The Commodores
'Anthology' (2 CD)
Universal/Motown
Released in the UK 26th November 2001

At last we are treated to this long awaited anthology from one of Motown's most successful groups of the seventies The Commodores. After a decade of memorable Motown magic, the time was right for the company to look ahead for a change in direction and sound, and the move to California yielded some big changes, some of which were resented by the artists and fans alike, who felt that Detroit was the home of Motown. The move however brought about a new chapter in the history of Motown with a whole new bunch of new kids on the block who suddenly found themselves having huge commercial hits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Sure, the likes of Marvin, Smokey, Stevie, and Diana were all still generating hit records but around late 1973 saw the emergence of new names on the label such as G.C. Cameron, High Energy, Thelma Houston, and The Commodores featuring lead singer Lionel Ritchie. The groups first impact was made in 1974 with the issue of the funky sounding 'Machine Gun' which, complete with synthesizer effects took the nations dancefloors by storm and I remember myself only too well how it made a major impact with my own audiences. Suddenly the Commodores was on everyone's lips as THE group of the day with their tight, no-nonsense get down funky sound which had a much harder (yet more commercial) feel than other similar groups of the day.

No sooner had the dust settled the nation's DJ's picked up on another dancefloor favourite in 'I Feel Sanctified' an instantly memorable piece of funk with it's stabbing brass section and it is easy to see where Wild Cherry picked up the feel for their own 'Play That Funky Music'  backing track. The similarities are easy to spot. The emergence of the cult dance The Bump was well catered for with a song of the same name, and other dance favourites include the Earth Wind & Fire inspired 'Slippery When Wet' .

The band not only enjoyed a great production and arrangement on their recordings, they were also blessed with a talented lead singer in Lionel Ritchie who took the group to new heights during the decade before eventually leaving to embark on a solo which is well documented. Lionel's vocal talent is evident when you listen to 'This Is Your Life' a gentle ballad away from the funk displaying another side to the group. It is ironic that the vast majority of the groups output was aimed at the commercial pop market and it is indeed where they found their commercial success. The group could do wrong with hit after hit during the seventies with the likes of 'Sweet Love' 'High On Sunshine' (one of their best) 'Zoom' and 'Easy' all followed giving the group hit records galore and catapulting the group into superstar status.

In 1978 the release of 'Brick House' brought them back to the attention of the club DJ's who at that time were in the middle of the disco boom and not wanting to be left out the band delivered this well tried and tested dancefloor classic which still remains popular to this day. More mixed hits continue on disc two, opening with the live version of 'Come Inside' and the uptempo dancer 'Too Hot To Trot' and the stop and start 'Flying High' showing the groups harmonizing to the forefront with a superb performance and easy to dance to song. A change in tempo finds the gentle Ritchie vocal led 'Say Yeah' which is tailor made for late night radio, as is their number one pop smash from 1978 'Three Times A Lady'

'Still' remains a favourite amongst many as a classic ballad, whereas the 1980's saw them on the club chart with a killer dance track in 'Lady You Bring Me Up' which stayed on the Record Mirror club chart for almost nine months. Next up was a moving tribute to two of black music's favourite sons in Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson. This became a deserved hit in the UK where the two singers still have many fans. The words to this song were very cleverly crafted together using song titles from the two singers repertoire.

All in all a very definitive collection that will please many a seventies fan and will hopefully introduce many current Lionel Ritchie fans into an insight to his early work with the Commodores.

Rating 10/10