''Commodores'' is the fifth studio album by the

Commodores Commodores, often billed as The Commodores, are an American funk and Soul music, soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer. The members of the group met as m ...

, released in 1977. The album spent eight weeks at the top of the R&B/soul albums chart, the second of their albums to do so, and was their first Top 5 pop album. There is also a previously released extended version. The band employed a variety of musical styles for the album, highlighted by the popular anthem " Brick House". With Walter Orange's deep voice on the lead, and Ronald LaPread's bassline, this track peaked on the U.S. Hot 100 at #5, and the U.S. R&B Chart at #4. "Brick House" means a "stacked" woman with an hour-glass figure. In contrast to "Brick House", " Easy" is a pop ballad with mellow vocals by

Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recor ...

. "Zoom" is one of the Commodores' best known tunes, despite not being released as a single in the US. It reached #38 on the UK singles chart. Fergie sampled "Zoom" in her song "All That I Got (The Make-Up Song)" on the album ''

The Dutchess ''The Dutchess'' is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter and rapper Fergie. It was released through A&M Records and the will.i.am Music Group on September 13, 2006. The album was recorded between the Black Eyed Peas' tour ...

''. In the UK and other Western European countries this album was released as ''Zoom'' on Tamla Motown. The album was dedicated to Kathy Faye LaPread, bass guitarist Ronald LaPread's wife, who died from cancer around that time.The Story Behind the Song: "Zoom" by the Commodores
SoulTracks

Track listing

Personnel

Commodores *

– vocals, saxophones, keyboards *

Milan Williams Milan B. Williams (March 28, 1948 – July 9, 2006) was an American keyboardist and a founding member of The Commodores. He was born in Okolona, Mississippi, and began playing the piano after being inspired by his older brother Earl, who was a ...

– keyboards * Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars *

Ronald LaPread Commodores, often billed as The Commodores, are an American funk and soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer. The members of the group met as mostly fresh ...

– vocals, bass *

Walter Orange Commodores, often billed as The Commodores, are an American funk and soul group. The group's most successful period was in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Lionel Richie was the co-lead singer. The members of the group met as mostly fresh ...

– vocals, drums, percussion *

William King William King may refer to: Arts * Willie King (1943–2009), American blues guitarist and singer * William King (author) (born 1959), British science fiction author and game designer, also known as Bill King * William King (artist) (1925–2015), ...

– vocals, trumpet Additional musicians * Cal Harris – synthesizers * Darrell Jones – guitars

Production

* Commodores – producers, arrangements * James Anthony Carmichael – producer, arrangements * Cal Harris – engineer, mixing * Jane Clark – engineer * Jack Andrews – mastering * Carl Overr – graphics director * Stan Martin – design * Tom Nikosey – illustration * Gene Gurley – photography * Benjamin Ashburn – album coordinator, manager

Charts

Singles

References