'll feel like you were back in 1977 and partying along with the crowd, I know I did! A must have.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nLive in 1977, May 19, 2004\nReviewer: Darryl D. Ward (Kansas City, Missouri United States)\nOne of the truly outstanding live albums of all time. The guys recorded this at the height of their beginning into a supergroup. All of the early classics are here. You will feel as if you are right there back in Atlanta in 1977. The guys are having a lot of fun and it is evident in their live show which has always been a staple of the Commodores. If only they would do a reunion tour (sorry J.D. original members only). These songs are too good to never be heard live again. If you don't have this in your collection, get it soon while it is still available. This is a must have.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nOh Yeah! Come Inside!, December 15, 2003\nReviewer: Jerzygurl (New Jersey)\nReviewer: soulsista38 from GALLOWAY, NJ United States\nThis is a terrific Live CD. If you are a huge fan of that whole 70's live concert thing...I say jump on this CD. Since not many R&B/Funk Bands made recordings of their live concerts in the 70's, this is a good way to revisit those days. There are only a few live albums i.e., EWF(Gratitude)and AWB(Person to Person) from that period, but most of those dynamite performances from all those great 70's bands were never recorded! Imagine that! I was so glad when this was finally released on CD..I had been waiting for sometime. The Commodores will take you back! When they perform Zoom...it is epic! Invest in your past, for your future, or invest in the present for the future and past! Take my word for it! This is a stellar CD\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nONE OF THE BEST, May 10, 2001\nReviewer: David (Monroe, n.y. United States)\nI had this when it came out in a double album in 1979. No doubt, one of the best live albums ever produced, rivaled by only EWF's "Gratitude". So you know, this album is where "Too Hot To Trot" was first featured (a hard song to get for those who really enjoy the Commodores).\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nTop performance by a top band, May 13, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nThis Live performance is a real shocker. I have not heard such a live perfomance in my live. If you know anything about live music, you must have this album. The commoderes demonstrated to the world what performing live was about. Altough this album was recorded in 1977, I listen to it every day on my way to work. The songs Zoom and Easy are the headlines for me. The funky grooves of Come inside, Funny feelings and Slippery when wet are priceless. Lionel is the man who made the difference. Without him they are just an average soul band. To bad he left.\n\nHalf.com Details \nDistributor: Universal Distribution \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Commodores include: Lionel Richie (vocals, alto saxophone, keyboards); Walter "Clyde" Orange (vocals, drums); Thomas McClary (guitar); William King (trumpet); Milan Williams (keyboards); Ronald LaPread (bass).\n\nAdditional personnel: The Mean Machine (horns).\n\nProducers: James Anthony Carmichael, The Commodores.\nReissue producer: Harry Weinger.\nEngineers: Cal " ECM-50" Harris, Jane Clark.\n\nRecorded live at The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia; Capital Center, Washington, D.C.\nin 1977. \n\nOriginally released on Motown (894A2). \nIncludes liner notes by A. Scott Galloway.\nAll tracks have been digitally remastered by Suha Gar.\n\nThis is part of Motown Records "Classic Albums" series.\n\nIndustry Reviews\n3 stars out of 5 - ...Originally released as a double album in 1977 and featured extremely funky versions of tracks such as 'Slippery When Wet', the storming 'I Feel Sanctified', plus an extended and hugely enjoyable 'Brick House'....\nQ (06/01/2002)
This rock cd contains 12 tracks and runs 72min 53sec.
Freedb: 8c11130c
Buy: from Amazon.com

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