Nightshift
| "Nightshift" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 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) |
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| Label | Motown | |||
| Writer(s) | Walter Orange Dennis Lambert Franne Golde |
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| Producer | Dennis Lambert | |||
| Commodores singles chronology | ||||
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"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 |
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 1 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 1[4] |
| UK Top 75 | 3 |
[edit] Other versions
A reggae version of this was recorded by Winston Groovy, with the lyrics changed as a tribute to Bob Marley.[5]
[edit] 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
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "Missing You" by Diana Ross |
Billboard Hot Black Singles number one single March 16, 1985 - April 6, 1985 |
Succeeded by "Back In Stride" by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly |
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