- Nightshift
-
For other uses, see Night Shift (disambiguation).
"Nightshift" 
Single by Commodores from the album Nightshift B-side "I Keep Running" Released January 31, 1985 Genre R&B Length 5:04 (album version)
4:19 (7" single edit)Label Motown Writer(s) Walter Orange
Dennis Lambert
Franne GoldeProducer Dennis Lambert Commodores singles chronology "Only You"
(1983)"Nightshift"
(1985)"Animal Instinct"
(1985)"Nightshift" is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores and title track from the album of the same name. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984.
This song was the first hit attained by the Commodores following Lionel Richie's departure from the group. It was also their biggest hit after Richie's departure, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and rising to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart,[1] as well as number three in the UK Singles Chart. Although the band was against the label's decision to release it as a single,[2] it won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group. The song features the lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, whose lead appeared years before on the hugely popular "Brick House".
The Commodores re-recorded a version dedicated to Michael Jackson in 2010.[3]
The song was also parodied by the band as 11 Alive on a 1985 commercial for NBC affiliate WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contents
Chart performance
Chart (1985) Peak
positionU.S. Billboard Hot 100 3 U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 1 Dutch Top 40 1[4] UK Top 75 3 Other versions
A reggae version of this was recorded by Winston Groovy, with the lyrics changed as a tribute to Bob Marley.[5]
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 130.
- ^ John Leland (June 1985). "Singles - Commodores "Nightshift" (Motown)". Spin. pp. 36. http://books.google.com/books?id=16jp_aFRHdgC&pg=PA36&dq=spin+magazine+1985+commodores+night+shift&hl=en&ei=iTxxTIznPI-6sQPfl5yLCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ Commodores Re-record "Nightshift" As MJ Tribute
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 13, 1985". http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=5872. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ Winston Groovys Nightshift lyrics
External links
Preceded by
"Missing You" by Diana RossBillboard Hot Black Singles number one single
March 16, 1985 - April 6, 1985Succeeded by
"Back In Stride" by Maze featuring Frankie BeverlyWalter Orange · William King · J.D. Nicholas
Lionel Richie · Thomas McClary · Ronald LaPread · Milan Williams · Sheldon Reynolds · Harold Hudson · Skyler JettAlbums Machine Gun (1974) · Caught in the Act (1975) · Movin' On (1975) · Hot on the Tracks (1976) · Commodores (1977) · Natural High (1978) · Midnight Magic (1979) · Heroes (1980) · In the Pocket (1981) · Commodores 13 (1983) · Nightshift (1985) · United (1986) · Rock Solid (1988) · Commodores Christmas (1992) · No Tricks (1993)
Singles "Slippery When Wet" (1975) · "Just to Be Close to You" (1976) · "Easy" (1977) · "Brick House" (1977) · "Too Hot ta Trot" (1978) · "Three Times a Lady" (1978) · "Still" (1979) · "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (1981) · "Nightshift" (1985) · "Take It From Me" (1987)
Categories Albums · Songs
Book:CommodoresCategories:- 1985 singles
- Commodores songs
- Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Songs in memory of Marvin Gaye
- Songs in memory of deceased persons
- Songs written by Franne Golde
- 1980s pop song stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
