The second consecutive R&B No.1 to pay tribute to Marvin Gaye hit the highest spot on March 16, 1985. The premature demise of the nice Motown hero moved his former singing associate Diana Ross to document “Missing You.” On that day, Ms. Ross was succeeded on the soul summit by some extra former Motown labelmates, the Commodores, as they paid their respects to Marvin, and one other soul hero, on “Nightshift.”
The lyrics of the tune united Gaye with one other R&B big, Jackie Wilson, who had died simply three months earlier in 1984. “Nightshift” was written by Dennis Lambert (who additionally produced the recording) with Franne Gold and the Commodores’ Walter Orange. After the departure of Lionel Richie from the group, Orange resumed lead vocal duties, sharing them with British vocalist J.D. Nicholas, a former member of UK soul hitmakers Heatwave. They took a verse every on the brand new hit.
The post-Richie period began with two Prime 20 R&B singles in “Painted Picture” and “Only You,” however the tribute gave the Commodores a primary main crossover success. It reached No.3 on the Billboard Sizzling 100, repeated that feat within the UK and topped the charts in Holland. “Missing You” had spent three weeks atop the R&B survey, and now “Nightshift” logged 4 extra.
‘He opened up our minds’
Marvin’s “What’s Going On” was referred to in “Nightshift,” wherein Orange remembered “a friend of mine” who “sang of the joy and pain, he opened up our minds.” Of Wilson, a massively influential R&B trailblazer of some years earlier, he sang “It seems like yesterday when we were working out,” a reference to Jackie’s 1963 smash “Baby Workout.” In 2022, the tune was afforded the tribute of a brand new model by Bruce Springsteen for his Solely The Robust Survive album.
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The Commodores have continued to tour, with each Orange and Nicholas within the line-up. They’re joined by Orange’s fellow founding member William King, greater than 50 years after the group members first met at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
Purchase or stream “Nightshift” on The Very Better of the Commodores.
