Commodores 13 Explained
Commodores 13 is the tenth studio album (and thirteenth overall, including two greatest-hits compilations and a live album) by the Commodores, released in 1983 on Motown Records.[1] It's also the first album by the band after the departure of Lionel Richie, who began his solo career in 1982.
Background
Commodores 13 was produced by William King, Thomas McClary, Walter Orange and Milan Williams. Singers Vesta Williams and Melissa Manchester made guest appearances on the album.
Critical reception
Alex Henderson of Allmusic gave Commodores 13 a 2.5 out of 5 stars rating. Henderson remarked, in his review of the album, "Is Commodores 13 a masterpiece? No. This release isn't in a class with essential treasures like 1976's Hot on the Tracks or 1977's The Commodores. But it isn't a bad album, and it indicated that there could be life after Lionel Richie for the Commodores."
Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone gave Commodores 13, a 3 out of 5 stars rating. Marsh in his review remarked "Not exactly the comeback of the year, but with Richie out of the way, both Thomas McClary and William King suggest they have some production and composing chops of their own."
Track listing
Side one
- "I'm in Love" (Harold Hudson, Shirley King, William King) – 4:05
- "Turn Off the Lights" (Shirley King, William King) – 4:20
- "Nothing Like a Woman" (Hudson, Walter Orange) – 4:56
- "Captured" (Linda McClary, Thomas McClary) – 4:37
Side two
- "Touchdown" (Michael Dunlap, Orange) – 4:30
- "Welcome Home" (Bill Champlin, Thomas McClary) – 4:20
- "Ooo, Woman You" (Melissa Manchester, Thomas McClary) – 4:22
- "Only You" (Milan Williams) – 4:10
Personnel
Commodores
- Harold Hudson – lead vocals (1, 2, 6), rhythm & vocal arrangements (1, 2, 3), backing vocals (2), additional keyboards (3)
- William King – rhythm & vocal arrangements (1, 2), synthesizers (2, 3, 4, 6, 7), horns (2, 4, 5, 6, 8)
- Ronald LaPread – bass guitar (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8), vocal arrangements (3)
- Thomas McClary – lead & rhythm guitar (2, 3, 5, 7, 8), acoustic & electric guitar (4), rhythm & vocal arrangements (4, 6, 7), horn & string arrangements (4, 6), guitar solo (6), lead vocals (7)
- Walter Orange – drums (1–8), lead vocals (3, 4, 5, 8), rhythm arrangements (3, 5), vocal arrangements (5)
- Milan Williams – keyboards (2–7), acoustic piano (8), Fender Rhodes (8), Oberheim synthesizer (8), rhythm & vocal arrangements (8), horn & string arrangements (8)
Additional musicians
- Michael Boddicker – acoustic piano (1), Fender Rhodes (1), synthesizers (1), synth bass (1), synth horns (6), synth strings (6), additional synthesizers (7)
- David Cochrane – backing vocals (1–7), synthesizers (5, 7), vocoder (5), additional guitar (8)
- Bill Champlin – backing vocals (1, 3–8), vocal arrangements (6), acoustic piano (6), Fender Rhodes (6), synth bass (6)
- Michael Dunlap – additional guitar (3, 5), additional keyboards (5), rhythm arrangements (5), rhythm guitar (6), Moog synthesizer (7)
- Geno Findley – additional synthesizers (7)
- Michael Lang – additional keyboards (8)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – additional guitar (8)
- John Gilston – Simmons drums (7)
- Steve Schaeffer – additional drums (8)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 3, 6, 7), effects (3)
- Rolene Marie Naveja – castanets (3)
- Bruce Miller – horn & string arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5, 8)
- Shirley King – rhythm & vocal arrangements (2)
- Gene Page – horn & string arrangements (4)
- Benjamin White – string arrangements (7)
- Phyllis St. James – backing vocals (1)
- Deborah Thomas – backing vocals (2, 4, 6, 7)
- Tandia Brenda White – backing vocals (5)
- Vesta Williams – backing vocals (5, 6, 8)
- Melissa Manchester – backing vocals (7)
Production
- Producers – William King (Tracks 1 & 2), Walter Orange (Tracks 3 & 5), Thomas McClary (Tracks 4, 6 & 7), Milan Williams (Track 8).
- Executive Recording and Mixing Engineer – Jane Clark
- Second Recording – Brian Leshon
- Additional Recording, Second Recording and Additional Mixing – Magic Moreno
- Additional Mixing – Norman Whitfield
- Mastering – Bernie Grundman
- Recorded and Mastered at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California.
- Mixed at Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios, Hollywood, California and The Village Recorder, West Los Angeles, California.
- Project Manager – Suzee Ikeda
- Art Direction – Terry Taylor
- Photography – Mark Sennet
Charts
Notes and References
- The Commodores: Commodores 13. September 1983. Motown Records.
